Fighting football fever with Crazy Soccer

You can't beat a spot of fisticuffs on the football field, although the inevitable fine and suspension afterwards aren't quite so much fun.

Now Chinese publisher CWA has realised the appeal of the former, and made it the centre of its new game, Crazy Soccer.

You can play it like a normal football game, with silky passing and dazzling dribbling. Or you can simply beat the bejaysus out of the other team.

It's a cartoon simulation where violence is all over the pitch – even the referee dispenses justice via meaty punches rather than yellow or red cards.

There's also a Story mode, a League mode, a World Cup competition and a bunch of mini-games to play.

CWA hasn't said how realistic the fighting is – we're hoping for elbows a-plenty – but the football part promises some depth. The games are eleven-a-side, with players apparently finding space and passing like professionals.

They can even do overhead kicks and "attacking headers". Although whether they can mutter naughty insults to provoke their opponents remains to be seen.