ISS Deluxe refines the formula, fuller and faster, with national licenses. The best 16 bit football, still enjoyable today.
Your verdict
Category
Sports2 players3+
Description
Enriched and definitive version of International Superstar Soccer with new modes. Published by Konami, released in Europe in 1996. National teams with named players, additional modes including training scenarios, refined football gameplay and improved visuals. Second ISS by Konami, considered the finest Super Nintendo version.
International Superstar Soccer Deluxe review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
The arcade formula gains teams, tactics and fuller modes without losing any of its legendary snappiness. Overpowered shots, razor-sharp passes and frenzied commentary galvanise every match. Deeper yet still immediate, it satisfies newcomer and strategist alike. With several players, it's an essential of football evenings, intense and gleeful.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Stringing passes and shots to the beat of a polished arcade football delivers an instant pleasure that calls for the next match. Cups to win, teams to master and duels with friends multiply the reasons to start another game. A benchmark of its day, this refined version keeps a dynamism and a hook that have barely faded.
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Long"
Technical info
💾1,4 MB📅01/11/1996
Published by Konami
International Superstar Soccer Deluxe (SNES) price, value & rarity
The European PAL SNES edition of Konami's 1995 ISS Deluxe, a direct sequel to the first ISS with a substantially refined gameplay system. The PAL cart is rarer than the US version and stands, alongside the first ISS, as one of the most durably loved SNES PAL sports references in Europe. PAL boxed CIB in the original cardboard box climbs hard, sustained by physical scarcity and by the cult status of Konami football among nostalgic PAL players.
Better with friends
An expanded version of the console's star footy, fuller in teams and finer in handling, ideal for two-player rivalry. The competition blends tactics, precise dribbles and decisive strikes, where a single moment of genius can flip the score. Deep without being austere, it chains tight matches and feeds stubborn rivalries settled overtime after overtime, in an electric atmosphere.
Is International Superstar Soccer Deluxe still worth playing in 2026?
International Superstar Soccer Deluxe refines the first ISS formula with national teams, more ball effects and a livelier tempo. The Konami engine gains precision and the tactical depth gives more leeway to anyone shaping their own play. The handling remains one of the most natural in 16 bit football, and the cup mode runs without dead time. Probably the best SNES football across all periods. Recommended to Pro Evolution Soccer fans and to any retro multiplayer evening.
