IHF Handball Challenge 12 Demo

There are plenty of popular sports in the world, played at an international level between nations and their best players. Whether it’s soccer, tennis, basketball, or hockey, a crowd is guaranteed to gather around the event, even if some of the aforementioned sports are not that popular throughout the world. Handball, on the other hand, is not very popular in too many places, which is why there are barely any video games trying to capitalize on it.

IHF Handball Challenge 2012 is a simulator that allows you to enjoy handball from the comfort of your own home and play with the most recognizable teams out there. Moreover, all of the official sponsors and player names are available as well, which should please the fans and allow them to immerse themselves into the atmosphere of the sport, even if the game itself is not exactly top-shelf material.

There are plenty of modes to choose from, depending on how much you want the session to last and what kind of match you would like to play. The obvious exhibition matches are available, which allow you to pick any of the available teams and pit them against each other on the field. A career mode is included as well, although it doesn’t provide you with any managerial decisions over the team, nor the possibility to progress, or worry about tactics and transfers.

Although you may not have too much freedom when it comes to the teams, since there are only a handful of them and only two possible leagues to choose from, things get better once you start a match. The developers put a lot of work into the mechanics and the gameplay itself, which means that the players react in a realistic manner to what’s happening on the pitch and you can really feel like you are part of the action.

On the other hand, you might have problems enjoying the experience because of the keyboard controls, which are not to be trusted if you want to have a good time. Gamepads are supported, though, so one is definitely necessary if you are truly interested in the game. Moreover, the graphics engine is decent and the players are nicely animated, even if the technology is far behind what was possible at the date of release.

When it comes down to it, IHF Handball Challenge 2012 lacks too many things to be worth a recommendation, even if you are a huge fan of the sport. On the other hand, there are barely any alternatives to consider, so the choice can be tough. If you do not mind the low number of game modes and the shaky keyboard controls, then you can take a stab at it, but do not expect too much of a return on your investment.