Super Sidekicks 3 (MAME)

The World Cup is upon us. I have only a passing interest in football and up until I discovered this gem of a series, gave football games a VERY wide berth.
A few months ago, I set up the Neo Geo and randomly found myself playing Neo Turf Masters out of curiosity (I only own a multi-cart at the moment). I was amazed at how accessible Turf Masters was, I couldn't care less about golf as a sport but I've poured a good few hours into the game since. Pristine sprites, memorable tunes and surprisingly deep arcade gameplay had me constantly coming back for more. With all the hype surrounding the World Cup, Super Sidekicks 3 has had me well and truly addicted for the past few weeks.

I discovered SS3 on the SNK Anthology disc I picked up for the Wii, but alas the lack of classic controller support meant that my hand began to ache after a few matches when using the Wii D-pad. I found the best way to enjoy the game if you don't own a Neo Geo is to play it in MAME with a Saturn USB pad. I plan on purchasing the AES cartridge when I have the money.
I've yet to spend time with the first installment of Super Sidekicks, but I found the second game also provides a great arcade kick about. The Smooth gameplay, simple control setup and truly beautiful 2D visuals within SS3 seal the deal though. There is more charm in this game than a thousand Fifas and Pro Evolutions, even the flamboyant celebration scenes (see below) are painstakingly detailed and look amazing.

SS and Turf Masters are two examples of how to do an arcade game based on sport. To state the obvious, the lack of emphasis on realism is insignificant. These games are accessible, beautiful to look at and to listen to. They also evoke feelings of nostalgia, timelessness, and provide sheer arcade enjoyment. I never had any interest in golf or football games, but both SS and Turf Masters are impossible not to love. What are you waiting for?