Pixel Cup Soccer 2016 is a no-nonsense football game
This uncomplicated game is bringing back the old-world charm, and is all about getting the basics right
For a football fan who likes the occasional dose of excitement that football games on smartphones tend to provide, there are genuinely very few good options. The likes of FIFA 16 and PES Manager require active Internet connection, take up over 1GB after installation and struggle if you don’t have a very powerful smartphone. Games like Dream League soccer work offline and take up less space but suffer from poor game controls and doesn’t feel very user-friendly. This is where Pixel Cup Soccer comes into the picture, as it is designed to work even on phones that are not very powerful and run on an inconsistent mobile data network.
Unique touch to football
The game looks like the DOS based football games released in the 90s on PC and has a very similar visual layout. Players, stadium and all other on-screen elements look pixelated, which is why it is called Pixel Cup Soccer. This old world charm is emerging as a genre in itself and there are several games with similar games such as One More Run: Cricket and Crossy Road, which have similar graphics. The main interface in Pixel Cup Soccer 2016 looks neat and the various modes and options are easily identifiable.
Fun to play, controls need getting used to
Most and game modes involve national teams. It allows you take command over one of the teams and compete tournaments such as Euro Cup, Women’s World Cup, Men’s World Cup, Olympic games, Euro 2016 and Copa America. The player names, team names, jerseys and the stadiums have not been changed as most football games tend to do to avoid licensing hassles.
You can’t change the resolution or change the camera angle from broadcast mode to the end to end mode.
However, it is not entirely lacking in customisation. You can alter the duration of the game, select the stadium, time of play, game speed and game difficulty.
The game is quite challenging to play even in the basic mode and since it works offline one can play it anywhere and on devices with the most basic configuration. The on-screen controls are similar to what other football games offer. The cross button for passing, the circle button for shooting and the joystick for controlling player movements feel a bit iffy at first and are not smooth as the controls in FIFA 16.
Verdict
Pixel Cup Soccer is a perfect soccer game for football enthusiasts who don’t have the time or the device which can handle heavy football games. What the game lacks in graphics, it compensates with its engaging gameplay and wide repertoire of options. The game doesn’t involve in-app purchases and only asks for one-time payment of ₹ 200 before you download the game.
Pixel Cup Soccer 2016
Developed by Batovi Games Studio
Price: Rs200
Available on Android, iOS
Tested on OnePlus One (Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, 3GB RAM, 64GB storage).
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