Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Hooligans presents a unique twist on the classic real-time strategy formula by placing players in charge of a ragtag band of football hooligans intent on creating chaos both inside and around the stadium. Rather than building bases or harvesting resources, your objective is to coordinate crowd movements, select targets among rival supporters, and oversee the systematic destruction of stadium assets. Each mission challenges you to strike a balance between aggression and strategy—charge in too quickly, and you’ll lose valuable manpower; move too slowly, and law enforcement reinforcements will seal the area off.

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The core loop of recruiting new members, equipping them with makeshift weapons, and assigning roles such as “Blocker,” “Brawler,” or “Saboteur” keeps the action varied. Units earn experience through successful melees or property damage, unlocking special abilities like Molotov cocktails or graffiti-based area denial. Stealth elements also appear when you slip past security cameras and slipshod patrols to position explosives near concession stands or fan zones. These tactical decisions lend surprising depth to what could otherwise be a one-note brawl-fest.

However, the AI of both your allies and opposition can be inconsistent. On higher difficulties, rival fans and police squads react swiftly, flanking your crews or calling in riot shields that force you to reconsider frontal assaults. Yet on mid-level settings, groups can stand idle for precious seconds, breaking immersion. Despite occasional pathfinding hiccups, the adrenaline rush of coordinating synchronized strikes and witnessing the ripple effect of your sabotage—overturned barricades, scorched goal posts, broken fences—remains deeply satisfying.

Graphics

The visual style of Hooligans leans into gritty, cartoonish realism: characters have exaggerated proportions, blood spatters are stylized, and background scenery is richly detailed with vendor stalls, seating tiers, and team banners. The color palette shifts from bright reds and blues inside the stadium to dull grays and browns in the surrounding streets, effectively conveying the descent from festive matchday atmosphere into chaotic pandemonium.

Destructible environments are the game’s graphical highlight. You can watch as railings twist under force, concrete barriers crumble beneath your improvised battering rams, and fires spread in real time across wooden stands. Coupled with dynamic lighting effects—particularly the flicker of burning trash bins and the glow of flare gun shots—Hooligans feels dynamic and alive, even if you’ve replayed a scenario several times.

Performance remains largely stable on modern hardware. Occasional frame drops when multiple explosions coincide can occur, but these moments are fleeting. Character animations—punches, tackles, and grappling throws—are smooth and varied enough to avoid feeling repetitive. Minor clipping issues appear when bodies collapse into railing or vehicles, but these slip-ups feel more like amusing quirks than serious flaws.

Story

Rather than a traditional narrative, Hooligans opts for mission-based storytelling. You’re never asked to ponder existential dilemmas—your sole motivation is the next riot, the next brawl, and the next smashed scoreboard. Brief mission briefs provide context (a heated derby, an away match provocation, or a high-profile cup final), but characters remain archetypal thugs rather than fully fleshed-out personalities.

While some players may crave a deeper emotional hook or character-driven arcs, the lack of a heavy storyline lets you jump straight into the action. Each scenario’s premise taps into real-world football subculture tropes—jeering rival banners, anti-establishment graffitis, midnight rendezvous in deserted parklands—offers just enough setting to keep you invested in “winning” each riotous encounter.

A handful of voiced cutscenes bookend major campaign milestones, featuring brief exchanges that underscore the hooligan code of loyalty and escalation. Though the dialogue is cliché at times (chants of “Nothing but trouble!” and “Show no mercy!”), its tongue-in-cheek delivery suggests the developers are well aware of the game’s over-the-top premise and lean into it rather than shy away.

Overall Experience

Hooligans isn’t a game you play for feel-good teamwork or uplifting story arcs; it’s a riot simulator, pure and simple. Fans of strategic action will appreciate the solid unit management and environment interaction, while others may be drawn to the novelty of controlling a mob rather than an army. It delivers a high-octane thrill ride with enough depth to justify repeated playthroughs and experimentation across difficulty levels.

The game’s mature themes and stylized violence may be off-putting to some, so potential buyers should be aware of its unapologetic focus on vandalism and brawling. If you’re looking for a lighthearted soccer management sim, this isn’t it—but if you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to orchestrate the perfect stadium riot, Hooligans will scratch that itch with gusto.

In summary, Hooligans stands out as an ambitious, if controversial, entry in the RTS genre. Its blend of destructible environments, unit progression, and unapologetic lawlessness makes for a memorable, if morally ambiguous, gaming experience. Whether you’re drawn by the dark humor or the strategic challenge, this title offers a fresh perspective on what it means to “win” in unconventional battlefields.

Retro Replay Score

5.2/10