Play Head-on Soccer Online

Head-On Soccer came out for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995, published by U.S. Gold. It was one of many sports titles on the platform, arriving at a time when developers were experimenting with how to translate the flow of a real match into a 16-bit format. The game offered a straightforward take on the sport without the licensing of major teams or leagues.

You control a team of players on a side-scrolling pitch, moving them up and down the field to pass and shoot. The main objective is to outscore your opponent, either against the computer or a second player. Two of its signature mechanics are the ability to perform sliding tackles, which often sent opponents tumbling, and the option to launch a powerful, targeted shot by holding down the fire button to charge it. The game moves at a brisk pace, and matches can become frantic as you try to steal the ball and mount a counter-attack. It feels like a quick, sometimes scrappy, arcade version of soccer where a single breakaway can decide the game.