It was probably Pro Evolution Soccer that was the first to propose a gestural interpretation of soccer games, at the time of the Wii edition released in 2008: using the sensors of the Wiimote controllers it was possible to draw the trajectories of shots and passes on the screen, giving unprecedented tactical depth to the game.
It didn't take long for the same approach to be successfully applied to devices equipped with touch screens, both from Konami's aforementioned series and its own products. First touch games; especially score! Hero and score! Match, which tried to add more facets to that formula, almost transforming it into a turn-based strategy game.
A few years later, we find ourselves facing the Ultimate Draft Soccer Review, which in addition to offering us the same mechanics comes with an official FIFPRO license, thus allowing us to create our team using real players.
Gameplay: first touch
Compared to what is described in Score! Match with him game Ultimate Draft Soccer seems simplified in many ways, focusing on the immediacy and intuitiveness of a control system that can be mastered in just a few minutes. Here we will also have the opportunity to trace shots and passes on the screen, touch areas of the field to provoke dribbles and percussions, tell our teammates to converge towards a point and, naturally, shoot on goal, giving life to exciting and spectacular events. goals.
The latter is undoubtedly the most exciting aspect of the new title from First Touch Games because, despite the limited ability of the goalkeepers (who, yes, do not stand still watching us shoot, let's be clear), getting in front of the goal and scoring brings back great sensations, which is what every football game worthy of the name should aspire to.
Once an online opponent has been identified thanks to the lightning-fast matchmaking, we will have the opportunity to experience the strategic facets of the Ultimate Draft Soccer system by creating relatively complex actions, although vision management often leads to involve only two or three players: You can rotate the camera freely, but the time available to choose what action to perform is limited, just a few seconds, and that is why we tend to avoid these solutions.
Finally, the defensive phase remains underdeveloped. relies too much on automation- A maximum of two players are allowed to be selected to ensure they attack the ball carrier, possibly prompting him to slide when necessary, taking risks, but it is clear that the specific skills of the units involved end up weighing heavily on the outcome. Of action.
Structure: Fast, Lean and Clash Royale
If in terms of mechanics the formula is basically what we already knew, structurally Ultimate Draft Soccer very faithfully takes up the compartments of the classic Clash Royale, with the four slots (three, if you do not have the Season Pass) for the chests that open at the same time, strengthening players based on the cards obtained and The stadium that, however, changes only according to the season., not at the level of experience: pity.
the incidence of microtransactions It seems limited during the first hours of the game, but with a system like this it is really inevitable that at some point quite clear differences emerge between those who spend money to accelerate the team's progression and those who do not: We will have to see what kind of landfill will facilitate in this sense the balance pairing, certainly fast and effective.
Technical achievement: a great vertical show
Like its predecessors, Ultimate Draft Soccer uses a portrait mode view to better suit your smartphone approach, allowing you to control the action with a single finger. The result is spectacular during the interlude and celebration sequences, when players fill the screen, while in live action the setting becomes more functional and loses its appeal.
In any case, the graphics work very well on the iPhone 14 Pro, they are fluid and responsive in all situations, without overheating the device, as is unfortunately increasingly the case with next-generation games. There is also a audio commentary in english that accompanies the different sequences of the match: the phrases are not very varied, but it is an extra of undoubted value.
Conclusions
Tested version iPhone digital delivery app store, Google Play Price Free Holygamerz.com 7.5 Readers (2) 8.5 your voteUltimate Draft Soccer tries to propose a definitive interpretation of the formula that First Touch Games has tried to develop over the years, that of a "gestural soccer" with implications similar to a turn-based strategy, although with very brief pauses between an action and other. and the other. Compared to Score! In the matches you lose some depth, but you gain immediacy and get excited about shots on goal after a well-organized maneuver, while the Clash Royale-style structure keeps the interest in progression alive.
PRO
- The gesture formula continues to work very well.
- Clash Royale style structure for training and improvements.
- Graphics and sound functional to the experience, with some high notes.
AGAINST
- Defensive phase always closely linked to automatisms
- The narrow vision somewhat limits choral actions.
- Microtransactions can make themselves felt
