Hey, did you know that Rock It Games just released a new Jaleco Sports compilation? Well, I certainly didn't until a viewer brought it to my attention. This brand-new classic game collection features both Goal! Two on the Nintendo Entertainment System, as well as Super Goal! 2 on the Super NES. Those are definitely sports games, but are either of them actually worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Computer & Video Games, Nintendo Power and more classic magazines that reviewed these games back when they first came out. It's time to once again hit the pitch in this brand new episode of Jaleco Sports Review Crew.


When Jaleco released Goal on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1989, it was met with nothing but negative reviews. The critics used words like “slow,” “confusing” and “annoying” to describe the soccer game. Despite that, Goal apparently sold well enough to warrant a sequel. That game was called Goal! Two (with the number spelled out), and it was released only one month before the debut of Super Goal on the Super NES. It adds more teams, a new tournament mode and even allowed for exhibition matches, both against the computer and real players. In other words, it brought the game more in line with other soccer titles released in the early 1990s. Let's see if any of these changes had an effect on the reviews.

Good news, everybody: The critics “kind of” liked Goal! Two. To be more specific, they didn't hate it. However, there may be a reason for that. We'll start with Nintendo Power, who liked the game a bit more than its predecessor. They liked that the “24 teams offer a lot of different styles of play” and that the “options to choose lineup and formation are a nice feature.” However, they complained that “the angle of the field can make it difficult for you to tell where you are in relationship to the goal.” They gave the sequel a score of 3.1 out of 5, up a tenth of a point over the first game.

Video Games & Computer Entertainment liked the game a lot more than that, giving it a decent score of 7.4 out of 10. Despite having a few issues with the presentation, Zach Meston ended up recommending the game to NES owners: “Keen viewpoint aside, the graphics are simplistically drawn, and there is some nasty sprite flicker when too many players appear on the screen at once. The sound effects and music are both average, as is usually the case with sports games. The verdict: Goal! Two shoots and scores. It's a near-perfect mixture of action and strategy that will leave both casual game players and soccer junkies satisfied.”

If you're wondering why all of the critics (kind of) like Goal now, it's probably because none of the British press weighed in. They were far more critical of soccer games in the UK than here in the States, with Mean Machines and Total giving the original scores in the 30% range. With those critics remaining silent, Goal! Two managed to earn an overall average of 68%, up a whopping 24 points over the original game. That's what happens when only American critics review a soccer game.

While it's true that the critics weren't exactly blown away by the original 8-bit version of Goal, they were more impressed with the Super NES installment released in 1992. Now, two years later, Jaleco is back with Super Goal! 2, this time without the number spelled out. Where the original jump to 16-bit benefited the series in a lot of important ways, this sequel was seen as more of the same. It was, at best, an easy-to-learn soccer game for those who aren't all that picky about the sport. This may help to explain why Jaleco didn't even bother releasing this version in Europe. Let's see what the reviews looked like.

The good news is that Super Goal! 2 on the Super NES had a lot more reviews than its 8-bit counterpart, likely due to it simply being a 16-bit game in 1994. Like normal, Electronic Gaming Monthly was right in the middle of the pack, giving the game a lowish 6.5 out of 10. Half the editors gave it sixes, while the other half gave it sevens. Al was one of the critics who gave it a 6: “Well, guys, I'll tell you right now. I am not a big fan of sports games and this game, like most of them, just didn't tickle me the way I like it. The problem I found was that the players on the field were too small and I'd lose myself in the crowd. Well, at least the play control was good and there were tons of playing options to configure to the player's preference. Soccer fans should like it.” Dano, on the other hand, gave it a 7: “One of the nice things about this cart is that even if you don't have any knowledge of soccer, you and a buddy can still pick up the controller and have a good time without having to familiarize yourself with all the technical aspects of the game. It's not the best soccer game I've played, but it's not the worst either.”

Do you remember how I mentioned that the British press was far harsher on the Goal franchise than the American critics? That is definitely the case when it comes to Super Goal! 2, where the ceiling for the game was a disappointing 60%. That's the score Super Play gave it in their 19th issue. “Perhaps next time the Japanese have a go at producing a footy sim, they could put aside some time to examine all of the factors which make Western versions better than their efforts. And learn from them.”

And if you think that's bad, just wait until you get a load of Computer & Video Games, who went all the way down to a pitiful 38%. “Follows in the great tradition of the Goal! series by being decidedly awful. Check out our Kick Off 3 review instead.” It's true, CVG gave Kick-Off 3, Sensible Soccer and Manchester United scores in the 90% range.

Moving back up the scale, we see Game Players actually like the sequel, giving it a score of 74%. GamePro went even higher, giving it a 4 out of 5. However, it's the Super NES Buyer's Guide who ultimately gave it the highest score, an 82%. Guy had a lot of good things to say about the game: “Super Goal 2 has some excellent graphics and very good Mode 7 scaling, which is the thing that will win you over, even if you're not a sports fan. But the game will probably not convert many. The sound is nice and the multiple options make this the soccer game to get. A must for sports fans.” Dude liked it even better than Guy: “Super Goal 2 is a great improvement over the first installment. The field perspective has been changed to scale with the fast-paced game action. The animation of the players and the game control have also been upgraded. If you were a fan of the first Super Goal, you are sure to enjoy this improved version.”

As you can see, there's a real divide when it comes to the American and British critics. This is often the case when it comes to soccer games, largely because the UK critics were far more invested in the sport that we were here in the U.S. With the scores all over the place, the overall average sits at a disappointing 66%. That's actually down 11 points from the first Super NES game. Your mileage may vary on this one.