NASL Soccer is an action sports simulation from 1980 where two players compete under standard soccer rules across two 45-minute halves, with overtime possible. You control one player while the AI manages the rest, utilizing dribbling, passing, throw-ins, and set pieces. The game features adjustable skill levels that directly affect the match speed, offering a core competitive experience on platforms like the Intellivision.
The gameplay loop involves direct control over one player on your chosen team at any given moment, while the computer manages the movements of your teammates. Players have the ability to execute fundamental soccer actions, including dribbling the ball down the field and executing passes to advance possession.
The simulation incorporates several standard in-game events crucial to the flow of a match. These include managing throw-ins when the ball goes out of bounds on the sidelines, setting up corner kicks following defensive clearances over the goal line, and taking goal kicks after an offensive attempt misses the net.
Matches are structured around two distinct halves, each lasting 45 simulated minutes. Should the score remain tied at the conclusion of regulation time, the game proceeds directly into an overtime period to determine a winner.
The game offers several distinct skill levels. Adjusting these settings directly impacts the speed of the game, providing a scalable challenge for players of varying experience levels.
This main game package is presented as a complete experience. There are currently no officially listed downloadable content (DLC) packs, expansions, remakes, or remasters associated with this specific title.
The setting is purely competitive sports action. There is no overarching narrative or storyline; the objective is strictly to utilize the available controls and mechanics to score more goals than the opposing player within the allotted match time.