Fudgerylog

I first learned about Total Attack!! Soccer from the review by Steffan O’Sullivan. It is no longer in print, but I eventually acquired a copy, and after a long wait I finally played my first game.

My opponent was my mother, and we decided to start with the basic game as recommended in the rules. We didn’t have time to play a full game, so we played just a single half, which consists of 45 turns.

Mater scored the first goal by dribbling the ball straight past my goalkeeper. I evened the score by dribbling it straight past hers.

She then attempted to shoot, but my goalkeeper saved, whereupon the action was taken back to her end of the field and one of my players took a shot and scored a goal for the lead.

Later, Mater outmaneuvered my fullbacks and goalkeeper to score another goal (I had foolishly allowed my goalkeeper to stray and was one hex too far away to attempt a save). The score was 2-2 and I was the Offense, but Mater swiftly stole the ball and pressed home another attack with scant minutes left on the Clock, firing another shot at my goal hexes. This time, however, my goalkeeper was in place and successfully made the save, leaving one turn left, thus ending the half (since the ball cannot be moved from one end of the field to the other in a single turn).

There was much running, passing, and tackling, too, but without a system of notation or a series of illustrations I’m not quite sure how to describe it. Be assured, however, that the game has an excellent pace.

All in all, it was a fun game that I am sure is even more satisfying as the advanced rules are added, which we shall be implementing in the near future. Further actual play reports will follow.