The game itself remains what SWOS was just adding more: a very addictive football game featuring tiny players, top-notch gameplay, and excellent management options (although that was never the focus of this series). Anyone who prefers "realistic" players such as motion-captured 3D models of current football games might be disinclined to try this one, but if you are a real fan of the sport, you will recognize after a few minutes how authentic SWOS: ECE feels despite its cartoony players. You need to dribble the ball for real in this game – it doesn't "stick" to your foot like in FIFA. This, plus a staggering range of moves and shots you can do, make SWOS: ECE much more fun than most other football games on the market.

Released right before the 1996 European Championship in England, SWOS: ECE was a great PR move by Sensible Software and a superb game to boot. But since everything in the game would be included and surpassed in the 96/97 edition, there is little reason to play this game – except if you want to see what the "intermediate" underdog between the original SWOS and SWOS 96/97 looks like. And then of course if you are a die-hard Sensible fan, you'd need this to complete your library of this wonderful, yet woefully underrated, football series that was much more successful on the Amiga. Two thumbs up, way up!