J. League Pro Striker Final Stage is one of those old-school soccer games that somehow nails the chaos of actual matches. The second you boot it up, you're thrown into bright, pixelated stadiums with crowds that actually react when you pull off a slick pass or botch an easy shot. The controls are simple—pass, shoot, sprint—but good luck getting past defenders without some practice. They’re annoyingly good at stealing the ball if you just charge in.

What I love is how fast it feels compared to other soccer games from that era. The ball zips around, and players move with this slightly exaggerated momentum that makes every tackle or last-minute goal feel dramatic. The J. League teams are all here, though good luck recognizing anyone unless you were deep into Japanese soccer in the '90s. Doesn’t matter—just pick a side and start hoofing the ball upfield.

It’s not perfect—the AI can be brutal on higher difficulties, and the refs might as well not exist—but there’s something satisfying about how raw it is. If you’ve got a Genesis and even a passing interest in soccer, this one’s worth a few matches.