Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions Review

Captain Tsubasa has a long history. Through Manga and Anime, this Japanese series has even impacted the world of Football/Soccer. Despite being around for 40 years, there have been few games to make it outside of Japan. Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions is here to remedy this, bringing some much needed fresh Soccer to the Switch (and other platforms). With FIFA currently coasting along on “Legacy” updates, can Tsubasa give us something fresh?

First off, I am going to call it Soccer throughout just for clarity. Now, Captain Tsubasa isn’t more of a Soccer sim like FIFA, it is an arcade-style Soccer game, with a generous dose of dialogue between matches. Mario Strikers definitely came to mind when playing this game, and the world could do with more games like this. 

There are two different story modes, Episode: Tsubasa and Episode: New Hero. Tsubasa’s episode focuses on Tsubasa and his journey to the World Cup. While he has proven he is amongst the best, his rivals have all been training and catching up to Tsubasa. This is a shorter episode, helping to introduce you to the characters and get used to the series’ take on Soccer. Through this mode you’re playing through a story, so as a result it is more straightforward than the next episode.

I found it to be a nice introduction to the characters and the premise of the series. At a very young age Tsubasa is saved from a car accident by a miraculous soccer ball, he becomes essentially the chosen one of the sport. While those unfamiliar with the series will still feel lost when a heap of characters show up, over the course of the episode you’ll unlock movies that recap story moments and character introductions. Fortunately the story isn’t overly complex so you’re never really out of your depth. 

Episode: New Hero brings a custom player into the world of Captain Tsubasa. From a variety of options to customise my player, most seemed to just be taken from the other characters. So I made my Frankenstein monster of a player and unleashed him on the Soccer field. This mode is less straightforward than the Tsubasa episode. Conversations now give you options with how to respond, in some cases how you answer leads to different outcomes. I wish it was a little more clear on when your choice would matter in that way though. You also choose which team you want to join and who you want to build a friendship with, you can even be chums with Tsubasa himself! As the game progresses you can learn those characters special techniques, it pays to befriend players that have moves to suit your playing style. 

I found myself immediately caught up in this world of over the top Soccer and characters filled to the brim with enthusiasm. Coming into the series fresh with a lot of catching up to do it was still easy to get swept up in it all. While there might be a lot of dialogue to get through, and it might be predictable, but it’s still entertaining enough. Almost immediately you’ll discover this is almost more Visual Novel than a Soccer game

Just like with usual Soccer, it was often low scoring despite how intense matches got. During the Tsubasa episode I dreaded low scoring games because of how easy it is for it to fall apart, if all they do is score one goal without enough time to wear down the goalie. If you want to enjoy the journey you have to be a winner and I didn’t always play that well. 

While I’m a bit rusty with my Mario Strikers days long behind me, I felt I still have the basics deep in my muscle memory. The only problem is that the game seems to fight to keep you from playing Soccer. When the ball got away from me I hit the nearest player button, only for it to go to someone nowhere near. Simple passes to nearby players deemed absolute folly by the CPU as it directed it to the opposition instead. Pass through kicks felt just as unreliable, some passes just tapping it nowhere in particular despite other players in sight.

If you want any chance of getting past the goalkeeper you’re going to have to get their spirit meter down. This led to my team constantly having a go, recovering the ball and repeating until the goalie couldn’t take any more. You can also slip the ball past them, but the goalies are pretty relentless...or I am bad at kicking goals? Not everyone will have an issue with this, and Soccer isn’t a high scoring game usually. In sports games we can get used to being able to completely dominate a match and bury the opposition with outrageous scores. Even with more of an arcade feel to Tsubasa it is only fitting that the matches feel like they’re a constant battle of tug of war. There are also moments in matches where it cuts away to a scene, they’re often flashy anime super powered Soccer. Only you never know when they’ll essentially result in a free goal for the opposition. These cutscenes are never too long, and some you’ll see plenty of times. They do break up the flow of the game out of nowhere. You can also take your team online. You can even put your custom character in the squad once you’ve gotten deeper into that episode.  

There’s Versus matches for local multiplayer if you just want to have a match. If you want to go online for a game, Division matches are there for you. The Division is also a ranked mode, the first two starting ranks will see you placed up against CPU opponents. Make it to the highest rank in the amateur league and higher, you get to take on actual people. Each season only goes for so long before it starts over, or so the game told me. It’s cool that the game makes sure you’re good enough to move up the ranks and easing the way with CPU opponents. Although unfortunately it means if you want to jump right into some online ranked matches with other players it’s going to take some time. 

There are also Room Matches if you just want a game against another player without it impacting on your ranking. I made a room with no luck of anyone joining and when rooms showed up their rooms were locked. It might be best if you have a friend with the game too, otherwise 

Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions often feels like an energetic visual novel filled with Soccer minigames. The Soccer is fast paced and over the top in a way that always keeps it exciting. The visual novel sections are full of enthusiasm and they do a great job of building up the matches. The game can falter when the dialogue goes on for a little too long, and when the Soccer doesn’t feel as responsive. Overall Rise of New Champions is a must buy for Captain Tsubasa fans, and there’s plenty to enjoy for Soccer/Football fans who don’t mind supercharged powerkicks.

The Score

7

Review code provided by Bandai Namco

The Pros

+The Soccer is enjoyable and easy to jump into

+The enthusiasm and energy of the Captain Tsubasa world is a joy

The Cons

+There can be a bit too much dialogue

+Passing and player switching is unreliable in a frustrating way