Midway’s release of RedCard 20-03 was greeted with the same anticipation as the latest incarnation of Hitz or Blitz. With the skillful animation and flair for capitalizing on the root elements of a game and accentuating them, surely this soccer (or football, as those outside the United States know it) program would be a winner.

It is.

RedCard 20-03 may not have the finesse moves of 2002 FIFA World Cup, and may be a little arcade-oriented when compared to MLS Extratime 2002, but when it comes to delivering a solid and entertaining experience, this game is right up there.

The game is option-rich, and really allows players the opportunity to set up the action just the way they want it. However, there are constants within the realm of the game that set the overall tone.

First, this game features some outrageous tackles, which are likely to send a player head-over-heels. A clothesline is not out of the normal either. The referee often ignores the more serious ankle-breaking tackles, but pulls out that card (either yellow or red) for seemingly minor infractions.

Second, the game has a limited range of special moves, which are translated by the evade-juke key (B). This will help players avoid that blatant cheap shot, or foul, and continue toward the goal. Don’t expect to see a wide array of moves. Most of the players will use the same ones.

The game itself takes about 10 minutes to get comfortable with, control-wise. Rather than designate the A or B button for the shots, the game uses the Z button (the top button on the right end of the controller), which caused several minutes of merely passing the ball around the opposition’s 18 before the right key was found to finish the run.

The game does feature 50 international teams with national players – which is a very nice touch. If you are going to play as the team from Brazil, having the names of that country’s national players (whether they actually play like them or not) is very nice. Of course, as you move along, you can unlock stadiums (this game features a nice array of international pitches), players and moves – which provide the arcade element.

Graphically the game is very good. The animations are realistic and the environments are solid. The camera is fixed, but there are enough positions to give players a good view of the action. The sound of this game does a solid job of supporting the graphics.

This is a fast-paced, hard-hitting game. It may not have the totally outrageous antics of NFL Blitz, or NHL Hitz, but it does thrive on contact, speed and transition. You can execute a lob pass to a head-on to a through-pass combination for the shot. And if the keeper makes a diving save, rolls to his feet and gets the ball back into play, you had better be ready to transition to defense.

While it technically may not be the best in the genre, this game is exciting to watch and fun to play – and that is what gaming is all about.

This program is rated for Everyone.

Gameplay: 7.8
The action is smooth, and features dynamic replays of goals. From the opening whistle to the final whistle, the game moves at an excellent pace.

Graphics: 7.5
The players may not have the range of moves of other console-platform titles, but the animation is still well done. Environments are equally well rendered.

Sound: 7.4
The announcing is excellent and the effects are what one would expect.

Difficulty: Easy
Controls drift from the normal of most games in RedCard, and you may find yourself pounding away on the wrong button in anticipation of the shot (as in hitting the A or B button instead of the Z button). Give yourself about 10 minutes to get comfortable with the control system and you’ll have the play options down. Beginning with “Friendlies” is the simplest way to learn the control system for this game.

Concept: 7.5
Midway has concentrated on the physical nature of the sport, which is slightly different from games in this genre.

Multiplayer: 7.5
The computer AI is good, but games such as this really shine when you play against someone and can execute a particularly nasty slide-tackle and laud it over them.

Overall: 7.8
RedCard 20-03 has captured some solid moves by players, and then wrapped them up with hard-hitting, fast-paced action to deliver a game that is graphically pleasing and fun to play.