Play International Superstar Soccer Advance Online

International Superstar Soccer Advance came out for the Game Boy Advance in 2002, published by Konami. It was one of the more serious soccer games you could get on the handheld at the time, a portable version of the ISS series that had already been on consoles. This was when having a full featured sports game in your pocket was still a novelty, and this one tried to deliver a complete experience.

You control a team of eleven players, switching between them to pass, tackle, and shoot. The main objective is to outscore your opponent within the match time. A few things stand out in how it plays. The through-pass mechanic lets you send a teammate sprinting into open space behind the defense, which becomes a key tool for creating chances. Shooting requires you to hold the button to charge power while also aiming with the D-pad, a two step process that adds a layer of skill. The game moves at a brisk pace, and the difficulty on higher settings is punishing; the computer opponents are quick to capitalize on any defensive mistake. It feels responsive and direct, a satisfyingly tactile game of soccer that fits in your hands.