Cross Universe Battle Soccer

Cross Universe Battle Soccer (known as Cross Universe Frenzy Football in Europe) is a sports video game published and developed by Ultima Games. Originally meant to be a crossover game in the vein of All-Stars Tennis and All-Stars Baseball, the developers decided to challenge themselves and changed course early in pre-development to include entirely original characters. The game was released on October 2023 for the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.

Gameplay
Cross Universe Battle Soccer utilizes four-on-four competitive gameplay based around soccer, though opting for over-the-top chaos and no penalties. Several gameplay aspects, according to the devs, were inspired by the Mario Strikers games, such as aggressive tackles and an electrified fence that stuns players knocked into it. Instead of items, however, each character has access to unique special abilities and a super move, utilizing a level-up mechanic normally seen in MOBA games such as League of Legends and SMITE. Completely separate from the special moves is another Mario Strikers mechanic called the Power Shot, acquired by obtaining a Power Orb, which occasionally drops on the field as the match progresses.

A customization option in the form of equipping certain protective gear is also available, capable of altering certain stats of the characters in order to make them lean towards a specific aspect, such as speed, durability, or kick accuracy.

Game Modes

 * Quick Match (play a single game of soccer)
 * Single Player
 * Local Multiplayer
 * Ranked Match
 * Casual Match
 * Tourney (play through the multiversal bracket)
 * Ring Training (test your penalty kick skills by collecting rings)
 * Tutorial (learn the ins and outs before taking on the multiversal tourney)
 * Customize (equip characters with gear to enhance stats)
 * Player Profiles (learn about the participants of the tourney)
 * Options (customize your gaming experience)

Characters
The base roster consists of sixteen characters, with four additional players being unlocked through playing the Tourney. Both teams' goalie are robots from the Robot universe. It's worth noting that both players can choose the same characters for their teams. Since launch, three waves of additional characters have been added to the game. While Ulitma Games have mentioned they will no longer update the game to this capacity in the future, they will continue support for online play, balance patches, and bug fixes.

Regular players

 * Dylan

Sex: Male

Age: 23

Home universe: Prime

Skill level: Easy

Dylan’s lifelong dream to play soccer in the Olympics finally came true in the year 2036. He scored the medal winning goal for the American team, but the award ceremony would take a drastic turn. Alien travelers approached Dylan with an offer: represent the Prime universe in a multiversal soccer tourney. Dylan accepted the offer, and is prepared for anything that may come his way.


 * Ophelia

Sex: Female

Age: 22

Home universe: Elf

Skill level: Easy

Ophelia comes from a storied family of athletes. Encouraged to follow in her ancestors’ footsteps, she participated in multiple sports, with soccer being her favorite. Whenever Ophelia would step onto the pitch, the opposing team felt a sense of dread. Perhaps it was because of such tenacity that alien travelers had approached her, offering her the chance to take her skills to a more multiversal level. With her mother’s blessing, Ophelia accepted the offer.


 * Gaelali

Sex: Male

Age: 4

Home universe: Avian

Skill level: Normal

A descendant of an ancient wind tribe, Gaelali shapes his destiny based on where the wind blows. One day, he decided to join in on a pick-up soccer game with some local children, an event that would change his life forever. His kick would decide the game, and it was then that he was approached by alien travelers. They offered Gaelali a chance to represent the Avian universe on a multiversal scale. Determined to win it for the children, Gaelali accepted, seeing it as a new direction the wind was blowing.


 * Gilva

Sex: Female

Age: unknown

Home universe: Digital

Skill level: Hard

Gilva is a Digi-Idol, an artificial being created by a group of scientists and marketers for the purpose of entertainment throughout the Digital universe. Through her music and dancing, she has rose to become the top Digi-Idol, which naturally led to commercial endorsements and sponsorships. While filming a soccer ad, she and her “handlers” were visited by alien travelers. Intrigued by her mass popularity, they offered Gilva the chance to compete in soccer for real. Always up for a new experience, she accepted.


 * Vidal

Sex: Male

Age: 77

Home universe: Zombie

Skill level: Normal

All beings in the Zombie universe are created through an amalgamation of the body parts of the recently dismembered, and Vidal is no different. Unluckily, his selected body seems to be weak and frail. However, Vidal manages to defy the odds since he’s had a serviceable career as a soccer player. After winning a game for his team, alien travelers stepped onto the pitch, offering Vidal the chance to put his impressive speed to use in a multiversal tournament. With a hearty chuckle, he accepted the offer.


