Pro Jank Footy
Preview
Suburban Soul Meets Arcade Chaos
by William Thompson
previewed on PC
The Footy Season Begins
The footy season is finally upon us, and while there is nothing quite like the atmosphere of a packed stadium, sometimes the best way to spend your team's off-day is by jumping into the action yourself. Pro Jank Footy allows you to do exactly that, offering a digital experience that feels less like a billion-dollar broadcast and more like a Sunday afternoon at a local suburban ground. In our time with the preview, we were given two distinct ways to play: a traditional "Standard" football experience and the namesake "Pro Jank" mode.
The Standard mode is a pure nostalgia trip, playing out with a rhythm and feel remarkably similar to AFL 99 on the original PlayStation. It captures that specific retro DNA perfectly, though it does so without licensed player names. Visually, the game swaps out the high-tech atmosphere of a professional AFL stadium for the charm of a suburban footy park. This shift in perspective brings its own set of challenges; because the camera can make it difficult to track exactly where your teammates are positioned downfield, you often find yourself kicking kicking to open space and simply hoping a friendly pair of hands is waiting where the ball lands.
Run and gun
Because of that uncertainty in the long game, the gameplay naturally pushes you toward a "run-and-handball" style. While this helps you move the ball with more precision, it comes with a high-stakes trade-off. The opposition is constantly looking to bump or tackle you, and getting caught in possession almost always results in a costly turnover. Fortunately, players have access to a temporary burst of speed via the right trigger, which enables you to open a vital gap between you and the defenders as you stream toward the goals for a clear shot.
The controls are refreshingly simple, which should help non-Aussies or newcomers pick up the game without a steep learning curve. When you are in possession, a quick press of the A button executes a handpass, while holding it down powers up a kick. On the defensive side, the B button handles the physical stuff, allowing for a quick bump on a press or a full-on tackle on a hold. One word of warning for those planning to lead the yellow-clad Wombats to glory: the referee also wears yellow. Aside from the colour of their shorts, it can be quite a struggle to differentiate your star midfielder from the man with the whistle during a frantic pack situation.
Rule changes
The true fun starts when you switch over to a Pro Jank match. While the core controls remain the same, the game introduces a brilliant "catch-up" mechanic similar to Mario Kart. Whenever a goal is scored, the conceding team is presented with three different power-ups to choose from, hopefully giving them the boost they need to get back into the contest. This arcade chaos is complemented by a humorous commentary track and a great selection of background music, including the welcome addition of original club songs to keep the energy high. We're certainly looking forward to seeing more of Pro Jank Footy as it nears release.
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