FIFA: Road to World Cup 98
(commonly abbreviated to FIFA 98) is a football video game developed by
EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts. It was the fifth game in
the FIFA series and the second to be in 3D on the 32-bit machines. A
number of different players were featured on the cover, including David
Beckham in the UK, Roy Lassiter in the USA and Mexico, David Ginola on
the French cover, Raúl on the Spanish cover and Andreas Möller on the
German cover.
FIFA 98 was the last FIFA game released for the Mega Drive in Europe.We're all familiar with the EA formula by now: a stunning opening credits sequence (which in this game reaches no less than music video level); an unbelievable variety of fully licensed international, professional, and club teams; beautifully rendered stadiums complete with roaring, chanting crowds; and John Motson's dry, humorous commentary. But with the official license to World Cup Paris 98 on this year's resume (as EA makes abundantly clear with the numerous references to "the beautiful city of Paris"), I think we've all been expecting a little something special from FIFA 98. Happily, mes cheries, this tour de force does not disappoint.
FIFA 98 was the last FIFA game released for the Mega Drive in Europe.We're all familiar with the EA formula by now: a stunning opening credits sequence (which in this game reaches no less than music video level); an unbelievable variety of fully licensed international, professional, and club teams; beautifully rendered stadiums complete with roaring, chanting crowds; and John Motson's dry, humorous commentary. But with the official license to World Cup Paris 98 on this year's resume (as EA makes abundantly clear with the numerous references to "the beautiful city of Paris"), I think we've all been expecting a little something special from FIFA 98. Happily, mes cheries, this tour de force does not disappoint.
As beautiful as a walk along the Seine, the first things that hit you in FIFA 98
are the expansive stadiums, ever-changing skies, and perfectly rendered
3D characters. Complete with facial features and hairdos, your players
are able to perform more feats of aerial derring-do (or is that
Depar-dieu?) than the legendary Cirque du Soleil performers. Bicycle
kicks, slide tackles, diving headers... all of these are actually
possible in the game, and advanced moves such as jumping over a slide
tackle or flipping the ball over your opponents' heads can be mastered
with a slight bit of practice.
While
EA is famous for its wealth of options, FIFA 98 offers more options
than there are types of Brie at the lovely cheese shops along the
historic Champs Elysees. There are hundreds of teams, three difficulty
levels, and five different play options, including friendly, league,
penalty shots, and the road to the World Cup. Most impressive, though,
are the actual team management options in the game, allowing you to
choose from multiple formations, player positions, and strategies. More
amazingly, you can also adjust each individual player's attack bias and
aggression level, choose who takes free and corner kicks, and create or
purchase new players to add to your club.
All of this is good, but what sticks out in FIFA 98
like a baguette from a shopping bag is the gameplay. Fast, challenging
(at least for a while), and as smooth as a neatly rolled Galoise, one
game immediately erases all memory of what must now be seen as the
transitional FIFA '97. While this fast pace may be at the expense of
true realism, it is certainly more entertaining to play; slide tacklers
get back to their feet in time to rejoin the action, shots occasionally
find the corner of the net, and it is actually possible to win a
fifty-fifty ball from a computer opponent. Additionally, the computer AI
is much improved, allowing you to play the ball into open space and let
your teammate run on to it, creating a fast-break opportunity. This
does work against you when you are trying to play the ball back to the
goalie (and you end up rolling it into open space in front of the net),
but, for the most part, it creates a faster, more exciting style of play
than any soccer game ever made.
Smooth, entertaining, and relatively high-scoring, FIFA 98
may eventually prove a little easy for hard-core footballers, but the
multiplayer options (and EA's matchmaking site) will let you find one
another like long-lost lovers at the Eiffel Tower. They say Paris is the
city of love, and you'll most certainly love this game.Click here to Download Fifa 98 Pc Game:
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