Emlyn Hughes International Soccer

Although it looks like the ancient International Soccer, it plays far, far better. Arguably the best Footie game on the 64 I prefer it to Microprose/Kick Off/Match Day.

Pretty much a polished/upgraded version of International Soccer/Cup Final; this means it's pretty much a game that looks and plays like it's from 1983, with a number of options and customizations added (and a fantastic, unforgettable music tune in the menu). It's actually pretty fun, with some realistic game dynamics and decent controls, even if the switching from a player to the other sometimes seems to be a bit messy. Some funny bugs, as someone else mentioned; also, I always thought that the player exulting after a goal looked like he was giving the middle finger to the audience 😆 I certainly had quite a few laughs with friends back in those days. PS: It was particularly known in Italy in its italian licensed version titled "Retee!" (1991), featuring italian teams.

This is the only football game to come close to emulating the real thing on the C64. Defensive scrambles, ricochets, fouls, decent AI - it was about as good as we could hope and a great effort overall from the coder, Graham Blighe. The boy did good.

This is the best football game ever to me!!! It is the only game that, if You have a skill, You could dribble from one half of pitch thru another and score a goal. So enjoyable, so frustrating (if the opponent have same skill ). I have played that game with my friends back in eighties and nineties for over 2000 hours. After 30 Years, a few days ago, i have played one game against computer on level 10, and win him 4:0!!!! I'm still so good, but i cannot make my son to play it with me, 'cause he looses every time with more than 4:0 10/10

Very good game but one I could never fully get into. I found the playability lacking, maybe due to the players turning so slow, the difficulty in stringing together several passes and scoring. The most realistic soccer game on the 64 and so many options (which is great), with very good sound effects but just seemed to lack that certain spark that brings you back both as a kid in the 90s and in modern times. Definitely not a bad game, just wish I could get the fun out of it that others did. In that never-ending debate of Micriprose v Emlyn Hughes it's Microprose for me. A respectable 7 for outta 10 for me.

It is amazing how great this game is, especially if you compare it to other side-scrolling footy sims released before. The gameplay as well as the menu are incredibly intelligently designed. The pitch may appear strangely stretched, but even more strangely the matches as such are not too unrealistic. I especially like how goals are scored: You have to react quickly, but a bit of luck is always involved. The AI is is decent, and at long last even fouls are possible.

Ok, additional vertical scrolling and some adjustment of how the ball behaves would have improved the game, but only slightly. Perhaps a second part was never released because overall there is little room for improvement; 9/10.

I remember being disappointed by the graphics at first. Too similar to International Soccer. Luckily the gameplay was incredibly different. I understand the controls are not so easy to master, but the feeling of scoring a goal is terrific. And you can score in many different ways. Possibly the most accurate football simulation on the C64.

Bought this not long after it came out having only played International Soccer before this. I was blown away by how much depth this games has. Tons to customise and terrific gameplay - this was the Pro Evo Soccer of it's day. The best footy game on the '64. 10/10

Nice music by Barry Leitch. Not exactly amazing, but definitely worth more than the 28% that ZZap! 64 gave it.

Great game. I spent a good few hours playing this with my friends.
You can score some nice goals in this game but it is hard to put a few passes together.

EHIS is a mixed bag for me. It sure is a quality release that is filled to the brim with options, not exactly intuitive but nonetheless well thought-out gameplay and unspectacular yet passable visuals. The first hurdle you have to overcome is the passing and kicking system. A player passes or kicks the ball on release of the firebutton, the longer you hold it, the stronger it will be. This may sound simple on paper but is rather tricky to do during the first few goes. Once you have mastered the basics, zooming around on the field and scoring a goal after a series of well-timed passes feels very rewarding. However, EHIS seems like a simulation first and footie game second to me, I like the sport and soccer games in general but don't really want to put so much effort in them. That's why I prefer MicroProse Soccer over it (my fave Commie footie game) which is way more accessible and ultimately more fun for me. Fans of football sims should give EHIS a try, it might just the game you were always looking for (on 8bit systems, that is). 7/10.

