New Star Soccer 5 is a football simulator where, instead of controlling the whole team like in FIFA or Pro Evolution, or the manager as in Football Manager, you take the role of a young player recently signed up to a new team.
Before beginning a game, your chosen team will give you a trial to test your skills. If you pass, they will sign you up and your footballing adventure can begin for real, and this career won't just consist of a simple string of football matches.
While the nucleus of the game is built around the games, in which you control only your player. There is a tonne of extra activities to further develop your character, from buying new phones, clothes, cars and houses; to visiting the casino to gamble away your earnings.
You must also undergo special training to improve your skills, build your reputation by scoring goals and making assists, keep everybody happy and, of course, sign lucrative sponsorship deals to make yourself even more money.
Visually, New Star Soccer 5 works well, and despite using a pixelated 'retro' style, it has some nice animations and an attention to detail that are worthy of admiration.
New Star Soccer 5 is a great football sim whose only drawback is that you are limited to playing five matches a day. However, on the plus side, it is completely free, and you only have to pay if you want to increase the number of games you can play per day.