International Superstar Soccer Advance

"Potentially great but ultimately flawed"

For months and months I've been waiting for this game.

The first ISS released on the GBA was practically a straight conversion of the SNES version of ISS Deluxe, and as good as it probably is, had little to warrant me buying it considering I already own the SNES version.

However, when news of a sequel arrived, imagine the anticipation. Turns out however, its simply a translation of a Japanese footie game called Jikkyou World Soccer Pocket 2.

First and foremostly, don't let my score of the game put you off. As it stands on face value, its pretty decent. If you want a nice looking, fast moving football game, and you simply are not bothered about options and customising the game, then it reccomended. Its like a scaled down version of the Playstation 2 version of Pro Evolution Soccer 2 - squeezed into a GBA.

If you are happy with just some international teams with made up player names then its fine.

In my opinion however, at the end of the day it just doesn't have enough to it to make me really like it.

For starters, there are only three proper game modes - friendly, international cup (world cup sytle tournament), and superstar mode. There is also a penalty shoot out, which is actually very well done.

There is a choice of roughly 50 international teams to choose from including the likes of Senegal and Ecuador who made the last World Cup in 2002. None have the actual player names, and instead there is a vague similarity eg Kuqi the Finland striker is called Quikou or something.

The international cup is fun enough, and the superstar mode, where you can ''transfer in'' players from teams you have just beaten is quite clever.

Looking at the game itself, it plays very well indeed. Controling the players is harder than the original ISS - very much more like the Pro Evolution Soccer games on consoles. However, moves like through-ball and long pass are so innefective its just daft - the long pass especially is almost pointless as the ball goes like a rocket through the air with so accuracy whatsoever. The through-ball isn't really that at all, more a short, straight pass in a general direction.

Whenever the ball goes in the air its like its all too quick. No real direction can be put on headers, crosses move far too quickly, goal kicks are just ridiculous.

However, worst of all is the shooting. Shooting from distance is random - it either goes over by a mile or trickles pathetically on the ground. Aftertouch can be applied, but the ball travels so stupidly fast you don't even get the chance. And what makes it worse is that the opposition keeper never seems to attempt to dive for the ball while in the air, making some goals look daft. Oh, and even if you did see score a belter - don't expect to ever see it again as they haven't included a replay feature. Quite why is baffling.

Commentary is supplied by Jon Champion, and its very good. Only gripe is that whenever a goal is scored, he always says ''What a goal, oh, what a goal!'', even if it was a tap in or a penalty. But overall, its excellent, especially considering its running on a GBA.

Penalties in the game are also curious. As well as being very hard to get, when you do get one it just displays a free-kick style aim from the regualr view. There is no accuracy or particular skill in it. What puzzles me is why on earth they didn't just change to the behind the player view that appears on the ''Penalty Shoot Out'' section of the game, which is really good.

Personally, I can't see why a player and kit editor wasn't included. The Megadrive version of Sensible Soccer had one, it just screams laziness to not include one.

Overall then, its by no means a bad game, in fact its probably the best on the system. Its just that so much more could and should have been done to it to make it play better and to add value to the product, especially as its a sequel.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 02/03/03, Updated 02/03/03