Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

World Tour Soccer 2006 delivers a robust season-by-season experience that appeals both to casual football fans and to die-hard strategists. You can take the reins of an established club, guiding it through domestic fixtures and continental showdowns. Alternatively, the game’s in-depth team-creation suite lets you design a brand-new squad from scratch: you choose logos, kits, squad roles and tactical presets before kicking off in the school leagues.

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The progression system is satisfyingly layered. Starting in a grassroots league, you’ll chase promotions through multiple tiers—earning glory in local cups before rising to the national top flight. Along the way, you can enter prestigious knockout competitions such as the Champions League, the Euro Club Cup and even the World Cup for international glory. Matches feel weighty when trophies hang in the balance, and the climb from underdog to champion is genuinely rewarding.

One of the standout features is the EyeToy mask integration, which lets you scan your face and map it onto any player in your squad. It adds a personal touch to goal celebrations and post-match interviews, deepening the connection between you and your on-field alter ego. Whether you’re clawing your way out of the lower leagues or strategically rotating your roster for a congested fixture schedule, the variety of modes and customization options ensures that no two careers play out the same way.

Graphics

World Tour Soccer 2006’s visuals capitalize on the PlayStation 2’s strengths, delivering crisp player models and richly detailed stadiums. Pitch textures show realistic turf patterns, and crowd animations bring matchdays to life without ever feeling repetitive. From the roar of the stands to the subtle dust kicked up by a slide tackle, the game’s presentation genuinely captures the stadium atmosphere.

Player likenesses are enhanced by the EyeToy feature, where your own facial scan can be superimposed onto players. While the technology isn’t perfect—small registration errors can sometimes occur—it’s an impressive innovation for its time. Your custom avatar interacts seamlessly with AI teammates, making celebrations and sideline reactions feel uniquely yours.

Lighting and weather effects add another layer of immersion. Rain-soaked pitches reflect stadium lights with a convincing sheen, while daytime matches exhibit realistic sun glare that can influence visibility in goalmouth scrambles. Overall, the graphical package succeeds in making each match feel like a broadcast-quality event.

Story

Although World Tour Soccer 2006 lacks a traditional narrative campaign, it crafts its own emergent stories through the progression system. Each promotion victory, upset against a continental giant or surprise World Cup qualifying run becomes a memorable chapter in your managerial saga. As you juggle squad morale, transfer budgets and tactical tweaks, you’ll find yourself invested in the evolving fortunes of your club or national side.

The game’s “create-a-team” mode allows you to weave your personal story from the ground up. You’ll recruit your first youth prospects in the school league, guide them through national competitions and face off against storied clubs as your crest climbs to prominence. The sense of watching homegrown talents mature into global superstars drives a compelling narrative that’s entirely player-defined.

International tournaments carry their own stakes. Leading a national side to World Cup glory is a rare treat in sports games, and the tension of group-stage qualification through to the final adds dramatic flair. There’s no scripted plot, but the triumphs and heartbreaks you experience will feel as moving as any story-driven title.

Overall Experience

World Tour Soccer 2006 stands out as a deep, versatile football management and action hybrid. Its array of modes—from grassroots league campaigns to high-stakes international tournaments—ensures that there’s always a new challenge on the horizon. The EyeToy integration remains an inspired touch, fostering a unique bond between player and avatar.

Some might find the learning curve steep, especially when balancing league commitments against knockout fixtures, but the payoff is substantial. Matches feel meaningful, and the sense of progression—from local school grounds to the world stage—is one of the most satisfying journeys in sports gaming.

For anyone seeking a comprehensive football experience on PlayStation 2, World Tour Soccer 2006 delivers in both depth and presentation. It may mark the end of the This is Football lineage, but it does so with a flourish—offering players a captivating blend of management and on-pitch action that remains engaging years after its release.

Retro Replay Score

6.1/10