Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

AFL Premiership 2007 puts you straight into the thick of an authentic Australian Football League match. From the first centre bounce to the final siren, the game’s pacing mirrors real AFL action, demanding quick reflexes, smart positioning and precise kicks. Whether you’re racking up possessions in midfield or threading the needle to slot a goal on the run, the controls feel intuitive yet deep enough to reward mastery.

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The variety of modes on offer—Single Match, Season, Career, Mission and Training—caters to purists and newcomers alike. Single Match is perfect for a quick kick, letting you randomise weather, stadium and even tweak the rules, while Season and Career mode deliver long-term engagement through ladder battles, stats tracking and player progression. The Mission Mode, with its historical match challenges and score-deficit handicaps, adds a fresh layer of strategic problem-solving that feels like reliving real AFL drama.

Under the hood, the AI adapts reasonably well to your style of play. Defensive pressure intensifies against dominant players, and teammates intelligently lead into space for handballs and marks. While occasional pathfinding quirks emerge near congested packs, overall the computer-controlled sides present a credible challenge. Multiplayer support via PS2 Multitap ramps up the excitement, turning your living room into a mini-stadium for up to four friends.

Adding to the immersion, the game integrates the EyeToy and Digimask features, so you can map your own face onto a player model. This novelty never gets old—seeing your own grin after a match-winning snap kick is a highlight. Training Mode rounds out the package, offering drills that teach fundamental skills and timing, making AFL Premiership 2007 accessible for those new to the sport while still offering depth for experienced footy fans.

Graphics

Visually, AFL Premiership 2007 makes solid use of the PS2’s capabilities. Each of the major stadiums—Melbourne Cricket Ground, Docklands, Adelaide Oval, Subiaco, and more—is faithfully recreated with accurate signage, crowd animations and even subtle lighting differences. The variation in turf textures and weather effects (such as rain-drenched grounds and overcast skies) enhances the feeling of playing at different venues across Australia.

Player models benefit from updated stats and team kits that look crisp and brightly coloured, even under the sometimes flat overhead lighting. Animations flow smoothly between sprints, tackles and spectacular marks, capturing the athletic dynamics of AFL. While close-up facial detail doesn’t rival modern consoles, the Digimask head-mapping tech provides a fun personalization feature, and the commentary team helpfully calls out player names and match statistics in real time.

The user interface strikes a good balance between functionality and immersion. Match HUD elements—such as the mini-map, possession arrows and kick meters—are rendered cleanly without obscuring the on-field action. Menus in Season and Career modes present extensive stats, leaderboards and fixture lists in a straightforward layout, making it easy to plan training sessions or track Brownlow and Coleman Medal tallies.

Performance is generally stable, with few frame-rate dips even during scrappy free-for-all packs in the goal square. Occasional clipping issues arise when players converge for a high mark, but they don’t hamper the overall spectacle. For a mid-2000s sports title, AFL Premiership 2007 strikes a commendable balance between graphical fidelity and smooth gameplay.

Story

Strictly speaking, AFL Premiership 2007 doesn’t feature a scripted storyline like a narrative-driven RPG, but it weaves a compelling arc through its Career and Mission modes. Career Mode evolves organically from pre-season training camps to finals glory, complete with form slumps, break-out young stars and off-season delistings. This emergent drama keeps you invested as you shape your club’s destiny over multiple campaigns.

Mission Mode channels the spirit of classic AFL moments by putting you in the shoes of teams overcoming historic deficits or nursing slender leads in the dying seconds. Each mission’s handicap replicates real tensions from past seasons, whether you’re chasing down a 40-point deficit or defending a one-point lead with mere seconds left on the clock. The sense of triumph when you complete these challenges is genuine and emotionally satisfying.

Season Mode adds further narrative texture by tracking league-wide awards—Brownlow, Coleman, club best and fairest—and generating leaderboards that spark friendly rivalries. You’ll find yourself pressing through tough fixtures to leapfrog rivals on the ladder or guiding a raw recruit to a breakout season worthy of the Rising Star award. Even without a traditional campaign, the statistical milestones offer their own storyline.

While there’s no dialogue-driven plot, the ebb and flow of wins, losses and statistical achievements provides enough drama to keep casual players and AFL fanatics engaged. The career trajectory you script for your coach and squad becomes your personal story, complete with highs, lows and unforgettable comebacks.

Overall Experience

AFL Premiership 2007 stands as a solid representation of Australian Football on the PS2 platform. Its official licensing means full team and player rosters, authentic stadiums and real-world rules that faithfully capture the complexity of the sport. The blend of quick-fire matches and longer-term career management caters to both spare-time kick-about players and those seeking deeper strategic engagement.

Replay value is high, thanks to varied match conditions, robust online leaderboards (where supported), and the ever-enticing Mission challenges. Multiplayer sessions remain a blast, whether you’re staging mini-grand finals with friends or coaching your way through a full season together via multitap.

Some graphical limitations remain—face detail can appear dated by modern standards, and occasional animation hiccups surface. Yet these minor flaws are overshadowed by the game’s commitment to authenticity and its enjoyable, accessible gameplay. For fans of AFL or sports simulations in general, this title delivers hours of satisfying competition.

In conclusion, AFL Premiership 2007 offers an immersive AFL simulation that balances depth, accessibility and replayability. With all 16 teams, over 600 players, multiple modes and innovative features like EyeToy support, it remains a worthy purchase for anyone eager to experience the thrills of Australian football on their living-room console.

Retro Replay Score

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