Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.
Jaleco Sports NES title Goal! and its SNES game Super Goal! are now available to play on PC, with console releases coming later in the year.
If there is one gaming genre that pulled me away from more creative pursuits, it is football (soccer). Whether Matchday or Emlyn Hughes or MicroProse Soccer on the Commodore 64, or Manchester United Europe, Kick Off 2, or the inevitable Sensible Soccer on the Amiga, my drive to be as good as Gazza in my head, if not on the pitch, was unquenchable.
While I’m familiar with various arcade incarnations of soccer, I’m less aware of console games. I feel as though I’ve perhaps seen Goal! and Super Goal!, but I’ve definitely never played them.
Jaleco Sports: Goal! trailer
I think I would recall — they look pretty good!
Available to play today via GOG and Steam, and published by Rock It Games, these two games, from 1989 and 1992 respectively — are out first on PC, with release on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch following later in the summer.
According to the promotional literature:
Before FIFA became the standard in soccer gaming, Goal! was celebrated as one of the most advanced and realistic soccer experiences of its time. The NES version features 16 international teams competing for the World Cup and 8 U.S. teams in a tournament format. It also includes a Shootout mode, where players attempt to score against defenders and a goalkeeper.
The SNES sequel, Super Goal!, expanded on the original with a side-scrolling field, 24 international teams, instant replays, and full-field radar views. It also introduced strategic options like four defensive formations and more player control.
Obviously, I would disagree with this. Kick Off 2 > Sensible Soccer > Sensible World of Soccer > FIFA is the correct, canonical evolution of the football video game. I accept some feed in from games like Striker, Taito’s Football Champ, and Virtua Soccer, and perhaps Goal! and Super Goal!, but don’t try and rewrite history, Rock It Games!
Goal! and Super Goal! features
If you’re interested in playing these titles, they can be picked up from today on Steam and GOG, with the following features:
- Play Both Versions: Instantly switch between the NES and SNES editions, including all regional variants.
- Game Modes: Enjoy Exhibition matches, World Tournaments, Shootouts, and Super Cup mode.
- Strategic Gameplay: Set team formations, take control of your goalkeeper, and master special moves like bicycle kicks.
- Rewind the Action: like a VHS tape – missed that goal or pass? Go back in time and try again!
- Visual Options: Toggle between CRT-style retro visuals and modern display modes.
- Multiplayer: Use Remote Play to team up with or challenge friends online.
- Multilingual Manuals: Access original game manuals in English, French, Dutch, German, Spanish, and Japanese.
You can get Goal! (including both titles) on Steam and GOG. Also available is Bases Loaded, on Steam and GOG, unsurprisingly a baseball game that includes the 1988 NES title Bases Loaded and the SNES game Super Bases Loaded from 1991.
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Until July 10th, Goal! and Bases Loaded are available with a 21% discount, so don’t miss the offer if you’re planning to buy these titles.
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Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.
