An updated version of the football game ISS.

Original N64europe Review

Last years International Superstar Soccer was hailed by many as possibly the greatest soccer game of all time. And some even went so far as to call it the greatest sports game period, of all time. And many including myself felt that the title was deserved. As a veteran of probably every sports game since the 8-bit Nintendo I've seen my share of every sport represented and ISS was in my oh so humble opinion was the best.

The game was so good that it converted many of my non-soccer loving friends into avid fans. The gameplay was unlike any sports game I had played and the atmosphere, thanks in part to the announcer, was unmatched. The other ingredient that makes a great sports game great was there like never before, the graphics at that time were the best a sports game had ever had. The motion capture was done incredibly well. This game was the total package. The only dowside was that it didn't have the player's license.

Now it may seem like I digress, but in fact talking about last years version is vital to review this years. Now I'll say right off the bat(or foot) that ISS 98 is a better game than last years version, if you don't own ISS 64 and you even remotely like soccer or maybe even if you don't like soccer buy this game now or at least rent it. But the real question comes from those who have it, "Is this years version better than and different enough from last year's version to warrant buying it?". Well the answer is....well I don't know.

Let's start at the beginning and I mean the very beginning. The intro is a lot better, it has kind of a high energy metal thing going. As compared to last years 8-bittish music and gameplay intro. Overall the sound is much much better than last years midi-tastic fare. The menu system is pretty much the same adequate and user friendly one with a slight graphic make-over. And all the options are pretty much the same as last year, create a player, edit player names, edit player numbers and the like. In last years create-a-player you picked his face and got a roll, kind of like an RPG for your players stats. In this years you do the same except you pick his height,whether he's a righty, lefty or ambidextrous and you get to actually assign him special moves and abilities that only he can do. I love it.

Now the two most important elements, grapchics and gameplay. As for formations and tactics, WHEW BOY!!! They have added so many improvements in that area I can't list or explain them, but I think I can safely say that this has everything a soccer fan or coach could ever want. The players also have a new "Motivation System". If you have a rivalry with a team or a game is close the guys try and step it up(no pun intended). Also this year the computer won't just sub injured players, it changes formations, tactics, positions, and defnese all depending on the game situation. The AI is incredible. It has almost the same great gameplay as last years. In fact I'll go so far as to say that it's exactly the same as last years. And now the graphics. There are a ton more animations for moves, fouls, injuries, shots, player emotions, linesmen, everything. But on the outside the grapchics are only slightly better than last years version. But I don't know how much better they could have gotten a nyway. Animation wise though you can't get any better. My favorite move is the volley. It's basically like something out of a Jackie Chan or Jet Li movie. It also has more stadiums and teams in it. Overall the game offers a lot more but I think it's a judgement and budget call for the gamers that already own last years as to whether or not it's worth a second purchase. For me though I still can't get enough. SEEYA NEXT GAME!!!

- by Chris L