I dislike football, and I tried to avoid buying football games on the C64. Failed this time round, as this game appeared on the Zzap Megatape 29. Despite not liking football. I loved playing this game - and even customizing the player's strips and having laughs with customizing the football pitch colour to really silly The game was fun to play anyhow. 7/10

I had this on the Zzap 64 megatape 29. Not a bad game, pretty playable and some good music.

Pretty much perfect combo management sim/arcade footy game. The pointer-driven menus and the hosts of configurable options really gave the feeling you were on a 16-bit machine. And the arcade action was simple to learn yet had layers of extra depth for those willing to master it.

Simply mind blowing. One of the best soccer games of all time is a C64 game.
As a soccer game freak I can tell you this game puts to shame most soccer games since.
Back in my C64 days playability meant something but it seems soccer game producers have since been obsessed with shiny graphics and speed. Not that this game is slow - rather well paced IMO.
Variety of play is where its at and this game has it by the truck load.
I've just discovered the home page for EHIS. I'm so happy I think I might cry...

My personal C64 soccer game too

Very good footy game indeed... Ranks third behind "Italy 1990" (US Gold) and Microprose Soccer.

Simply the best 64 soccer game!
I loved to customize teams and arrange tournaments!

I Agree with most of you guys. This is propably the best football game on C64. My personal favourite along with gary lineker's superstar soccer and of course Match Day II. 10/10

So playable and SO many options compared to other football games on the C64

The best football on C64
really difficult in 2 players but that make it good

if you like foot like that take a PS2 and play pes5 (pro-evolution soccer)

you'll enjoy

Great footy game! Once the control method of shooting was mastered this was superb fun! One of the best on the commy.

Probably the best soccer game on the C64. It feels quite modern after all these years, it does even feel more advanced then several soccer games from the first half of the 90's.

If you want a soccer game for your C64, then buy this. 7/10

Although I'm not a football fan, I remember playing this game on the Zzap megatape and it was a laugh to play. It was fun to play against an opponent and you could also alter the colour of the pitch, the colour of the strips of the players (unless you wanted those people to be streakers).

Until Sensible Soccer came along, this was the greatest footy game ever written. Quite simply superb. I love the cartridge International Soccer, was the first game I ever played on the 64, but this wipes the floor with it. The comedic positions you could get yourself into whilst holding down the fire button just added to the fun. I still play this today, and still thoroughly enjoy it. The writers of footy games these days need to take a look at games like this and think long and hard. Great graphics and fancy moves are no replacement for superb gameplay. And this game has gameplay in abundance. GENIUS!

The best football game for any computer without any doubt. Hey, it has even a web site dedicated for it: ehis64.net

A shameless plug: check out games.groups.yahoo.com/group/eh/ for the Emlyn Hughes International Soccer mailing list, up and running since 1999! IMHO, this is the greatest soccer game ever -- graphics may be lacking, but it simulates the feel of the sport better than any other game ever.

Five years after International Soccer, we finally got a footie game that improved on the venerable classic. Funny how this game and MicroProse soccer were great on the C64 and mediocre on the Amiga.

Basically, I 'd like to say that I overrated the game a little bit in my review here on Lemon. I think that a 7/10 would be more appropriate..

The best football game I have ever seen. I never gave up playing EH Soccer in the last 15 years. I believe that no one knows to substitue a player during the match time. But I know it )))

Best footie game on the C64; best game on the C64 PERIOD.

Endless hours ( years ) of fun editing in your own sets of teams and then watching the two go head to head, each played by the comp'. Used to see some terrific scraps and fantastic goals, but also some really tedious 0-0 draws, so just like the real thing then.

Best of all though were the bugs in the programme, like the way in which every now and then the keeper would come charging from his goal-line and start diving around at the feet of the players outside the penalty area, then realise the error of his ways and run back in a blind panic. Sublime !!

Also saw one occasion when a guy taking a throw-in forgot to let go of the ball and spent the rest of the half running around with it above his head, with the ball spinning around between his hands. To see all the other players jumping up and trying to head it was priceless.

Pure class at just £9. 99.

Looks like int soccer but playability wise it was the dogs *cough*... Which is what its all about. Prefered this to microprose.. Even though that was done by sensible.. As for footy games now.. U lot are going on about FIFA? Check ISS pro. Thats propa football for these days.