 * Skip

Sex: Female

Age: 3

Home universe: Candy

Skill level: Easy

Right from the jump, Skip was made a pariah because she was made with peanut butter, and thus was assumed she’d go nowhere in life. In time, Skip proved her haters wrong when she became a star athlete, excelling in baseball and soccer. Her masterful slides made her a constant scorer for her teams, which is why she was visited by alien travelers and given the chance to show off her skills on a multiversal scale. Skip jumped at the chance, wanting to show those who mocked her how far she’s come.


 * Whiskaw

Sex: Male

Age: 8

Home universe: Feline

Skill level: Normal

Once a lazy deadbeat, Whiskaw was finally motivated to do something with his life upon seeing his mother die from cancer. From there, he found a decent paying job, determined not to lose her house. He also found the time for physical activity, taking to playing amateur soccer. Though he doesn’t believe his skills are on a major level, the alien travelers who observed his latest game would argue otherwise. When offered the chance to enter the multiversal tourney, Whiskaw couldn’t refuse.


 * Sunpet

Sex: Female

Age: 12

Home universe: Plant

Skill level: Easy

Sunpet has everything she could ask for: a loving family, a bunch of friends, and many admirers vying for her affections. Because she’s a sunflower, none of this is surprising. However, Sunpet always felt more confident in her athletic ability than her physical attributes, though they certainly don’t hurt. She chosen for a charity soccer game on that fateful day the alien travelers appeared to offer her a chance to take her skills to the multiversal bracket. Sunpet, eager to meet new friends abroad, accepted the offer.


 * Crackle

Sex: Male

Age: unknown

Home universe: Fire

Skill level: Hard

Crackle has always been a troublemaker, which caused his parents so much grief. He was feared in his neighborhood for his aggressive temper and destructive tendencies. An elder suggested to Crackle’s parents that he be allowed to explore a more constructive outlet, like soccer. While it did improve his attitude, he still had a penchant to pull dirty tricks, which he managed to get away with most of the time. When alien travelers observed his abilities during one particular match, they approached him with the offer of competing in the multiversal bracket. Crackle cackled in response, his interest piqued.


 * Mead

Sex: Male

Age: 288

Home universe: Orc

Skill level: Normal

From childhood, able-bodied male orcs are trained in athletics, and once matured, are given the option to enlist in the military or remain an athlete and become famous. Mead chose the latter, and as a result, is one of the most respected, and feared baklok (the Orc universe equivalent of soccer) players to ever play the game. His tremendous bulk and powerful strikes ensured his team would never lose a game. It shouldn’t have come as a shock, then, when alien travelers approached Mead with an offer: compete in a multiversal baklok bracket to prove his superiority. With a mighty roar, Mead accepted the challenge.


 * Plylank

Sex: Male

Age: unknown

Home universe: Puppet

Skill level: Hard

Up until recently, citizens of the Puppet universe were only meant for one purpose: singing and dancing for large audiences. Plylank was the first to see the strings and cut them off, but he has inspired countless others to shatter the status quo and overthrow their government. Now free to do as they wish, Plylank chose to do what he always wanted: play soccer. He was so good, in fact, that alien travelers attended one particular game and asked him to represent the Puppet universe in a multiversal tourney. With his comrades cheering him on, Plylank accepted.


 * Cerulean

Sex: Female

Age: 22

Home universe: Gremlin

Skill level: Easy

Cerulean’s family had become shunned by their peers, which is typical for mothers whose first-borns are not born male, meaning the streak of nepotism in her family has been broken. This has not deterred her from wanting to carve out her own path, with little success. She was too haphazard for ballet, too unrefined for fine arts, and too aggressive with spices it came to cooking. However, she discovered that her erratic mannerisms carried over perfectly in soccer. After scoring the winning penalty kick one fateful game, she was approached by alien travelers, who offered her the chance to participate in the multiversal bracket, which she was glad to do.


 * Jestain

Sex: Male

Age: unknown

Home universe: Poker

Skill level: Hard

Originally a black ball of mass, he was given a body by the Jacks of the Purple Heart and was made to be a weapon against the Solitaire Royal House. Unfortunately for the Jacks, Jestain didn’t care for going against the patriarchy and decided to take his skills elsewhere, specifically as the mascot for the royal soccer team. His ability to dislodge his upper and lower body, in addition to his jester-like appearance, made him popular with audiences. Sometimes, he would take part in games himself, and he was quite good too. Perhaps this was what prompted alien travelers to approach Jestain and ask that he represent the Poker universe on a multiversal scale.


