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It's a funny old world. (I bet you thought I was going to say 'game' there). At first, action football games were wicked (Match Day) and managerial games were poo (Football Manager). Now, all of a sudden there are some wicked managerial games popping up (TSM, FD2). The action ones, with one or two notable exceptions, are getting crap and PBIF is no exception. It has to be, without a doubt, one of the worst arcade football games I have ever played.

You play in some international league thing either alone, or with a friend playing a different team, the ultimate aim being to become the Champion of Europe, or something like that.

Once you've chosen which team you want to be, and you've seen who else is in your group, you play the first of the 6 matches that will decide whether you get to go through to the next round.

The game is viewed side on, as are nearly all the footy games nowadays, except that this one is terrible. It seems small, skinny graphics are all the rage now, and as for the colourful passionate supporters? I've seen El Presidente show more passion than that. (Nonsense, I am a ruthless sadistic editing machine. I have no emotions. Now give me my pen back before I tell my Mum. - GT).

The scrolling is slow and jerky, and the animation of the players is terrible. How many players have you seen run while scratching their instep with their heel?

As normal, you control one man on the pitch at a time, signified by being a different colour to the rest of the team. The player is usually the one nearest to the ball. Controlling the ball is no problem. just stand still and wait for it to hit you, then run headlong at the goal. You won't be tackled and the goalie will just step aside for you. As you can guess, the game is appallingly easy, if not just plain appalling.

PBIF is just one big disappointment. There is just so much missing. The goalie can't dive. You can't do sliding tackles, or even headers. You can't barge other players. YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING!!!

No thanks.

Label: Grandslam Author: In-house Price: £7.95 Memory: 48K/128K Joystick: various Reviewer: ?

A croaking old duffer if ever I saw one. There has to be better than this.