The original game based on the lad Gascoigne appeared before all the media hype surrounding the 'Spurs hero', so it comes as no surprise that a sequel should be released to cash in on his new-
Gazza II is basically a Player Manager style game, in that you take the role of manager to set up tactics and make team decisions, while the match sections have you controlling the field team when actually on the field.
Up to sixteen people can play in a European Super
When your team is ready for a match, you can call up the fixtures to find out various statistics on the team you are due to play. Then it's off to the match!
Division One?
Once all the week's games have been played, the results are compiled and a league table is drawn up. At this point you can review your team and tactics to improve your performance. New tactics can be learnt by the team through entering the training section. Here you can alter player positions in set pieces, set up man-to-
Once you have designed your tactics you can elect to send your team into the gym to improve their fitness, or refine their techniques by giving them extra training tactics.
While the team is getting fit, the manager can get on with the serious business of running the club, using scouts to keep an eye on the other teams and keep a watch out for possible worthy transfers. It's also a good idea to keep on the good side of the bank manager, since flagging funds can be boosted with a quick bank loan!
Fog-on-the-Tyne
Despite the ability to include a number of human players and the wide range of option screens, Gazza II has surprisingly little depth. The management side is limited, with the basic functions of transfers, training and a few tactics the only things really covered.
But it's the matchplay sections that really let the game down. The animation of the sprites is extremely jittery, making it a chore to move the players around the field. The control over the players seems to be minimal, with frequent portions of the game being played without any of your team members on the field. Trying to piece together a coherent attack is rather tedious, usually leaving you frustrated and lying on the pitch when the opposition put in a rather unfair tackle.
The proceedings are broken up by some terribly unfunny dialogue between Gazza and the match commentator - an option which invariably results in the space-bar being hammered to move on to the next screen.
If you're an ardent Tottenham fan, or simply worship Gazza like a god, then you'll probably want to boost your collection of Paul Gascoigne memorabilia with this, but for anyone else... well, it's enough to make a footy fan blub!