Pelé! is a 1993 sports video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Accolade for the Sega Genesis. The game is based on the sport of association football and puts the player in control of a football team in modes of play such as exhibitions, tournaments, and seasons. It is named after and endorsed by former Brazilian footballer Pelé, who also provided input on the game's design.
Pelé! received mixed reviews from critics, who commended the graphics and amount of options, but criticized the controls and difficulty. A sequel, Pelé II: World Tournament Soccer, was released in 1994.
Pelé! is a simulation of association football in which the player can control one of 40 national teams. Gameplay takes place from an isometric perspective, and during a match, the player controls the selected player's movement with the D-pad, while the button commands vary depending on whether the player is on offense, defense, or whether the ball is in the air. On offense, the player can chip, shoot, or pass, while on defense, the player can check, tackle, or switch control to the player closest to the ball. If the ball is in the air, a player within its vicinity may perform a header or a bicycle kick.
The usual rules of the sport apply, including fouls and the penalty box, corners, and offside; fouls can be triggered on or off in the options menu. The player can change formations at any time, with Pelé himself appearing to give advice on what formation to use. The game features four modes of play. In "Exhibition", players can play a match against a computer-controlled or human opponent. The player can also play through a 16-game "Tournament" or a 40-game "Season". The "Practice" mode allows players to perfect on-field moves without having to engage in a match. The player is capable of saving season and tournament progress, as well as compiling statistics for their team.