The Japanese hate to be second best at anything, and their 'knob' status at all things football is clearly one they would like to change. And it is changing. Top signings for the J-League, including 'smiling' Gary Lineker and a recent shock victory over Brazil at the Olympics go some way to establishing them as the top nation in Asia.

Jap soccer games have been another area of doubt. Smugly, we've rested on the laurels of our own Sensible Soccer, Euro '96, Striker, whilst ridiculing last year's ill-begotten Victory Goal. But, with Worldwide Soccer '97, Sega have snuck up on our soccer games like a lone San Marino striker on a complacent English defence.

Nominally an update of Victory Goal, but in an entirely different league.

Score goals in realtime, but with more sophisticated elements like team coaching.

Almost everyone who has played Worldwide Soccer has been blown away by it. Rarely do sports games get the sort of deal of approval it has enjoyed, as everyone has a different idea of what's the most important aspect of a sport.

Worldwide offers graphic brilliance an outstanding playability in equal measure. The pace, tension and pressure of the game are just right, with enough space on the field to play a tactical game. It's also th most enjoyable Saturn soccer game to play alone, with smart but fallible CPU sliders. You really must buy this title, even if you have every other football game known to man!

Almost everyone who has played Worldwide Soccer has been blown away by it. Rarely do sports games get the sort of deal of approval it has enjoyed, as everyone has a different idea of what's the most important aspect of a sport.

Worldwide offers graphic brilliance and outstanding playability in equal measure The pace, tension and pressure of the game are just right, with enough space on the field to play a tactical game. It's also the most enjoyable Saturn soccer game to play alone, with smart but fallible CPU sides. You really must buy this title, even if you have every other football game known to man.

With Worldwide Soccer 97 Sega set out to create the definitive Soccer sim and guess what? That's just what they've done. SWS 97 is a revelation in sports simuations, perfectly balancing unprecedented realism with intuitive gameplay. It looks like nothing you've ever seen before, plays like nothing you've ever played before, and offers more depth than a dozen Fifa's.

This is, without a doubt, the finest footie game I've ever played, and that includes Sensible Soccer and Adidas Power Soccer. The proof of the pudding is in the eating and SWS 97 has football pie all over its shirt. Goaaal!

Graphics 93%
P. Impressive stadiums, with flags of the competing nations animated in the crowd. Sensible, playable camera positions.

Animation 93%
P. Mint player animation making the sprites more like real people than ever before. Detail and drama with every exertion.

Music 72%
P. Follows the current vogue for cheesy menu music. N. The music in-game adds very little.

Effects 84%
P. The commentary by Gary Bloom has a good stab at analysing the action. N. Too much repetition of phrases to make it work completely.

Playability 94%
P. Incredibly easy to pick up and begin playing. As much fun in one-player as with two, three or four. It has the elusive 'feel' factor sports fans know about.

Lastability 93%
P. The range of functions, 'special moves' and tactical elements is a pukka way of maintaining appeal. Good tournament difficulty structure.

Overall 93%
Strength and beauty combine in the best football game you're likely to see before the end of this season.