Developers World Championship: Match Report - Denmark v Japan (Group E)

DENMARK Mystery Mania (Progressive Media)

VS JAPAN Chaos Rings (Media.Vision)

While Japan’s footballers may have never gone beyond the group phase at a World Cup staged outside the Asian continent (until this year at least), the nation’s iPhone game developers were looking formidable and well-equipped to progress.

Having been earmarked as one of the potential favourites for the tournament, the squad could have been forgiven for crumbling under the weight of such towering expectations.

If anything, arcade veterans Capcom and Taito simply turned back the clock at least 15 years in their Group E clashes and laid the smackdown on all-comers.

The third member of Japan’s holy trinity, Media.Vision (flanked by publisher Square Enix), entered the hallowed iStadium in buoyant mood, confident of victory for its widely-lauded RPG, Chaos Rings.

Denmark’s fate was far less certain: level on points with Holland, a win for the Danes wouldn’t even necessarily prove sufficient, were the Oranje Army to match the Danish winning margin in its own tussle with Russia...

...Unless Denmark spanked Japan by five clear goals. Which seemed unlikely, given the aforementioned strength of the Asian side this evening.

But, stranger things have happened, and since Denmark’s representative today went by the name of Mystery Mania, maybe, just maybe, Progressive Media’s point ‘n’ click puzzler could throw up a bizarro final score fantasy of its own.

Kick Off: 7.30pm, 24th June

The critical view: Out of the blocks quicker than a pair of Usain Bolts, Chaos Rings’ lightning duo upfront tore into Denmark’s defensive line at every opportunity.

Smooth 3D movement allied to super sonics reaped havoc in those opening 15 minutes or so. Almost inevitably, the mounting pressure told, and when Media.Vision’s secret weapon - a right-footed left back with a Katana, of all things - popped up in the box unmarked, '1-0 (17mins)' was recorded in unison on notepads across the media centre.

Truth be told, the Japanese combatants may have been more accustomed to the Ark Arena, yet had settled into Bath’s imposing iStadium like they owned the place.

Trying to solve the riddle of the ongoing Japanese threat, Mystery Mania set perilous (offside) traps along the channels just out of sight of the officials. This slowed Media.Vision's side down quite a bit, as bickering between the attacking pair on the subject of directions escalated.

With the scoreboard indicating two minutes of added-on time, Japan’s quest for iOS immortality continued apace. Right on cue, Coach Honda, no relation of Edmund or Civic, theatrically raised the fabled Pocket Gamer Gold Award aloft and, in the tumult, their nippy duo combined with a devastating force that literally knocked the keeper into the net to extend Chaos Rings’ lead.

In fairness, it could have been a lot worse for the Danes as the Japanese had quite literally run rings around them in the first half, but that will have come as scant consolation for a talented Progressive Media side, who were facing an early exit from the tournament.

Half time: Denmark 0 – 2 Japan The Fans’ 45: Comfortable wasn't the word for Japan's current situation, yet Mr Complacency sometimes has a habit of bringing a side down a peg or two.

Denmark's followers had banked on some easing up by the Asian attackers, vociferously defending Mystery Mania's 27 rooms, charmingly arty style of play, and robotic, but cute, holding midfielder.

Indeed, it was during one of F8's rare forays over the halfway line that the Danish automaton miraculously avoided Japan's advancing, hidden bosses and strode on to net his maiden goal for the country.

The Japanese looked frankly incredulous at this point, dispatching some magical wing-play and numerous special attacks of their own, as they attempted to end their unique story in the same impressive way as the game.

The Danes responded in kind, though, raising their tempo on pitch and their volume on the terraces to ensure a truly dramatic conclusion. With the clock ticking down, they pulled out their own special duo in the shape of a Pocket Gamer Gold review award and an even more elusive PG Awards 2010 gong for best mobile game of the year.

With both awards earned by the mobile (java) version of the series, this was clearly a left-field move, but the Japanese hadn't bargained on an attack down that flank and were left completely exposed as a cross was shipped in. The point-and-click adventure point-and-kicked into the net from close range.

A terse word from the manager ensured there would be no further slips and the Japanese rearguard regrouped to wind the clock down ultra-professionally, confident that a point would ensure their group-topping status.

But would the draw prove sufficient for Progressive Media's side or had Holland avoided defeat to Russia and put an early end to Denmark's story?

Full time: Denmark 2 – 2 Japan Latest Group Tables - Fixtures & Voting - Squads

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