Infogrames secured the right to the UEFA licence a couple of years ago, but this Rage Software-developed arcade football game is the first to take advantage of the moniker.
Steve Bradley

UEFA? FIFA? What next, Nationwide League Soccer?
Look, the softies love a nice label to hang around the neck of their latest sporting baby. Michael Owen's World League Soccer '99 (phew!) was pretty dire, but our wunderkind sold the game to the masses. EA have been shifting FIFA games for years on the strength of the licence. If you can't beat 'em...

I remember Rage's first PlayStation Striker game
You do? It came out moons ago when the PlayStation launched in the UK. Striker was half decent too, but rather let down by a ridiculous slide-tackle feature where you could send about five players hurtling in on some hapless soul from 10 yards away.

UEFA Striker is better, then?
Yes, it is. It takes elements of both ISS Pro and Actua Soccer and melds them into a highly enjoyable footballing experience. For instance, it has ISS's beautifully realised, defence splitting through ball features, but the overall action has the pace and fluidity which you associate with the splendid Actua Soccer 3.

Real teams? Real players?
Oh yes. There's a rather bizarre combination of European teams, with just five Premiership teams, including Liverpool and Aston Villa. Why Leeds, Newcastle and Tottenham aren't included is a mystery, especially as they're playing in the UEFA Cup next season. But with 130 teams in all (including national teams) it's pretty comprehensive.

What about my favourite team?
You can customise a number of teams, including strips and player names.