World Tour Soccer '06 hits the road

News from Gamespot

Sony is bringing the world's game back to American PlayStation Portables, as the company today announced that World Tour Soccer '06 would be dribbling into stores later this year.

This year's installment includes an emphasis on speedy game sessions and a variety of play modes that put twists on the basic soccer game formula. There are 10 new challenges that players can attempt to fulfill in four-minute matches, each requiring a condition ranging from making sure every player on the team touches the ball before a goal can be scored to playing the game with a basketball-style shot clock in place.

The game's new medal and world tour modes build on these challenges, requiring players to set their own matches and conditions as they take on the world or to play through preset scenarios in order to unlock more challenges, respectively.

Soccer purists who balk at the idea of tinkering with the beautiful game will still be able to play a traditional soccer sim in the game's exhibition mode. World Tour Soccer '06 will also support ad hoc wireless play for up to four players, as well as game sharing, so only one copy of the game is needed for multiplayer action.

The game is being developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and is planned for a June release in the US. No price or rating information has been announced.