Pele II on the Genesis is one of those old-school soccer games that actually holds up. The controls feel surprisingly smooth for a 16-bit era sports title—no clunky dribbling or awkward passes here. You’ve got a solid selection of international teams (Brazil, obviously, but also some underdogs), and matches move fast enough that you don’t get bogged down in midfield battles.

What I like is how it balances arcade-style play with just enough realism to make goals feel earned. The AI isn’t a pushover, either—if you crank up the difficulty, defenders actually close you down instead of just standing there. And yeah, the graphics are pixelated by today’s standards, but the animations have this weirdly satisfying snap to them, especially when you nail a long-range shot.

It’s not FIFA, but for a quick, no-frills soccer fix with some retro charm, it’s still a blast to fire up. Just don’t expect fancy commentary or licensed players beyond Pele’s name on the box.