At the time of its release "EHIS" faced heavy competition from titles such as "Match Day II" (1987), "Kick Off" (1989) and "Microprose Soccer". However, what made "EHIS" different from the other games of its time was the fine balance between playability and simulation - it was not as slow as "Match Day II", nor as reflex-driven as "Kick Off" and "Sensible Soccer". As a result, the appeal of EHIS was strongest among those who preferred skillful, tactical football to frantic arcade action. Despite limited graphics, and a side view of the action (whereas "Kick Off" had recently introduced the bird's-eye perspective), "EHIS" held its own because of a powerful control system that gave the players unprecedented control over the game.