Metacritic Games

World Tour Soccer 06 (Sony PSP)

(Also known as "World Tour Soccer 2" in the UK/EU) The game is a collection of quick (4 minutes) points-based game modes, each offering unique soccer challenges requiring players to utilize different soccer fundamentals. Attempt to dominate the globe in the World Tour Mode as you take on the World’s best from Africa, Asia, North America, South America and Europe. Slide into Medal Mode and experience numerous challenging new mini games where points and medals are awarded for solid soccer play. 10 new modes of play including All Rounder, Classic Challenge, Challenge Plus, Time Attack, Checkpoint, Dropout, Outnumbered, Pass Clock, In The Zone and Shot Clock. Each mode features alternate points scoring systems and a reward-based unlock structure. 71 international teams along with more than 1,650 real, world-class players and 8 international stadiums. Game sharing compatibility allows WTS '06 owners to share various levels of the game with other PSP owners. [Sony]

Sony Computer Entertainment
Sports, Soccer
Players: 4
E (Everyone)
Developer: SCEE London Studio
Released June 27, 2006

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

72 / 100

Critic Reviews

82 Cheat Code Central
As long as you're not looking for the game that topples FIFA, then you're sure to have a ball with World Tour Soccer 2006. As they sometimes say, some games aren't for everyone but this game is definitely meant for all.
82 PSM2 Magazine UK
It sounds cliched, but this is easy to pick up and seriously hard to put down. There's always plenty going on and you'll be hooked for hours on end. Excellent warmongering action. [Aug 2006, p.81]
82 GamingTrend
WTS has the chance to appeal to everyone and, for a handheld like the PSP, we could use more games like it.
82 eToychest
A surprisingly well made game, especially when compared to its boring counterpart on the PS2.
82 Gaming Illustrated
If you are a soccer fan that is looking for a fast paced game that is accessible for many and great for playing on the go, WTS06 is the game you are looking for.
80 Worth Playing
The challenges may seem a little silly, especially when the game performs rather realistically, but they add depth and nuance to the gameplay, which is already pretty refined.
80 PGNx Media
The gameplay is easy to pick up while the various challenges and conditions will test advanced players.
80 Modojo
With intuitive mechanics, a nice array of game modes and its arcade style approach, World Tour Soccer 06 has certainly earned a place in the library of any soccer fan... and perhaps even in the collections of a few non-sporting nerds like myself.
80 WHAM! Gaming
Its easy controls, addictively simple game play and variety of game modes are likely to appeal to all but the hard-core soccer enthusiast.
80 Yahoo! Games
It's not a game for footie purists by any means, but if you want a fast-paced and entertaining match -- and one you can play with friends who don't all need to own the disc -- this is it.
79 Gaming Horizon
If you’re looking for a fun, fast-paced arcade-style soccer title, then World Tour Soccer 2006 is something you’ll definitely want to pick up. It has easy to pick up gameplay, an interesting point reward system, and wireless multiplayer support, for both ad hoc and infrastructure mode.
79 Da Gameboyz
A breath of fresh air and break from some of the sim soccer games out on the market.
78 PSX Extreme
If you’re looking for a good “pick up and play” soccer game for the PSP, WTS 06 is a good option. However, if you’re looking for a little more depth, the lack of club teams, customization, and mini-games is hard to look past when FIFA 06 is sitting on the shelves right next to it.
78 Game Chronicles
I really enjoyed the innovative rules and challenges in the Medal mode, and the World Tour offered just as much excitement (for me) as any official World Cup game.
77 IGN
World Tour mixes slick play mechanics with a bevy of fun and rewarding match types to create a refreshing, player-friendly soccer experience.
77 The New York Times
The game’s pace can be startlingly fast, as you can tell a player what to do with the ball before he receives it.
76 DailyGame
A great cure for World Cup fever, but the challenge style may not endure once the Finals are done.
75 Extreme Gamer
Sony has the basics covered with a good structure laid down with some interesting gaming ideas, and great online support.
75 PSM Magazine
Still, the action is always fun, and provides a great soccer challenge. [Sep 2006, p.86]
75 Digital Entertainment News
We hope that next year's offering will provide a much clearer vision of what the game is supposed to be.
