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International Superstar Soccer '98
Universal acclaim
Based on 5 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 6 votes
Read user comments
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Game Info
Publisher: Konami
Developer: KCEO
Genre(s): Sports
Players: 4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: August 1, 1998
Summary
For the soccer purist, ISS '98 offers a mind-boggling array of coaching options. You can select your starting lineup from 20-man squads and assign each player a specific role. A player's motivation -- symbolized by six different faces, including the grinning one above -- can greatly affect his performance. For the biggest psychological edge, pick an especially cheerful soul as your captain. ISS '98 gives you a choice of nine international stadiums; day, evening or nighttime play; sunny, cloudy, rainy or snowy weather; and five CPU skill levels. You can command any of the three refs to call or not call fouls, offsides or yellow cards. Informal handicapping can be done by fielding seven to 11 players per side and weak, average or excellent goalies. ISS '98 deftly combines endless strategic possibilities with out-and-out fun. While lacking the coveted FIFA license, it merits serious consideration by any soccer fan -- or anyone who appreciates great sports games, period. [Nintendo]
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Nintendojo
It has all the features you could ask for and more and the gameplay has been refined to near perfection. Then it seems, the only reason FIFA is consistently outselling ISS is the fact that EA have the FIFA license and Konami do not. Just don't let that put you off what is possibly the best soccer game on any system.
Read Full Review >IGN
If you already own ISS64, see if you find a trade-in deal to get your hands on the new one, otherwise, the amount of additions is not quite enough to warrant purchase of the sequel.
Read Full Review >All Game Guide
Intelligence, control, and gameplay are all the best in the business. The only disappointments are the lack of real players and teams and the need for a better TV-style presentation.
Read Full Review >Games Domain
The extra touches, although subtle, are akin to the brushstrokes in a Leonardo Da' Vinci masterpiece. The touches on their own seem insignificant, but look at ISS'98 as a complete package, and it is an experience that can only be described as religious.
Read Full Review >TotalGames.net
Considering that Japan isn’t famous for its success in the sport, for some reason the developers at KCET have a canny knack of delivering almost every attribute of our beautiful game in precision detail, with realism so sharp you could almost take an eye out!
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 6 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Barry P. gave it a10:
This will go down in history as the game that started off the Pro Evolution domination. The game was epic for it's time and was unmatched by Fifa. It set the benchmark for all football games up to this day. The best football game ever made, imo.
Scott C. gave it a10:
One of the greatest soccer games in history, blessed with wonderful game play, easy controls, state-of-the-art graphics. it is made even better by not having a FIFA license, so you can play with Deonardo (Ronaldo) unless you edit the names.
Kevin F. gave it a 9:
At the time this was the best football game ever, its now been overshadowed by we6, 5 years ago, i'd have given this a ten.
