Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions is Bandai Namco’s arcade soccer adaptation of the popular Captain Tsubasa manga. While we wait for an actual release date for the PlayStation 4, Steam, and Nintendo Switch, Bandai’s released an action-packed trailer highlighting some of the main characters you’ll take the field with.
There’s Shun Nitto, the Falcon Shooter, and Ace Killer Makoto Soda. Kojiro Hyuga the Fierce Tiger makes an appearance as well, alongside Hiroshi Jito, the Powerful Defender.
All this probably means very little to someone unfamiliar with the manga. It’s been over 10 years since we last got a Captain Tsubasa console game, after all. But each of these characters’ special names relate to their unique skills used on the field.
And that’s where Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions sets itself apart from other soccer games. The controls are basic enough for anyone to pick up, and each character has a special skill and ability that activates under certain conditions depending on the match and where the character is on the field.
Unlike Super Mario Strikers, where a special move basically meant you lose a goal whatever you do, skills in Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions are also used to block goals. So, on top of normal soccer gameplay, you’ll be balancing your Spirit Gauge (used to pull of skills and moves) and wielding offensive and defensive special skills to try and get the edge over your opponents.
Anime sports games are surprisingly thin on the ground right now. We already think this one is going to be big, so we’ll be watching it closely in the coming months. Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions news as it develops.
