Super Formation Soccer 94 on SNES is one of those games that somehow nails the balance between arcade chaos and actual soccer strategy. The first time I booted it up, I expected another clunky 90s sports game, but the controls just click—passing feels crisp, and there’s this weird satisfaction in nailing a long-range shot that arcs just over the keeper’s fingertips.

What surprised me was how much the formation tweaks actually matter. You can’t just sprint down the wings every time; some teams play a brutal offside trap, others clog the midfield. I lost my first three matches before realizing I needed to adjust my lineup. The pixelated crowds and that chunky, colorful art style? Pure nostalgia, but it holds up better than you’d think.

It’s not FIFA, and that’s the point. You’re here for slide tackles that send players spinning, headers that feel like cannon shots, and matches that somehow always end 4-3. If you’ve got a SNES lying around, dust it off for this one.