Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions

Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions is quite possibly one of the most over the top sports games I have come across in quite some time. This is being released on PC, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch really soon (as I write this of course) and it is shaping up to be one of the surprise hits of the year!

GOOOOOOOOOAL

This is based on a very popular anime from 2018 of the same name. While the basis for this is football/soccer this is very over the top stuff. I say that it is over the top, but it is over the top in a realistic way if that makes any kind of sense? The aim of the game is still to win by scoring the most goals, you still play on a pitch, but it has a real anime style it in every regard.

Is This Real?

One of the first things that you notice about Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions is those gorgeous visuals. This is one of the best-looking games of the year, it looks like it has leaped off the TV and… well back onto the TV in the form of this video game. These are some of the slickest cell-shaded graphics that I have ever seen, so much so that it has made me want to take a deep dive into the anime.

The game moves at a blistering pace too which is great, but also when you are in the heat of the movement of the game you miss out on how gorgeous the stadium looks. As you play, many special scenes will happen and these are even more detailed than the game graphics.

Action Packed Football

This is not a FIFA or a PES game, instead, this is all about over the top arcade-style action. This is a football game that is designed more for people who enjoy the Captain Tsubasa anime than for people who are straight-up football fans. As a result, there is more of an emphasis on the spectacular than anything else. This is most evident in the V Zone aspect of the game which is a meter that fills as you play and lets you unleash devastating special attacks and special saves.

The game mode situation may be where this is lacking. There is a great selection of characters to make your team from and I am sure the progression is going to be good. However, I do wonder how the lack of an in-depth career mode may affect the game long term.

Final Score: 8.5/10 (the game is not officially out at the time of writing)

Pros:

• Some of the most amazing cel-shaded graphics
• Lots of characters to play as
• There is a lot of customization going on with the kits
• Multiplayer is sure to be a blast
• Fast-paced soccer action

Cons:

• Not sure about the game modes
• Might be too “arcadey” for hardcore soccer fans

One thing you'll notice about most anime games is that they're always about fighting. I mean, sure, most Shonen anime deals with people beating each other up, but the medium has much more than that to offer. Enter Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions, a title that brings anime flair to sports fans.

For the longest time, if you wanted a soccer game, you got the latest FIFA. If you want over-the-top action with dudes jumping to crazy heights and performing unrealistic, gravity-defying shots, you won't find that in EA Sports FC 25 – that's for sure. Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions makes it possible thanks to the crazy exploits of the anime, which are rendered in excruciating detail here for you to relive the glories of this one-of-its-kind anime series.

Not Your Usual Soccer Match

Unlike other soccer games' commitment to realistic simulations, Rise of New Champions embraces its anime roots with gusto. Matches play out like epic battles, complete with clashing special moves, power meters, and spirit gauges.

Where FIFA focuses on precise passing and tactical positioning, this game emphasizes dramatic one-on-one confrontations and spectacular shooting techniques that would make even the most outrageous bicycle kicks seem tame by comparison.

The mechanics take some getting used to, especially if you're coming from traditional football games. Instead of simply pressing a button to shoot, you'll need to manage your spirit gauge, time your special moves, and choose the right moment to unleash your character's signature techniques. In the end, it does feel like Rise of New Champions is a bit of a fighting game, after all.

Build Your Legend

The game offers two distinct story modes that provide surprisingly substantial content. The first follows the anime's narrative, letting you relive classic moments from the series. The second, more interesting mode allows you to create your own character and work your way up through the ranks of Japanese high school football.

It's refreshing to see such a unique roster in a football game, not gonna lie. Sure, you miss out on the Messis and the Cristianos, but what you get is a collection of impressive characters that all feel distinct.

The character creation system is particularly robust, allowing you to develop your own football prodigy with unique abilities and special moves. While not as extensive as FIFA's career mode in terms of management options, it offers something different: the chance to create your own anime football legend.

Multiplayer Mayhem

The multiplayer component of Rise of New Champions offers both local and online options that really showcase the game's strengths. Local matches with up to four players are particularly entertaining, as the over-the-top nature of the gameplay creates moments of excitement that even non-fans can appreciate.

Team customization adds another layer of strategy, letting you mix and match characters from different schools and create dream teams. While this might seem unbalanced on paper, the game does a decent job of maintaining competitive integrity while still allowing for spectacular moments that stay true to the source material. As bonkers as it is.

Pros

• Faithful recreation of the anime's style
• Engaging story modes with robust character creation
• Fun local multiplayer

Cons

• Gameplay mechanics might feel too unconventional for traditional football fans
• Some connection issues during online matches