Bandai Namco Entertainment has kicked off a new chapter for its soccer anime series with the launch of CAPTAIN TSUBASA 2: WORLD FIGHTERS, bringing Tsubasa Ozora and a huge roster of familiar faces back to the pitch.
Based on the long-running Captain Tsubasa manga and anime, the sequel once again puts players in control of Tsubasa as he leads Japan through a series of increasingly difficult international matches on the road to the World Youth Championship. Rather than attempting to recreate traditional soccer, the game embraces the series’ trademark larger-than-life approach with exaggerated abilities, spectacular techniques and dramatic clashes between some of its most recognizable players.
The road to the World Youth Championship includes battles against 22 national teams, with Brazil, Argentina, the Netherlands and Mexico among the countries standing between Japan and the trophy. Players will also encounter more than five club teams, five high school teams and Real Japan, a special team that appeared in the original Captain Tsubasa manga.
Across the campaign, players can take control of more than 110 playable characters from throughout the series. Developing their abilities, building relationships and overcoming increasingly formidable opponents all play a role as Japan attempts to make its way through the competition.
The sequel also expands the series’ Super Action Soccer gameplay with more than 150 new moves and cutscenes designed around the characters’ signature techniques. Passing, dribbling, tackling and shooting remain important, but matches can quickly turn into spectacular anime-style showdowns when players unleash their most powerful abilities.
One of the biggest additions is a new goalkeeper-versus-shooter system that puts the game’s signature shots and defensive techniques directly against one another. Players can attack with powerful special shots while goalkeepers counter with their own trademark blocks, creating elaborate sequences that capture the exaggerated action of the Captain Tsubasa series.
The sequel also features a substantial new soundtrack, with composer Tadayoshi Makino returning to the series to provide more than 80 new tracks.
CAPTAIN TSUBASA 2: WORLD FIGHTERS is now available in Standard, Deluxe and Ultimate Editions for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam.