UEFA Striker
{{Short description|1999 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|developer = Rage Software
|publisher = Infogrames
|platforms = PlayStation, Dreamcast
|series = Striker
|release = PlayStation
{{vgrelease|EU|22 October 1999{{Cite magazine|title=Dreamcast/PlayStation Preview: UEFA Striker|date=7 October 1999|magazine=The List|url=https://archive.list.co.uk/the-list/1999-10-07/109/|page=107|issue=371}}|NA|April 2000{{cite web |author=IGN staff |date=24 April 2000 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/04/25/the-games-of-aprilmay |title=The Games of April/May |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=15 September 2020}}}}Dreamcast
{{vgrelease|EU|22 October 1999|NA|15 May 2000{{cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Shahed |date=17 May 2000 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/striker-pro-2000-ships/1100-2574090/ |title=Striker Pro 2000 Ships [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"] |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=15 September 2020}}}}
|genre = Sports video game
|modes = Single-player, multiplayer
|image = UEFA Striker cover.png
|caption =
|alt =
}}
UEFA Striker, known in North America as Striker Pro 2000, is a sports video game developed by Rage Software and published by Infogrames in 1999-2000. It is the final game in the Striker series following the cancellation of its sequel, UEFA 2001, the following year.
Gameplay
The game allows players to choose from 51 European national teams, 44 domestic clubs and 20 "bonus teams", with individual players modelled with 16 different attributes. Players also have the ability to create their own teams and kits, edit existing players and edit the names of existing cups and leagues.{{Cite journal |date=2 September 1999 |title=Interview: in the hot seat with Paul Finnegan |journal=Official Dreamcast Magazine (UK ) |publisher=Dennis Publishing |pages=128}} Game modes include training, friendly matches, knockout cups, classic matches, leagues and tournaments. The UEFA licence enabled the inclusion of official Euro 2000 qualifying matches and the final tournament as a game mode, but other major cups and leagues are "cunningly disguised" with names such as the Euro Super Trophy standing in for the Champions League.{{Cite journal |last=Hart |first=Lee |date=29 September 1999 |title=Review: UEFA Striker |journal=DC-UK |publisher=Future Publishing |issue=2 |pages=20–23}} Commentary is provided by Ron Atkinson and Jonathan Pearce, with Ruud Gullit providing analysis before international fixtures.
Development
Julian Widdows, a producer at Rage Software, told Dreamcast Monthly magazine that the team's intention was to "create something that felt like real football" and to allow players to "be able to draw the defenders the same way you do in real life, to make space and to make moves".{{Cite journal |date=30 September 1999 |title=Showcase: UEFA Striker |journal=Dreamcast Monthly |publisher=Quay Magazine Publishing |issue=2 |pages=14–21}} The title was initially developed under the title Ruud Gullit's Striker, with Ruud Gullit involved on a "consultancy basis" and providing commentary, but this shifted when the UEFA licence was acquired.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| align = left
| SDC = true
| PS = true
| na = true
| GR_SDC = 74%{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/198836-striker-pro-2000/index.html |title=Striker Pro 2000 for Dreamcast |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505063403/https://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/198836-striker-pro-2000/index.html |archive-date=5 May 2019 |access-date=15 September 2020}}
| CNG_SDC = 7/10{{cite web |last=Mahood |first=Andy |date=21 June 2000 |url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Consoles/Dreamcast/Strikerpro2k/ |title=Striker Pro 2000 (DC) [Incomplete] |website=Gamecenter |publisher=CNET |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000818202002/http://www.gamecenter.com/Consoles/Dreamcast/Strikerpro2k/ |archive-date=18 August 2000 |access-date=6 February 2021}}
| CVG_PS = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Huhtala |first=Alex |url=https://archive.org/details/CVG_217_1999-12/page/n81/mode/2up |title=UEFA Striker (PS) |magazine=Computer and Video Games |publisher=EMAP |issue=217 |date=December 1999 |pages=82–83 |access-date=6 February 2021}}
| EGM_SDC = 7/10{{cite magazine |author=EGM staff |title=Striker Pro 2000 (DC) |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |year=2000}}
| Fam_SDC = 24/40{{cite magazine |url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=12738&redirect=no |title=スーパーユーロサッカー2000 [ドリームキャスト] |language=Japanese |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |access-date=15 September 2020}}
| GI_SDC = 6.75/10{{cite magazine |title=Striker Pro 2000 (DC) |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=88 |date=August 2000}}
| JXV_SDC = 14/20{{cite web |author=la redaction |date=9 December 1999 |url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00000402_test.htm |title=Test: UEFA Striker (DCAST) |language=French |website=Jeuxvideo.com |publisher=Webedia |access-date=15 September 2020 |archive-date=17 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917032518/https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00000402_test.htm |url-status=live }}
| OPMUK_PS = 8/10{{cite magazine |last=Calvert |first=Justin |url=https://archive.org/details/opm052/page/n117/mode/2up |title=UEFA Striker |magazine=Official UK PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Future Publishing |issue=52 |date=December 1999 |page=119 |access-date=15 September 2020}}
| OPM_PS = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Davison |first=John |url=https://archive.org/details/Official_U.S._Playstation_Magazine_Issue_33_June_2000/page/n105/mode/2up |title=Striker Pro 2000 |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |volume=3 |issue=9 |date=June 2000 |page=109 |access-date=6 February 2021}}
}}
The PlayStation version received favourable reviews, while the Dreamcast version received average reviews, according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. In Japan, where the latter was ported and published by Imagineer on 6 April 2000 under the name {{nihongo|Super Euro Soccer 2000|スーパーユーロサッカー2000|Sūpā Yūro Sakkā 2000}}, Famitsu gave it a score of 24 out of 40.
{{clear}}
Cancelled sequel
A follow-up, UEFA 2001, was announced for the Dreamcast in 2000, but was cancelled in October 2000 when Infogrames re-evaluated their support for the console, and the game was never released on any platform.Official Dreamcast Magazine, October 2000, page 29
References
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