UEFA Striker
Developer(s)Rage Software
Publisher(s)Infogrames
SeriesStriker
Platform(s)PlayStation, Dreamcast
ReleasePlayStation
Dreamcast
Genre(s)Sports video game
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

UEFA Striker, known in North America as Striker Pro 2000, is a sports video game developed by Rage Software and published by Infogrames in 1999-2000. It is the final game in the Striker series following the cancellation of its sequel, UEFA 2001, the following year.

Gameplay

The game allows players to choose from 51 European national teams, 44 domestic clubs and 20 "bonus teams", with individual players modelled with 16 different attributes. Players also have the ability to create their own teams and kits, edit existing players and edit the names of existing cups and leagues.[4] Game modes include training, friendly matches, knockout cups, classic matches, leagues and tournaments.[5] The UEFA licence enabled the inclusion of official Euro 2000 qualifying matches and the final tournament as a game mode, but other major cups and leagues are "cunningly disguised" with names such as the Euro Super Trophy standing in for the Champion's League.[6] Commentary is provided by Ron Atkinson and Jonathan Pearce, with Ruud Gullit providing analysis before international fixtures.[5]

Development

Julian Widdows, a producer at Rage Software, told Dreamcast Monthly magazine that the team's intention was to "create something that felt like real football" and to allow players to "be able to draw the defenders the same way you do in real life, to make space and to make moves".[5] The title was initially developed under the title Ruud Gullit's Striker, with Ruud Gullit involved on a "consultancy basis" and providing commentary, but this shifted when the UEFA licence was acquired.[5]

Reception

The PlayStation version received favourable reviews, while the Dreamcast version received average reviews, according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[7][8] In Japan, where the latter was ported and published by Imagineer on 6 April 2000 under the name Super Euro Soccer 2000 (スーパーユーロサッカー2000, Sūpā Yūro Sakkā 2000), Famitsu gave it a score of 24 out of 40.[12]

Cancelled sequel

A follow-up, UEFA 2001, was announced for the Dreamcast in 2000, but was cancelled in October 2000 when Infogrames was re-evaluating their Dreamcast support, and the game was never released on any platform.[22]

References

  1. ^ IGN staff (24 April 2000). "The Games of April/May". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Dreamcast/PlayStation Preview: UEFA Striker". The List. No. 371. 7 October 1999. p. 107.
  3. ^ Ahmed, Shahed (17 May 2000). "Striker Pro 2000 Ships [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Interview: in the hot seat with Paul Finnegan". Official Dreamcast Magazine (UK ). Dennis Publishing: 128. 2 September 1999.
  5. ^ a b c d "Showcase: UEFA Striker". Dreamcast Monthly (2). Quay Magazine Publishing: 14–21. 30 September 1999.
  6. ^ Hart, Lee (29 September 1999). "Review: UEFA Striker". DC-UK (2). Future Publishing: 20–23.
  7. ^ a b "Striker Pro 2000 for Dreamcast". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Striker Pro 2000 for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  9. ^ Mahood, Andy (21 June 2000). "Striker Pro 2000 (DC) [Incomplete]". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 18 August 2000. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  10. ^ Huhtala, Alex (December 1999). "UEFA Striker (PS)". Computer and Video Games. No. 217. EMAP. pp. 82–83. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  11. ^ EGM staff (2000). "Striker Pro 2000 (DC)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Ziff Davis.
  12. ^ a b "スーパーユーロサッカー2000 [ドリームキャスト]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Striker Pro 2000 (DC)". Game Informer. No. 88. FuncoLand. August 2000.
  14. ^ Brown, Greene (16 June 2000). "Striker Pro 2000 Review (DC) [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 23 January 2005. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  15. ^ Brown, Greene (19 June 2000). "Striker Pro 2000 Review (PS) [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 20 January 2005. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  16. ^ Dunham, Jeremy (10 April 2000). "Striker Pro 2000 Review (DC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  17. ^ Carle, Chris (22 May 2000). "Striker Pro 2000 (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  18. ^ la redaction (9 December 1999). "Test: UEFA Striker (DCAST)". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  19. ^ la redaction (23 November 1999). "Test: UEFA Striker (PS1)". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  20. ^ Calvert, Justin (December 1999). "UEFA Striker". Official UK PlayStation Magazine. No. 52. Future Publishing. p. 119. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  21. ^ Davison, John (June 2000). "Striker Pro 2000". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Vol. 3, no. 9. Ziff Davis. p. 109. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  22. ^ Official Dreamcast Magazine, October 2000, page 29

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