International Superstar Soccer 64

"International Superstar Soccer is the best soccer simulation I have played."

International Superstar Soccer is the best soccer simulation I have played.

Graphics: 9.5/10
The graphics, as is typical for the Nintendo Sixty-Four are of high quality. The stadiums are rendered in sprite-based for the most part, but that is also expected. The players are detailed quite good and the game always runs at a fluid framerate. Great job here.

Gameplay: 10/10
ISS64 is the home of many game modes. There is Open Play, which is roughly equivalent to Exhibition mode. International and World League are two advanced season modes. P.K. is a penalty kick contest. Also very interesting is the Scenario mode, which places you on one end of one of sixteen scenarios where you must either try to hold victory or make a comeback and win. Lastly, there is also a Training mode.

The actual gameplay is very easy to control and unlike FIFA 64; true analog support is found here. Also note that the controls have more than one preset configuration if you like to switch controls. ISS64 has four-player support and the option to view computer-controlled matches as well. Also, this game supports real-time formation calling, which is a neat feature and comes in handy more often than not.

Speech: 9.5/10
This one of the greatest parts of ISS, even if most are great anyway. The speech almost never stops. The announcer has a wide variety of phrases and only a small few of these a repeated at a high rate. If only more N64 sports games had this much commentary. The only other problem is that every once in a while the phrases are slightly inconsistent.

Music: 8/10
The music is upbeat, fast-paced and happy. I like it a lot even though it is only played in the menus. I only wish there had been more tunes.

Other:
Thankfully, ISS64 only takes up half the data capable of storing on a standard 123-page Controller Pak. And, I love the animated smiley faces that indicate stamina.

Overall: 9/25 ----> 9
The combination of smooth graphics, a multitude of game modes and options and great audio make for one of the best soccer game for the N64.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/19/00, Updated 06/19/00