The best.
unbelievable amount of passing directions/heights/angles. We used to play two v the C64 with only headers counting as goals. I could make defenders fall over just by giving them a zadane like shoulder drop. Graphics etc are dated now but id play this ahead of most games now as the ball actually goes where you kick it (for good or bad). Only iss PS2 surpasses. If you don't like this go buy FIFA and score ten scissor kick goals with your eyes shut. /woot.

The Best. Period.

No doubt, the best in its time.. No MPS bull shit or any other wanna-be soccer games..

The Question is...

Is it STILL the best game ?

If not, it sure it's on the 2º or 3º place.
And I'm convinced it's STILL the best game in terms of playability, and ball control (EA guys.. Shut up and learn!), and variety of goals and diversity of situations in a game..

I've always been a fanatic of football games, and this is easily one of the best - and without a doubt the best on the 64.

The best game ever. No discuss.

This is, even today, the most realistic football game ever to grace a computer screen. So faithful was it to the beautiful game, I became, like most great footballers, a wife-beating alcoholic. The dynamic of the players and physics of the ball movement were ultra realistic - easy to play, difficult to master. Awesome atmospherics, EA's fifa franchise pales into insignificance against this masterpiece of soccer.

Absolute class the goals u cud score were class great 2 player game 10/10

The best football game ever! Great music, great graphics, and great sounds of watchers!

Hello viewers around the world this was not just the first football game I played but the first game. I just cant believe how times change with the likes of Pro Evolution and the Fifa series. But still the best football game that was on the C64.

Good game, but give me Microprose Soccer any day!!

I would thank my brother Fulvio who bought this game in 1988... Now we play to the great "PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2" on PS2, but we won't forget whole afternoons spent playing to this FANTASTIC soccer game!!!
SIMPLY THE BEST!!! I LOVE IT!!!

Goal! One of the best football games on the C64.

I've played more than 20 different soccer games on the C64, since I'me a big soccerfan. This was my favourite. Best thing of the game is the playability, the feeling of the control. The graphics were good enough for the time. Incredible game.

This is SHIT. SHIT, SHIT, SHIT. I'm just joking of course cos this game is absolutly brilliant

This was one of my favourite games.. Really may be the best soccer game on C64! You can even edit the team member's names and skills, the pitch&ball color! Truly brilliant!

Played this more than any other game, although when I returned to it years later, it had completely dated, and now seems unoplayable. At the time though, it was awesome!

The natural Internation Soccer's evolution... When I saw EHIS the first time was like a dream! Unfortunately, like almost all soccer games, there are tricks to score, and nowadays, with hindsight, I prefer the slow, but full of satisfactions, Match Day... In any case, like Int. Soccer moreover, EHIS is LEGEND! 9/10

Plodding football game with tight ball control and a complicated but powerful kick selection system. Fun because you could play some clever footie and know you did it without any hand holding from the CPU. The were hilariously inept. They'd frequently "belly bounce" the ball away rather than catch it. Sometimes even dive out of the way of the ball entirely.

I've said it before and i'll say it again... Soccer and hockey games are no good on the 64. This one is no exception. Graphics... OK... And a very super cool title tune but the game-play sucks !!! Old CUP FINAL is still no. 1 !!!

This was one of the best Soccer Games ever for the C64. Excellent Ball-Control, Defense-Actions like Tackling and a superb league-Mode.

Why pc's soccer games aren't so funny?
The secret of soccer kept into this game: when u have the ball, u have to THINK what you're gonna do with it... Soccer isn't a flipper game, fifa-boys...
Signori, il calcio on our C64.

I know it looks like Commodore Soccer in the static shots, but man u should have seen it in action..
A great soccer game with lotsa reasons to recommend it

Sorry,
7 (seven) reason

If u don't like this game there are 3 reason possible:
1)u are a girl
2)u don't like soccer genre
3)u are a fifa series fans
4)u arent able to play
5)u are too young
6)u prefere graphics instead of the game
7)u don't know anything about soccer because u only play it from a console!!!

