- JP release: 4th June 1998
- PAL release: 1st September 1998
- JP release: 15th September 1998
- Developer: Konami
- Publisher: Konami
- N64 Magazine Score: 92%
ISS vs FIFA was a big debate for a while, with 1998 probably being the biggest year for the argument. N64 Magazine clearly preferred ISS, but for me, I enjoyed FIFA 98 more. I do think I know the main reason why people prefer each one, as while they seem the same from a distance, they both have slightly different targets. FIFA is more about casual fun, while ISS is more geared towards providing a more tactical experience.
Which means that it isn’t a case of which one is better, but rather what kind of game you want. ISS 98 is a marginal improvement from ISS 64, focusing on the World Cup. In Japan, it had an official World Cup branding, but still not player names (other than the Japanese squad), but is the same game.
You do get a new set of scenarios, so if you liked those, these are the main new things in this version compared to the previous year.
Fun
So it’s changed then. Not in a drastic, classic-ruining sort of way (Major A are far too canny for that), and not in a way that would be immediately apparent to even the biggest ISS 64 fan, but there’s definitely something different about this new jazzed-up sequel.
Martin Kitts, N64 Magazine #20
Remake or remaster?
Other than Konami looking back to move forward, not really.
Official ways to get the game.
There is no official way to get International Superstar Soccer 98
Europe
Japan
North America
N64 Games by Date
1997: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
1998: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
1999: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2000: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
It’s a reletively minor refinement over the already excellent ISS 64, which means it’s pretty excellent. That’s not to say that there aren’t some pretty significant additions though, such as the ability to curve your shot by holding down Z while inputing a direction for the curve, the ability to now adjust the height of your free kicks and corner shots by pressing up and down before you shoot, the ability to make broad formation changes mid-game and, best of all, keepy uppies! You can now perform keepy uppie moves by holding c-down while not moving.
There’s a bit more of an emphasis on player expression in general as well, with lovely (and pointless) little touches like being able to do dummy shots and little spin dribbles with your character by rotating the analog stick while running. The control is a bit smoother overall than ISS 64, but overall it plays very similarily. It’s fast, fluid and fun!
About the only real complaint I have with ISS 98 is that the commentator isn’t nearly as fun as the one in ISS 64, that and the music isn’t quite as good. But this is pretty much as good as arcade style football gets really. An absolute cracker đŸ˜€