2. Nintendo World Cup (Nintendo)
Nintendo World Cup is to soccer what Techmo Bowl is to football. Released in 1990, Nintendo World Cup was the first soccer game that a lot of people got their hands on and spent a lot of time with. The game follows most of the same rules of soccer, but with some noticeable differences. Each team has only six players (a goalkeeper, two defenders, a midfielder and two forwards). You control only one of them, but you can give commands (Pass/Shoot) to the others. Offsides are non-existent and fouls are not punished. Players can be knocked out by repeatedly sliding, tackling or shooting. Players can also use up to five "super shots" per half. Boy, I loved the super shots. Getting that intense satisfaction of performing a bicycle kick or a diving header for a goal was always exhilarating. The "super shots" also differed from player to player. Another interesting thing about Nintendo World Cup was that is used weather effects. What I mean by that is that you were able to choose ice and your players would slide all over the field...A novelty, but it made for some intense matches.