Football International (or just "Soccer" if you're playing the Japanese version) is one of those early Game Boy sports games that somehow makes tiny black-and-white sprites feel intense. You pick from a handful of national teams—Germany, Italy, Brazil, etc.—and jump straight into matches with that classic overhead view. The controls are simple (pass, shoot, sprint), but the AI actually puts up a fight, especially on harder difficulties.

What surprised me was how fast it plays—no slow build-up, just quick passes and sudden breakaways. The crowd noise (well, as much as a Game Boy can manage) actually gets louder when you're near the goal, which is a nice touch. And yeah, the graphics are basic, but there's something satisfying about that pixelated ball ricocheting off defenders.

It’s not FIFA, but for a 1991 handheld soccer game, it holds up better than you’d expect. Just don’t expect fancy animations or commentary.