Hi Res Soccer

Last updated: January 9, 2026

Overview

Hi Res Soccer was an early attempt at recreating European football on a computer, developed during the pioneering days of computer gaming¹. Released initially for the Apple II in 1980-1981 by On-Line Systems (later Sierra On-Line), it represented one of the first real-time action soccer games available for personal computers². The game was marketed with the bold claim that it was “the only real-time action Soccer game available for your computer! All tackling, goal kicking, throwing, corner kicks, etc., are shown in full Hi-Res Graphics”².

The game later received a more sophisticated incarnation in 1994 as “Sierra Soccer: World Challenge Edition” for the Amiga platform, developed by Coktel Vision and published by Sierra On-Line³. This later version became notable as the last title Sierra published for the Amiga platform³. The World Cup ‘94 themed version allowed players to compete with either the original teams or random groups, capitalizing on the soccer fever of that year⁴.

Game Info

Developer: On-Line Systems (1980), Coktel Vision (1994)¹³ Designer: Jay Sullivan, Steven A. Dunn¹ Publisher: On-Line Systems, Sierra On-Line²³ Platforms: Apple II, Amiga, DOS, PC, Windows² Release Year: 1980 Series: Hi-Res Sports Sierra Lineage: Core Sierra

Story Summary

Hi Res Soccer does not feature a traditional narrative structure, instead focusing on pure sports simulation. The game allows players to compete in single real-time matches against either another human player or against an AI opponent¹. The later 1994 version incorporated a World Cup theme, allowing tournament play with up to 8 players and featuring authentic team rosters from the 1994 World Cup⁴.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

The original Apple II version utilized a top-down perspective with fixed/flip-screen visual presentation and direct control interface¹. Players controlled their teams using paddles, which were the standard input devices for the Apple II platform at the time¹. The game supported both single-player and multiplayer modes, with the latter featuring same/split-screen functionality¹.

Structure and Progression

The game featured five-versus-five gameplay as its core mode, though later versions included three-versus-three and four-versus-four variations⁵. Notably, the game had no fouls or offside rules, simplifying the traditional soccer experience⁵. The playing field was surrounded by walls, allowing for rebound plays that added a unique arcade-like element to the simulation⁵. Goalkeepers would swap positions as players switched roles during gameplay⁵.

Puzzles and Mechanics

Rather than puzzles, Hi Res Soccer focused on sports mechanics and player management. The game featured athletes with six different performance characteristics, adding depth to team strategy⁵. However, critics noted that the AI behavior resembled “bees chasing a soccer ball,” where all players would chase the ball en masse, similar to how 4-year-olds play soccer⁶. This created a somewhat chaotic but entertaining gameplay experience that prioritized action over tactical realism.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

The 1994 Amiga version received extensive coverage from European gaming magazines:

Publication	Score	Notes
Amiga Concept	92%	Reviewed by Laurent Picart3
Amiga Action	89%	Reviewed by Paul McNally & Paul Roundell3
CU Amiga	87%	Reviewed by Tony Dillon3
Amiga Dream	84%	Reviewed by Grégory Halliday3
The One	83%	Reviewed by Simon Byron3
Amiga Computing	80%	July 1994 issue3
Amiga Joker	70%	Reviewed by Steffen Schamberger3
Amiga Format	68%	Reviewed by Stephen Bradley3
Amiga Power	62%	Reviewed by Steve McGill & Stuart Campbell3
Datormagazin	4/5	Reviewed by Ove Kaufeldt3

Modern Assessment

Modern retrospective reviews have been mixed. On MyAbandonware, the game holds a rating of 3.33 out of 5 stars⁷. However, user reviews have been particularly harsh, with one critic stating: “FAILURE. This so called footy game tried to emulate SENSIBLE SOCCER but FAILED MISERABLY… You have the ball and before you know it you don’t have it… You steal the ball and immediately they steal it from you… TERRIBLE GAME”⁷. Conversely, technical reviewers have noted that “except for the mentioned problems the game is quite well coded and one of the better football games out there”⁸.

Development

Origins

Hi Res Soccer was part of On-Line Systems’ early sports game initiative during the company’s expansion beyond adventure games in the early 1980s⁶. The game was developed as part of the Hi-Res series, which included various adventure and sports titles⁹. One gaming historian noted surprise at the game’s existence, commenting “I never knew that Sierra, even back during its On Line Systems days, developed a football game”¹⁰.

Production

The original Apple II version was designed by Jay Sullivan and Steven A. Dunn¹. The later 1994 Amiga version was developed by Coktel Vision, with music composed by Charles Callet³. This version required significant technical optimization, with WHDLoad patches later fixing interrupt problems with music and game protection⁸.

Technical Achievements

The Apple II version was distributed on 5.25” floppy disk and utilized the system’s hi-resolution graphics capabilities, which were cutting-edge for home computers at the time¹. The 1994 Amiga version was more technically demanding, requiring 0.5 MB of chip memory and 1.0 MB of other memory (with an additional 1.7 MB for preload)⁸. It supported both OCS and ECS Amiga hardware configurations and was distributed across 2 disks in WHDLoad format⁸.

Legacy

Hi Res Soccer holds historical significance as one of the earliest computer soccer simulations, representing the birth of sports gaming on personal computers⁹. The game was part of Sierra’s transition period when they were expanding beyond their adventure game roots⁶. Despite its technical limitations and AI quirks, it paved the way for more sophisticated soccer simulations that would follow. The 1994 version’s distinction as Sierra’s final Amiga release also marks it as a notable endpoint in the company’s support for that platform³.

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

• GOG Dreamlist - Community wishlist

Download / Preservation

• MyAbandonware - Sierra Soccer World Challenge Edition
• GamesNostalgia - Sierra Soccer World Challenge Edition

Series Continuity

• Related: Hi-Res Football (1980) - companion American football game
• Series: Part of the broader Hi-Res game series including various adventure titles

References

Footnotes

1. MobyGames - Hi-Res Soccer – - Developer and designer information ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹

2. BoardGameGeek - Hi-Res Soccer – - Platform and publisher details ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

3. LemonAmiga - Sierra Soccer – - 1994 Amiga version development details ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶

4. Dynamix Wiki - Sierra Soccer: World Challenge Edition – - World Cup gameplay details ↩ ↩²

5. ESPN Gaming Review – - Gameplay mechanics details ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

6. Apple2Games Wiki – - AI behavior description ↩ ↩² ↩³

7. MyAbandonware - Sierra Soccer – - Modern rating ↩ ↩²

8. WHDLoad - Sierra Soccer – - Technical assessment ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

9. GOG Dreamlist Discussion – - Hi-Res series information ↩ ↩²

10. Retro-Treasures Blog – - Historical perspective ↩