Backyard Soccer 2001

$19.99, Win, Mac OS, PlayStation (CD-ROM)

Teaches: sports, soccer, logic, strategy

CTR Review

First released in 1998, this updated soccer simulation is designed especially for kids, playfully introducing them to the increasingly more popular sport. As in more sophisticated sims, players pick teams and game options, only in this case, players choose kids to fill out the roster. Each kid has a unique personality and set of skills. There are 30 "pint-sized" versions of professional soccer players to pick from like Carlos Valderrama, Pablo Sanchez and Cobi Jones. This adds an element of humor to the game, as you meet and play with these cute little future superstars.What we like most about the program are its many options that give children control over the experience. Kids can design team uniforms, create custom players and can determine who to play against. They select each player's position as well as when and where to kick the ball. Just like the real thing, the game takes practice, but it's thoroughly engaging and downright addictive.Flaws are few. The save features are limited, permitting only season games to be saved but the other features are plentiful allowing kids to control background sounds and play-by-plays. Also, the program requires some reading at first, until kids have the navigation system memorized. All in all, though, this is a great program for many reasons. The software is one of the few that breaks stereotypes by putting boys and girls from all ethnic groups on the roster, some of whom are physically challenged. It gives kids unusual control over the action and is exceptionally easy to figure out. Note that a PlayStation version was released in Oct. 2001.