75 Armchair Empire
Although it lacks the depth of other portable soccer games, and the AI may be a bit too wussy for veterans, World Tour Soccer 06 is a great choice for less serious games due to its easy pick up and play nature.
74 GameSpot
The PSP's best arcade football title, with fast and enjoyable gameplay that rewards skill-based play.
71 GameZone
Those looking for a realistic soccer simulation may wish to look elsewhere, but those looking for an entertaining skill-based arcade title that uses soccer as a backdrop will find this title both entertaining and challenging.
70 VideoGamer
If you've already got your traditional football fix, though, World Tour Soccer 2 offers something that neither of the big boys does. It's an arcade game, so don't expect to be putting together beautiful free-flowing moves that Brazil would be proud of, but the challenges make for a game that feels very different to normal football, and a title that will fill the gaps between World Cup matches very well indeed.
70 Total Video Games
An enjoyable experience, especially over short periods of play. Flawed when it comes to the 'basic' game of football, it nonetheless give players a mix of gamemodes offline, before taking the football experience online via the Ad Hoc and Infrastructure modes.
70 1UP
Hardcore (read: non-American) fans will find it vapid, but those same fans are far better served by "Winning Eleven."
70 GameSpy
Visually, however, it stumbles terribly, as it's not a particularly good-looking game, although its framerate could be a lot worse.
70 EuroGamer
It's certainly not the ultimate handheld football game, but that's more through a selection of ambition than a lack of it - and that's why it makes an impression.
70 Games Radar
With its simple learning curve, snappy controls and quick match times, there's no doubt that World Tour is built for on-the-go gaming goodness.
70 AceGamez
All football games will always suffer from Pro Evolution comparisons. World Tour Soccer 2 is a good attempt at a slightly alternative football title, but as all of us footie fans know too well, form is temporary, class is permanent.
70 Pocket Gamer UK
While it's possible to just dive in with the traditional play mechanic of score-as-many-goals-as-you-can-in-90-minutes, the game's central dynamic demands a little more effort from those looking for victory.
70 Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK
A likeable addition to the PSP's footy ranks that successfully offers something very different to the latest FIFA and PES. [Aug 2006, p.97]
70 Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
Arcade deliciousness is soured by the lack of a carer mode, but it's still oh so sweet. [Aug 2006, p.83]
70 PALGN
A lot of fun and a soccer game that doesn't take itself too seriously. If you were disappointed with "Sensible Soccer" but want an arcade alternative then you can't go wrong with this game.
70 Operation Sports
It's fun and clever blended-arcade approach to the sport worked for me, and the variations in game play are welcome.
67 GameShark
If this were a console game, I’d be rather upset with the limited number of play modes; however the modes fit the PSP perfectly and makes a good pick up and play game.
67 Gaming Age
It's disappointing to see season play missing. After all, what's the point of polishing up one's soccer skills if there's no championship to win, no drafts to reward a player for winning a series of games with the worst possible players?
62 Games Master UK
Betters the original, but still rooted in the Second Division compred to "FIFA" and "PES." [Aug 2006, p.61]
60 games(TM)
There’s an overriding feeling of novelty, however, and as much fun as the game can be, it’s hard to shake the impression that your interest will eventually wane. [Aug 2006, p.131]
60 Sydney Morning Herald
Fun for a few minutes, but destined to be substituted for something superior.
60 GamerFeed
One of the best portable football games because its developers elected to avoid the sport's complexities.
60 3DAvenue
Sony made a fatal mistake in excluding a tournament style game mode and restricting “proper” soccer to exhibition games, but even so what they have put together still has a lot of fun.
58 GamingExcellence
Unless you're a soccer hooligan who already owns the better soccer games on the PSP, you really shouldn't bother with World Tour Soccer 06.
40 Play UK
It just isn't any fun. The diving and the multiplayer are amusing for a short time, but after that you'll be left wondering why you didn't buy "Pro Evo 5" instead. [Issue 142, p.95]

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