 * Tourq

Sex: Female

Age: 75

Home universe: Paint

Skill level: Normal

Born with a rare coloration disease, Tourq was inspired to free the Monotone universe (as it was originally established) from its oppressive government after seeing how others inflicted with her condition were treated. She led the uprising that allowed the vibrant colored folk to prosper, giving rise to what is now called the Paint universe. In her down time, Tourq likes to play amateur soccer with her friends. During one of her pick-up games, she was approached by alien travelers, who asked her to represent the Paint universe in the multiversal bracket. Tourq accepted, responding merely with her trademark smile.


 * Janika

Sex: Female

Age: 31

Home universe: Leather

Skill level: Easy

Janika hails from the Leather universe, one of the few in the multiverse that is virtually identical to Prime save for a major difference in theme. By day, she’s a semi-successful soccer player with a mean penalty kick, but when night falls, she gets paid by men to hurt them in the most humiliating of ways. Either way, her legs make her a lot of money. After an intense game where she scored the winning goal, alien travelers approached her with an offer to compete in the multiversal bracket. Janika accepted, if only because the prize money is a cool thirty thousand dollars.


 * Leodus

Sex: Male

Age: 670

Home universe: Dragon

Skill level: Normal

Leodus may look like your typical menacing dragon, what with his majestic wings, vicious fangs, and blood red eyes, but he’s actually a kind soul with a fiery passion for athletics. He’s a star fireball (the Dragon universe equivalent to soccer) player who is on track to play in the professional league. He had no time to celebrate a recent victory as alien travelers came up to him with an offer: play what is known as ‘soccer’ in a multiversal tournament. Leodus sharpened his claws and accepted the challenge.


 * Goth (Update 1)

Sex: Female

Age: 28

Home universe: Monkey

Skill level: Normal

Goth lives her life by embracing what she calls ‘the two F’s’: friends and fruit. She’s usually laid back and carefree, mostly seen loafing about, which makes her an unlikely choice to be leading a cocoroll (the Monkey universe’s equivalent to soccer) team. Her top notch passing skills ensure that her teammates bounce off her momentum (and keeps her from being tempted to eat the ball, which is a coconut the size of a soccer ball). After the game, alien travelers approached her and offered her a chance to participate in the multiversal bracket. Goth nodded enthusiastically, eager for this one shot at fame.
 * Braddock (Update 1)

Sex: Male

Age: 32

Home universe: Glam

Skill level: Easy

The Glam universe is one of a select few that is a mirror image of the Prime universe, though it resembles a post-apocalyptic movie setting. Braddock, like all its inhabitants, sports a crazy haircut, face-paint, and very little outer clothing. A former soccer star, he helped establish a new, more violent sport in its place: junkerball. It allowed for dirty tricks and sheer brutality, which Braddock reveled in. It did not go unnoticed by some alien travelers, who approached him as he was coming off a celebratory high from a recent win. He was offered the chance to take his skills to a more multiversal level, which Braddock jumped at.
 * Degerm (Update 2)

Sex: Male

Age: 7

Home universe: Garbage

Skill level: Easy

Degerm works at a waste disposal firm specializing in destroying non-recyclables until no trace is left. A lifelong sports fan, he’s always wanted to move up to becoming a professional athlete, yet feels that he’ll never live up to his idols. By chance, he was chosen among a group of adults in the neighborhood to participate in a charity soccer game, and Degerm surprised everyone with his impressive defensive plays thanks to his bulky frame. After the game, alien travelers approached Degerm and offered him an opportunity to put his skills to the test on a multiversal scale. Degerm’s face lit up with excitement as he accepted the offer.
 * Kepazek (Update 2)

Sex: Male

Age: unknown

Home universe: Bacon

Skill level: Normal

Denizens of the Bacon universe are often visited by hungry predators from others, more so than any other universe based on food. Thankfully, a hunter named Kepazek had inspired his fellow citizens last year and now fight back against these invaders. A star soccer player in his youth, he sometimes demonstrates why he was so beloved as he often gets invited for ‘all-star reunion’ games. However, the latest one took an unexpected turn when alien travelers approached Kepazek. Believing they were more predators, he was prepared to strike until they explained that he had been chosen to represent the Bacon universe in a multiversal soccer tourney.


 * Koriate (Update 3)

Sex: Female

Age: 2

Home universe: Scorpion

Skill level: Hard

Koriate is a hunter who travels between universes looking for precious game (and maybe even a snack or two). Caring for nothing for the hunt, she is known to incapacitate her prey via her vicious stinger, armed with a powerful toxin said to kill an elephant within days if no treatment is done. In her down time, she keeps in shape by playing sports, namely scaraball (the Scorpion universe’s equivalent to soccer). During a pick-up game, alien travelers approached her, offering her the chance to compete on a multiversal level. Koriate accepted, eager to see what new kinds of prey await her.


