Three outfield players per side, the ball always in play, outrageous special moves and power-ups, and no referee to stem the tide of bad challenges? No, not a Sunday morning kick-up on Hackney Marshes, rather Sega Soccer Slam on the PS2. Yes, its soccer alright, but with more than a few twists. Believe us when we tell you, you will need to spend some time in Practice mode before heading into the game proper. Sega Soccer Slam will beat you every time in single player mode if you dont. In multiplayer mode, you wont get the benefit of all the tricks and manoeuvres available. It makes things a lot easier if you take the practice route first. In Quest Mode, players take their selected team through a series of matches, unlocking secret stadium locations and gaining access to hidden items that improve player attributes. Gamers will also be able to save their enhanced player attributes earned in Quest Mode for use in other game modes. Other game options include Arcade Mode, the fastest way to get into the action; Challenge Mode, wherein the player enters into a series of matches and, if successful, they will be able to unlock secret characters. Finally, there is a round-robin Tourney Mode with multiplayer action. Sega Soccer Slam features a couple of mini-games for those not entertained enough already. Brawl is pretty much self-explanatory: a last-man-standing affair that has as much to do with wrestling as it has to do with football. Hot Potato is a game where you keep control of the ball to accumulate bonus points. Protect your bonus by passing the ball at the right times, but dont hang onto it for too long. As the timer runs down, the closer the ball gets to exploding. If youre outside its blast radius when the ball explodes, you have every chance of winning. If youre looking for a football game thatll entertain as much in solo mode as well as providing multiplayer hilarity to spare, Sega Soccer Slam fits the bill to a tee. Serious football fans, those who simply must play This is Football, ISS or Pro Evolution, will be horrified. The rest of us will be too busy laughing.