ECTS: ESPN International Superstar Soccer Hands-On

First the bad news: Konami's PlayStation soccer game hasn't been developed by the team behind the amazing ISS Pro Evolution. Instead, it is the work of the guys behind the more arcade-oriented N64 games. The good news, though, is that ESPN International Superstar Soccer is still a very playable soccer game - and easily the best of the initial kickarounds for the PlayStation2.

More good news is that Konami has inked a deal with FIFPro, the players' association, and the game will boast proper team and player names in its final incarnation.

From the first whistle through to the last kick of the game, ESPN International Superstar Soccer is a fast, yet eminently playable soccer game. All the requisite through-balls, deft one-twos and volleys are present, with the developer wisely including ISS Pro Evolution's control system. More importantly - and despite its arcade bias - it also plays a mean game of soccer. Every tackle is well timed, and every pass must be balanced. This, in turn, is complemented by player AI: players run into space, lose markers, and do whatever they can to make trouble for the defence.

The real key to the latest ISS game, though, is that it retains the intuitive gameplay of its predecessors. While it isn't quite as skilful as Evolution, it nevertheless has enough tricks to keep players on their toes. High passes are pulled down with a raised leg, sharp turns and feints are easily effected, and headers can be nodded on with aplomb.

Add to this a well-judged shooting system - with a true-to-life as opposed to a comedic aftertouch - and you have the ingredients for the best PlayStation2 soccer game yet. The game is also graphically polished, with large, detailed players (albeit with some rather dodgy haircuts on display).

No doubt, FIFA 2001 will out-sell it by 10 to one, but the gamer's choice will be the Konami game. It's by no means perfect, and ISS Pro Evolution still has an edge in terms of realism and its skill moves. But with the Evolution team currently busy putting the final touches to a new PlayStation version before turning its attention to a PlayStation2 game, this is more than worthy fare.