International Superstar Soccer on GBA is one of those rare sports games that actually holds up years later. The controls are snappy—passing feels crisp, and shooting has just enough weight to make scoring satisfying. You’ve got a solid selection of national teams (Brazil’s always my go-to), and the AI isn’t a pushover, especially on higher difficulties.

What surprised me was how fluid the animations are for a GBA game. Players don’t just glide around—there’s a real sense of momentum when you sprint down the wing or cut inside for a shot. The overhead camera works better than you’d expect, too, though corners can get a little chaotic with all the tiny sprites scrambling in the box.

It’s not perfect—the commentary is basically just a few recycled phrases, and friendlies get old fast—but the tournament mode still hooks me. If you’ve got a soft spot for old-school soccer games, this one’s worth digging up.