 * Unabi (Update 3)

Sex: Male

Age: 5

Home universe: Aquatic

Skill level: Normal

As the child of a shark father and an octopus mother, Unabi is a unique breed, even amongst his peers. Bullied relentlessly for his appearance, he went from a shy, meek outcast into a skilled athlete more comfortable with all the perks his heritage brings to the table. Currently, Unabi’s taken up soccer with the goal of one day going pro. After winning his team a championship game, he was approached by alien travelers. Realizing his potential, they offered him the chance to compete in the multiversal soccer bracket. Unabi accepted, as he heard that one of his best friends is a reigning champion.

Multiverse champion team

 * Knick (unlockable)

Sex: Male

Age: 35

Home universe: Prime

Skill level: Normal

Knick leads a team that is the current reigning champion of the multiversal soccer tournament. Originally of the Prime universe, he is more cocky and self-assured in his abilities, in stark contrast to Dylan’s humble and good-sported nature. They say that if a new team claims the title of champion, Knick will appear and attempt to defend it. The challenge will not be easy, as his skills and strength more than back up his mouth.


 * Nimoy (unlockable)

Sex: Female

Age: 17

Home universe: Hybrid

Skill level: Normal

Nimoy is originally of the Hybrid universe, where all its inhabitants are cross-breedings of two different animals. As a rabbifox, she has the athleticism and cuteness of a rabbit combined with the cunning and guile of a fox. Her precise and elegant passes and kicks helped her team win the previous multiversal tourney. With a new bracket underway, Nimoy is determined to defend her title if need be.


 * Direwood (unlockable)

Sex: Male

Age: 240

Home universe: Tree

Skill level: Hard

Direwood, like all trees his age, is a master of Forestation (a fancy way of saying tree magic). He figured that combining his magicks with sports, particularly soccer, would be a recipe for success, a prediction that would prove correct as his defensive skills would contribute to his team’s victory during the previous multiversal bracket. Though content with his victory, he is all to happy to defend his title and prove why he became a champion.


 * Wuggle (unlockable)

Sex: Female

Age: unknown

Home universe: Cotton

Skill level: Easy

Wuggle is beloved throughout the Cotton universe for her cuteness and kind-hearted (yet mischievous) nature. In spite of her small size, she took up soccer and began to dominate the pitch in no time thanks to her blistering speed. This is perhaps one of the key reasons why her team won the last multiversal tourney. The rest of her team sensed that their era as champions may come to an end soon, so she agreed to accompany them for one last bid to defend their title.

Teams
In addition to the characters, you can choose between twelve teams, represented by different colors. The Champion team is unselectable and is exclusive to the Tourney mode.


 * Tomatoes (Red)
 * Sharks (Blue)
 * Suns (Yellow)
 * Blades (Green)
 * Lions (Orange)
 * Hammers (Purple)
 * Clouds (White)
 * Shadows (Black)
 * Bones (Grey)
 * Hearts (Pink)
 * Monsters (Brown)
 * Snowflakes (Sky blue)
 * Champions (Rainbow) (exclusive to Tourney mode)

Fields
Each team gets to choose their half of the pitch to call their home goal. If two halves of the same field are chosen, a unique music track plays. If not, a random, generic tracks will play instead. You can also toggle whether the match take place during the night or during the day. Since launch, three new fields have been added via patches, making for a grand total of twelve selectable fields.


