International Superstar Soccer Deluxe

For an entire generation of players, the abbreviation ISS meant the same thing that a big football brand means today. International Superstar Soccer Deluxe by Konami became the benchmark on the Super Nintendo against which all sixteen-bit football was measured. And for many it remains, to this day, the best kick-around ever released on the console.

In ISS Deluxe, Konami managed to blend arcade accessibility with surprising depth. The game flows briskly and goals are scored in style, yet beneath the surface hides an elaborate system of passes, crosses, dribbles and shots that rewards precise timing and reading of the game. You can learn the basics in a moment, but mastering all the tricks that let you outwit the opponent's defence takes a hefty dose of practice.

Another great asset was the selection of game modes and options. Players could enjoy exhibition matches, league and tournament competitions and a roster of national teams that included the famous footballing powerhouses. On top of that, the game added tactical settings, so you could adjust the formation and playing style to your own taste. For its time it was a surprisingly rich package.

But International Superstar Soccer Deluxe truly came alive in multiplayer. A duel with a friend belongs to the legendary experiences of the sixteen-bit era, when a friendly match turned into a matter of honour within moments. The shouting over a conceded goal, the celebratory leaps and the eternal arguing about offside all belong inseparably to this game. It was multiplayer that made it a fixture at many a house party.

ISS Deluxe confirmed Konami as a master of sports arcades and, for years to come, defined what fun console football should look like. For those who remember it, it is an inseparable part of childhood; for new players, it is a showcase of how brilliantly old games could combine simplicity with lasting fun. It holds a firm place in the retro football hall of fame.

Why play it: For legendary sixteen-bit football that combines arcade fun with depth and excels above all in multiplayer.