⚽ 4GOAL - CHALLENGE

Get ready for a unique soccer challenge on your Commodore 64! 4GOAL CHALLENGE will put your reflexes, strategy, and precision to the test.

🕹️ 1. BASIC CONTROLS

• Player 1: Joystick in Port 2.
• Player 2: Joystick in Port 1.

Mechanics:

• Shooting: The button determines shot power. Quick taps result in weaker shots, while longer presses deliver powerful kicks.
• Goalkeeper Mode: Use the directional stick to move and deflect balls.
  • Up/Down: Moves West/East goalkeepers.
  • Left/Right: Moves North/South goalkeepers.

Menu Keyboard Shortcuts:

• H: View High Scores for Game Mode 1.
• T: View High Scores for Game Mode 4.

🏟️ 2. GAME MODES

4GOAL CHALLENGE offers four ways to hit the pitch:

• 1P VS CPU: Player 1 vs. CPU player (+ optional defender). 45-second matches. The goal is to win!
• 1P/2P VS CPU: Player 1 and Player 2 team up against the CPU. The defender becomes a striker! :) Goals from human players are combined. 45-second matches.
• GOALKEEPER: Player 1 controls all 4 goalkeepers simultaneously vs. Player 2 (Human or CPU). The goal is to make the most saves. If P2 is human, the goal is to beat the CPU player.
• CHALLENGE: Player 1 takes on progressive stages. Win matches to become the champion! Every 10 stages, you earn a trophy. There are 5 cycles of 10 stages to complete the game. (Who’s up for the challenge? 🙂)

Note: GOLDEN SCORE: There are no draws in 4GOAL CHALLENGE! If the clock hits zero with a tied score, Sudden Death begins. The first to score wins immediately.

🌨️ 3. DIFFICULTY LEVELS

Choose between Easy, Normal, and Hard. This affects the behavior of goalkeepers, defenders, and CPU players.

• Dynamic Difficulty: In modes 1, 2, and 3, keep an eye on the final 10 seconds (T: 10). The CPU enters "Full Pressure" mode to try and turn the match around!

🌨️ 4. FIELD CONDITIONS & TYPES

Before the match, you may face different environments that affect ball physics:

Field Conditions:

• GRASS: Perfect condition. Standard speed and control.
• WET: Waterlogged pitch. Less ball roll, higher friction, slower gameplay.
• FROZEN: Slippery pitch. More ball roll, lower friction, faster gameplay.

Field Type:

• SOLID or CHECKERS (Aesthetic only; does not affect gameplay mechanics).

⚖️ 5. GAMEPLAY MECHANICS

To score, you must control the ball and aim your shot within 2 seconds. Shots are affected by "after-touch" curve effects. Alternatively, you can intercept an opponent's shot and deflect it into the goal—the goal is credited to the last player to touch the ball.

How to gain possession:

• Tackle: Simply touch the ball while an opponent has possession.
• Sprint: Press the button while you don't have the ball for a "surprise steal." You can use one sprint per possession.
• Anticipation: Wait for the opponent to shoot and intercept the ball.

The Defender:

The defender does not score goals; they protect the net and disrupt play for both human and CPU players. If they sense an opponent nearby, they will perform a sprint to steal the ball.

Behind the Scenes

4GOAL CHALLENGE is a sequel to “4GOAL,” available at https://emmonks.itch.io/4goal.

• Development: Written in C using the CC65 compiler, with specific routines in Assembly. Logic refined for the C64 environment with the assistance of Gemini.
• Code, Graphics, Music/Sound: emmonks.

Special Thanks to Beta Testers:

Tiago Al Alam, Jerônimo, Diego Smiths, Pablo Rosa, and Gladimir.

💬 Feedback & Support

This is a "by fans, for fans" project. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the gameplay, bug reports, or suggestions for improvement!

• Comments: Leave a message right here on the itch.io page.
• E-mail: 4goal.c64@gmail.com