 * Battle Stadium (a standard looking soccer field inside of a stadium with stands and theatrics that resemble something between a mix of a football stadium and a motocross arena)
 * Mechanical Mayhem (a futuristic soccer field with cyber-sleek terrain and mechanical looking stands; the nets are made of lasers)
 * Beachside Spectacle (an open soccer pitch on the beach with sandy terrain and tropical looking stands complete with coral chairs and algae lining the goal posts; a kiddie pool is installed in an empty space of the stands)
 * Red Card Cemetery (a spooky soccer stadium in the middle of a cemetery with dark grass terrain, dingy looking stands complete with spider webs on the chairs and walls, and goal posts made out of bones; in the empty spaces on the stands are grave stones and a single skull)
 * Sweet Cold Slush (an ice themed soccer stadium with frozen cotton candy flavored ice terrain, big lollipops as decor for the entrance way, large containers filled with different tubs of ice cream next to the stands, and goal posts that are frozen sticky to the touch)
 * Treetop Arena (a soccer stadium set in a humid jungle with a small patch of grass reserved for the pitch terrain, bleacher chairs made out of trees, leaves and coconuts adorning the stands and walls, and goal posts made of bamboo)
 * Brick n Mortar Pitch (a medieval themed soccer stadium inside of a stone castle tower with pavement terrain surrounded by hot lava, bleachers resembling a Medieval Times's joust stadium, and a heavyset king on a throne watching over the action; the goal posts are spiked at the top)
 * Toy Central (a somewhat lighthearted soccer stadium with a crudely crayon drawn soccer pitch made of white construction paper, stadium walls made out of what appears to be Lego blocks, bleacher seats made out of matchboxes, and goal posts made out of pencils and fishnets)
 * Heavenly Gunship (a soccer stadium on the bow of a flying fantasy-themed gunship with no bleachers; on the sides of the ship are cannon, and the goalposts look like they’re carved out of stone) (unlockable)
 * Neon Junker Desert (an open soccer pitch in the middle of a post-apocalyptic desert field surrounded by bits of metal welded together to make an electrified border complete with similarly crafted bleachers, flaming trash barrels on each side of the main bleachers, and goal nets made out of chains) (Update 1)
 * Big Top Antics (a soccer stadium inside a repurposed circus tent complete with bleachers similar to what one would find in an actual old fashioned circus, animals like elephants and lions in big cages in the background, and trapeze artists performing a swinging bar routine up high) (Update 2)
 * Galactic Festival (a floating soccer stadium set in outer space with neon metal terrain complete with floating stands, flying alien saucers filling out the empty sections of the stands, small bits of meteorite in the background, and technological goal posts with invisible-looking nets that light up upon scoring a goal) (Update 3)

Tourney
There are six different cups (or leagues as they're known here) in this mode, with the subsequent ones being unlocked as you play through the game. You will be thrown into a multiversal bracket with seven other teams and play through three games until you earn the trophy.


 * Shooting League (battle teams focused on shooting)
 * Passing League (battle teams focused on passing)
 * Speed League (battle teams focused on speed)
 * Muscle League (battle teams focused on power)
 * Trick League (battle teams focused on trick moves)
 * Champion League (battle teams while they're in top condition)

The Champion League is unique in after you win the third match, you don't get the trophy straight away. Instead, you will go up against the Multiverse champion team made up of four players who have won the previous championship. Defeating them will unlock both the players and their stage in addition to a harder variant of each League. Completion of all Leagues on this harder difficulty unlocks high quality gear and a "Master" difficulty for single player quick matches.

Gear
This gameplay mechanic allows players to customize each character in the game both aesthetically and gameplay-wise. By default, five pieces of gear are available for purchase by monies, the game's main currency earned by playing through the game's main modes. Completing the Tourney on hard mode unlocks the Champion Gear, which greatly enhances one attribute depending on the type of gear at the cost of the others. Since launch, three more sets of Gear have added to the game via patches, though each piece still has to be purchased in-game individually.


 * Stone Gear
 * +2 Strength, -2 other attributes (all)
 * Wind Gear
 * +2 Speed, -2 other attributes (all)
 * Cannon Gear
 * +2 Shooting, -2 other attributes (all)
 * Heart Gear
 * +2 Passing, -2 other attributes (all)
 * Coin Gear
 * +2 Technique, -2 other attributes (all)
 * Champion Gear (unlockable)
 * +4 Strength, -1 other attributes (Helmet)
 * +4 Speed, -1 other attributes (Shoes)
 * +4 Shooting and Passing, -1 other attributes (Chestplate)
 * +4 Technique, -1 other attributes (Gloves)
 * Tropical Gear (Update 1)
 * +2 Strength, +1 Shooting and Passing, -2 Speed and Technique (Helmet)
 * +2 Strength and Shooting, -2 Speed, -1 Passing and Technique (Shoes)
 * +2 Strength, +1 Shooting and Technique, -2 Speed and Passing (Chestplate)
 * +2 Strength, +1 Shooting and Speed, -2 Passing and Technique (Gloves)
 * Royal Gear (Update 2)
 * +2 Shooting, +1 Speed and Passing, -2 Strength and Technique (Helmet)
 * +2 Shooting, +1 Strength and Passing, -2 Speed and Technique (Shoes)
 * +2 Shooting and Passing, -2 Technique, -1 Strength and Speed (Chestplate)
 * +2 Shooting and Passing and Technique, -2 Strength and Speed (Gloves)
 * Astronaut Gear (Update 3)
 * +2 Speed and Technique, -2 Strength, -1 Shooting and Passing (Helmet)
 * +2 Speed, +1 Passing and Technique, -2 Strength and Shooting (Shoes)
 * +2 Speed, +1 Shooting and Technique, -2 Strength and Passing (Chestplate)
 * +2 Speed, +1 Strength and Technique, -2 Shooting and Passing (Gloves)