Imagine, if you will, that Def Jam Recordings and Zinedine Zidane get together and set up a four-a-side footie league in South Central LA. With a decent cross section of gangs signed up for the league and no refs, they then breed a selection of uber goalkeepers using the combined DNA of Peter Schmeichel and Michael Flatley. To finish things off, Zidane and Ja Rule teach everyone an elaborate form of ball control and breakdancing (ballbreaking, we'll call it). And if you can imagine that, you've pretty much got what UFS is all about.

Yep, this is a proper bastardisation of the beautiful game, but while it's barely more than a passing novelty it's not quite as bad as it sounds. The whole game revolves around pulling fancy moves, be it sticking the ball in the net or avoiding the attentions of the opposition. There are no points for legging it straight up the pitch and sliding one in the bottom corner. Oh no, you've got to somersault off a wall to dodge a tackle, perform a 360° backflip to cross the ball then score with some kind of spinning windmill kick.

After an hour or so with the single-player mode, the novelty of scoring ridiculously fancy goals wears off and you'll be gasping for PES or FIFA. This is fine multiplayer post-pub fare, mind, but be sure to have a look at the demo on this month's DVD before parting with your hard-earned.

Graphics 70%
Convincing 'street' environments and players

Sound 60%
No Brooking, but the hip-hop don't stop

Gameplay 50%
Initially gratifying but ultimately shallow

Lifespan 40%
Substituted before half time

Overall 60%
A decent stab at four-a-side football with tongue firmly in cheek, but no lasting appeal for serious fans of videogame 'soccer'