Match Day

Welcome to Match Day, the soccer arcade game.

Match Day is no ordinary soccer game but a 3D action arcade style game where you control the action.

The game is seen from a 'camera-eye' view. The camera automatically scans the pitch.

Each team has its own colour strip (Red shirts, white shorts for the Home team, blue shirts white shorts of the "away" team) and is made up of a goalkeeper, defenders, midfield players and attackers. During the game, each player moves into position according to the standard football rules (i.e. according to whih side has possession, where the ball is, what position he plays in, etc).

You have control of the player in possession of the ball or that player who is best placed to tackle or intercept the ball.

With this player you can dribble, tackle, pass, head, block, trap, take corners and throw-ins and perform virtually all of the skills of real football.

Skills And Tactics

1. Dribbling
   Whilst your player is in possession of the ball, dribbling is automatic. The ball is always a short distance in front of your player in whichever of the eight possible directions you move him.
   
   It is important to note that a player will not be able to run as fast with the ball as without, due to the need to control the ball. Hence it is important to learn how to pass quickly and accurately.
2. Passing
   To pass the ball, use the kick control key (or the Fire button if you are using a joystick). The ball will go in the direction you are facing. There are two types of pass: along the ground and through the air. To pass along the ground, you must be stationary when you kick. If you are moving, the ball will fly up and bounce along the ground. This pass will be the longer of two types.
3. Receiving
   This encompasses blocking, trapping or deflecting the ball, heading the ball, etc.
   
   To successfully gain possession of the ball, you must judge its path and time your interception so that the ball arrives at your feet. This is most important if you wish to trap a bouncing ball. It is important to keep your eye on the shadow which is always directly beneath the ball.
   
   To accurately trap a bouncing ball, you must place your feet on the spot where you estimate the ball and shadow will meet (i.e. where the ball hits the ground). If you intercept a bouncing ball too early, it will be deflected either off your legs, body or head. How the ball then bounces depends on the relative speed and direction of ball and player on contact.
   
   Such deflection can, of cource, be used to great advantage. In particular heading the ball on can gain much ground quickly.
4. Goalkeeper
   You will automatically gain control over your goalkeeper at the appropriate time - this is indicated by him crouching. You then have the option of making a diving save to the left or right by using the appropriate direction control with 'kick/fire'.
5. Set Pieces
   These include corner kicks, centres and goal kicks.
   
   It is possible to control set pieces very accurately by proper use of the controls. In addition to being able to kick or throw the ball in different directions, you have three levels of strength: soft, normal and hard.

To vary the strength of kick from soft to hard, the general rule is: Press keys/joystick to move your player forwards gives a hard kick/long throw, etc.

Press keys/joystick to move your player backwards gives a soft kick/short throw, etc.

The direction of the kick/throw/header can be changed by using the controls that would normally move the player in that direction as you press the kick/Fire button. To fully appreciate the very high degree of control you have over the ball requires much practice. Practice combined with accurate timing produces the most skillful players.

Throw-In

When the ball leaves the field and crosses either touch line, a member of the appropriate team automatically crosses over to take the throw. You now control this player who will take the throw when you press the kick (or fire) button.

Corner-Kick

Corner kicks operate in a similar way to throw-ins, the ball travelling towards one of nine positions. Note that with the three 'soft' kicks, the ball runs along the ground.

Goal-Kick

Goal kicks operate in a similar way to corner kicks with the three 'soft' forms running along the ground.

Kick-Off

As in the rules of association football, at a centre the ball must travel forwards across the line. A 'soft' centre to the left or right will therefore move slightly forward of the centre line.

Options

When the program has successfully loaded, you will be presented with the main menu which reads as follows:

1. One player game
2. Two player game
3. Define controls
4. Keyboard
5. Joystick

To select any of these options, simply press the corresponding number on the keyboard to the option required.

One Player game: starts the game but for one player (home) against the computer (away).

Two Player game: starts the match for two players.

Define Controls: Lets you define the keyboard controls for players one and two. To define the relevant controls, simply press the required key for a certain function when prompted for that function. After all the keys have been defined for both players you will be returned to the main menu.

Keyboard: When this option is selected, the keyboard will now play in "keyboard mode", that is all controls for both players are via the keyboard.

When the game has first loaded, the computer will be in keyboard mode with the controls already defined as follows:

Player One : Cursor Left - Left, Cursor Right - Right, P - Up, ; - Down, DELETE - Kick Ball Player Two : R - Left, T - Right, O - Up, A - Down, C - Kick Ball

Note: SHIFT pauses the game. CTRL-SHIFT abandons the game. (Both SHIFT and CTRL keys cannot be defined as player controls)

Joystick: Switches the computer into "joystick mode".

Now play the game... Shoot to win!

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Tape: *RUN (RETURN)
Disc: Insert disc, hold SHIFT and tap BREAK to boot.