Super Soccer Champs 2013

Football games have been around for nearly as long as consoles, which means it's quite hard for a developer to make something that stands out.

For Super Soccer Champs 2013, Uprising Games has looked back to the classics of Sensible Soccer and Kick Off, while mixing in elements from Football Manager to bring some strategic depth to the lengthy seasons.

Matches in Super Soccer Champs 2013 only last three minutes by default, which makes for some incredibly speedy play that nonetheless manages to be tense and enjoyable.

And the brevity of the matches doesn't mean you're getting a watered-down title. Uprising Games has packed plenty of content into Super Soccer Champs 2013.

With 14 different international and national seasons to partake in, along with friendly matches and a Player Manager mode, there's an awful lot to keep you occupied.

The gameplay on the pitch relies on just two on-screen buttons and thumbstick. A big red button lets you shoot for goal and perform a strong tackle when off the ball. A smaller blue button lets you pass and make light tackles.

Matches have a tendency to stop and stutter after a while, which is rather annoying but not entirely game-breaking. The thumbstick is also irritatingly small on a phone - playing on a tablet makes the on-screen buttons larger and therefore more comfortable to use.

The referee seems a little dull. While I'm sure you'd be punished for replicating Zidane's headbutt or Maradona's "Hand of God", you'll be able to forget he's there most of the time.

That's the action on the pitch, and it's fine, but the real meat of the game is in the Player Manager mode. Here you not only play matches as a team, but also have total control over who you want on your team, the formation it should play in, and when you want to bring on substitutes.

It essentially makes all other modes look a little foolish in comparison, though you'll have to be a football aficionado to get the most out of it.

Super Soccer Champs 2013 isn't perfect, and it's still awaiting an update for two-player fun, despite having the option on the main menu. But it manages to get enough right to earn a qualified recommendation - both casual and serious football game fans will find something to like here.