Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Goal! Two builds on the foundation of its predecessor by introducing an angled overhead viewpoint that instantly feels fresh yet intuitive. The scrolling screen ensures you’re never caught off guard, giving you a clear view of both your attackers charging forward and defenders scrambling back. Controls remain tight and responsive, letting you pass, shoot, and tackle with precision even in the heat of a crowded penalty area.

The inclusion of a single-player Super Cup tournament adds a satisfying progression system, where each match carries weight and momentum. You’ll find yourself swapping players in and out of your 15-man squad to exploit weaknesses in rival teams or to rest key athletes for more challenging fixtures. The ability to pick 11 starters from a larger pool introduces a layer of strategic depth that rewards forethought—will you load up on speed, stamina, or playmaking talent?

Exhibition Match mode allows for quick pick-up-and-play sessions, making it perfect for casual kickabouts with a friend or to hone skills against the CPU. Although the 2-on-2 Shootout mode from the original is absent, the head-to-head options remain compelling. Two players can team up against the AI or go toe-to-toe, creating plenty of room for memorable late-game comebacks or stunning solo runs.

Graphics

Graphically, Goal! Two makes the most of 16-bit hardware by delivering crisp player sprites and smooth animation frames. The new angled camera adds depth to the pitch, with grass textures and boundary lines that remain visible at all times. Subtle details—like the referee’s jaunty jog and the goalkeeper’s anticipation dive—help bring each match to life.

Crowd sprites are simple but effective, shifting between seated and standing poses to reflect the ebb and flow of excitement. Goal celebrations are especially well animated, featuring teammates sprinting to embrace the scorer or pumping fists in unison. The scoreboard overlay is clean and unobtrusive, keeping essential information—time, score, substitutions—at your fingertips without cluttering the play area.

Environmental variety is modest but welcome: you’ll swap between standard green pitches and more muted turf settings during evening kickoffs. Weather effects are absent, which limits visual drama, yet the overall presentation feels consistent and free of slowdowns even in the busiest of in-game scrums.

Story

As a sports title, Goal! Two doesn’t follow a traditional narrative arc, but it does craft its own sense of drama through tournament progression. Each round of the Super Cup tells a mini-story of rising tension—will your underdog squad topple the defending champions, or will fatigue and tactical errors come back to haunt you in the semi–finals?

By allowing you to tailor your roster from a pool of 15, the game encourages player-driven narratives. Perhaps your reliable striker is nursing a minor injury, forcing you to promote a rookie into the starting eleven. That rookie’s first goal could become the defining moment of your “season,” a story you’ll proudly recount to friends.

Exhibition Matches, though divorced from championship stakes, still offer their own episodic thrills. A last-gasp equalizer or an unexpected hat-trick can feel like a standalone tale worth reliving. In this way, Goal! Two stitches together countless small stories into a broader tapestry of footballing excitement.

Overall Experience

Goal! Two delivers a robust soccer simulation that’s easy to grasp yet hard to master. The angled overhead perspective breathes new life into the series, and the scrolling pitch ensures dynamic, fast-paced action. Whether you’re chasing glory in the Super Cup or settling the score in a head-to-head exhibition, the game rarely feels stale.

While the removal of the 2-on-2 Shootout mode is disappointing for fans of the original arcade–style fun, the expanded roster and squad-selection mechanic more than compensate by adding tactical nuance. The seamless performance and attractive presentation further solidify Goal! Two as a standout choice for any soccer enthusiast.

For casual gamers and football purists alike, Goal! Two strikes a commendable balance between accessibility and depth. Its modest production values never overshadow the core gameplay, ensuring that every match feels meaningful. If you’re looking for a retro soccer experience that rewards strategic thinking and quick reflexes, Goal! Two is well worth adding to your collection.

Retro Replay Score

6.1/10