Man, International Superstar Soccer Deluxe on the Genesis is pure 90s soccer nostalgia. The pixelated players have this weirdly satisfying chunky animation when they slide tackle, and the crowd noise somehow still gets me hyped even though it’s just a looped roar. First thing you’ll notice? The controls are stupidly simple—pass, shoot, sprint—but good luck actually stringing together a decent play against the AI. They’ll steal the ball like it’s personal.

Picking Brazil is basically easy mode (that midfield is cracked), but half the fun is trying to win with weaker teams. The commentary’s hilariously broken—your striker will blast the ball into row Z and the announcer yells “WHAT A SHOT!” like it wasn’t an absolute disaster. Still, there’s something about the janky physics that makes every goal feel earned. Just don’t get me started on the refs ignoring obvious fouls.

If you’ve got a buddy, the two-player matches descend into chaos real quick. Slide tackles everywhere, endless offsides, and at least one argument about whether that last goal actually crossed the line. It’s aged weirdly well for a Genesis sports game. The menus are all bright primary colors and that tinny victory music after a win? Chef’s kiss.