With nice graphics&sounds, incredible start-up interface, stratospheric A.I and ineffable control&gameplay, Emlyn Hughes is with no doubt the 8th wonder of the world. A) Lovers of the game: join the fan club at groups.yahoo.com/group/eh/ !! B) Newbies: be warned! Most of the reviews below are written by top managers who, by speaking ill of the game, wish to keep it a secret from their employees. In fact, it's not healthy for the firm business, if employees spent their work time playing (or, if they are under strict control, thinking of, moaning and sighing for) EHIS ;-)

Crappy grafics, stupid sounds. It all sums up to a bad football game. Miles worse than Microprose Soccer!

Best football game ever! As an old gamer I must say, before 1988, no football game was actually a football game but we the gamers had to suffer with them. (who can forget the first international soccer series???) e. H. Soccer changed everything. 'cause it was like football!!!

After playing virtually all the footy games on the 64, first hand I. E when they were released, this game was Int. Soccer Deluxe, For F***'s guys, the keeper could pick the ball up, even catch it!!! this game was brill and me & my mates had hours of fun on it, the Goals had Nets and the ball had spots... Brilliant!!!

I really think this game is/was very good. It is far more better then the games from EA Sports and other modern soccer games. In this game you could create leagues, cups and play seasons (with both). You could change the team names, the players names and even their attributes! Also there were few unrealistic goals in this game, like the banana-goals in Microprose soccer (also called "the booring slide-tackling-game". However no soccer game comes closer to realizm then Kick Off II for Amiga. I especially like the extended versions where you can make acrobatic kicks too. In this game you really had to practice your skills even just to keep the ball close to your feet. I give Int. Soccer a 9/10 and Kick Off II a 10/10!

If this is the best footy game on the C64 the rest must be really bad.
i found it slow, hard to controll and awefull to look at. 1/10

To Tommy Engstrom
Look pal, I 've learned the controls fairly well and my opinion is that they leave a lot to be desired. Ultra-sensitive, needlessly complex, and partially unresponsive, that's what they are. They, along with the s l o w pace, ruin the game. Average really. 5/10

Cerainly the best football game ever (with some competition from Kick off to the Amiga). Superb controls and the variety of scoring goals make this a winner. Those who think otherwise have only not learned to control the game

Hmm, it MUST be the best football game ever. When you know only this shity game.
the real ONLY rating must be -10. Better play other soccer games...

Without doubt the finest footy game on the Commodore 64 and one of the best games overall too. Others such as Microprose or Manchester United europe (while fairly good in the short term) were very limited in terms of the passing and types of goals it was possible to score (always had to be on a certain place and kick the ball with a certain amount of power to score) EHIS soccer on the other hand allows a huge variety of shots and goals plus you're not always bound to score from certain positions. The game's creator Graham Blighe is a genius and I applaud this game. 10 skill levels and the ability to change player and team names as well as their abilities make this a 10 out of 10 game for me.

It cant be good, its a football game!

Should not be in the top 5 C64 footy games.
naff graphics, naff controlls, too slow.
microprose soccer is sooo much better.
how on earth this can be in second place I have no idea. Speccy owners must be voting for it.

Oh my God, why are the players sliding ? Are they on ice or something ? OK, seriously though, this is a very dated game, with unresponsive controls, and too S L O W gameplay for any real excitement. I can't imagine anyone who has played Virtua Soccer liking this. Check out Microprose Soccer or Manchester United Europe instead...

Verry lame game, better play Commodore Soccer it's more funny.

THE football game for the C64 and, indeed, any computer (the only other footy game to come close is Kick Off 2 for the Amiga). In fact, I play this at work (during lunch!) and it is perfectly possible to score all manner of goals from all sorts of angles with a keyboard! The graphics may look dated but the gameplay is still outstanding. A true classic!

Quite simply, the best football game ever. No exceptions. I have played a lot of football games in arcades, on C64, Speccy, Amiga, SNES, N64, Playstation one and Two and I have yet to find one which I have enjoyed as much for as long. I have played this game more than any other and doubt I will play any game as much in the future. The way the players move and the variety of goals possible is amazing. I don't see the challenge in some of the modern games where you only have to press a button to make your player perform a match winning special move. I say this as somebody who generally prefers modern 3D games over the majority of oldies. Download it now!