The late-1997 edition of FIFA was heavily tied in with the qualifying procedure for the 1998 World Cup. In the Road to the World Cup mode, you take a team from first qualification through to the main tournament, using the varying systems in different parts of the world. The game features 16 distinct outdoor stadia. The League play features 189 clubs and 11 leagues. Each team has specific crowd chants incorporated into the ambient sound. The action is faster than in previous versions, and AI has been expanded. Players have distinct facial feature and hair styles. Each match is introduced by Des Lynam and commentated on by John Motson and former Scotland international Andy Gray.
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This game brings back a lot of memories from my childhood. I had this game on PC and played it a lot – even doing some 90 minute matches. I was into football at the time (I stopped caring not long after). After seeing how dreadful FIFA 64 was, I was worried that this was going to tarnish my memories. Luckily, it seems that this time, the N64 got a solid port.
Every single thing has been improved upon from the previous year. The players actually look human now (in N64 style, anyway), the gameplay is fast and fluid and there is actually team management and a HUD that lets you know player names and a massive amount of both international and league teams. The N64 version does have some setbacks – Song 2 by Blur is cut back, and the commentary is heavily reduced, but the core gameplay is spot on, and it’s just a ton of fun.
This version of FIFA also included a 5-a-side indoor pitch, for an even more frantic and fast-paced game and a lot fewer interruptions due to the ball bouncing off the wall. This mode solidifies the core feature of this particular FIFA: fun. The gameplay is relatively simple, but it’s just enjoyable.
This extends into some of the “unrealistic” things you can do in the game. One of the tackle buttons is just an outright foul that you’ll never get away with, and you can even use it on the goalkeeper for an instant red card – however, you can set the referee strictness to zero. You can also pass back to the keeper and run as much as you like.
Even though I’m not a fan of football now, I still had a ton of fun playing this. It may not be as technical as ISS, but it’s just enjoyable.
Every single thing has been improved upon from the previous year. The players actually look human now (in N64 style, anyway), the gameplay is fast and fluid and there is actually team management and a HUD that lets you know player names and a massive amount of both international and league teams. The N64 version does have some setbacks – Song 2 by Blur is cut back, and the commentary is heavily reduced, but the core gameplay is spot on, and it’s just a ton of fun.
This version of FIFA also included a 5-a-side indoor pitch, for an even more frantic and fast-paced game and a lot fewer interruptions due to the ball bouncing off the wall. This mode solidifies the core feature of this particular FIFA: fun. The gameplay is relatively simple, but it’s just enjoyable.
This extends into some of the “unrealistic” things you can do in the game. One of the tackle buttons is just an outright foul that you’ll never get away with, and you can even use it on the goalkeeper for an instant red card – however, you can set the referee strictness to zero. You can also pass back to the keeper and run as much as you like.
Even though I’m not a fan of football now, I still had a ton of fun playing this. It may not be as technical as ISS, but it’s just enjoyable.
As far as the Nintendo 64 version of the game, it represented a huge leap in terms of overall improvements versus EA's previous soccer game FIFA 64 which was an embarrassment compared to this.
FIFA 98 improved in just about every category including graphics, sound, gameplay, and even overall game modes offering very detailed and realistic World Cup qualification competitions for every Confederation. It was a blast playing this game and taking a national team all the way from qualifying to winning the World Cup. Last but not least, this game had one of the most epic intro songs of its time with Song 2 by Blur.
FIFA 98 improved in just about every category including graphics, sound, gameplay, and even overall game modes offering very detailed and realistic World Cup qualification competitions for every Confederation. It was a blast playing this game and taking a national team all the way from qualifying to winning the World Cup. Last but not least, this game had one of the most epic intro songs of its time with Song 2 by Blur.
Back in the day, there wasn't any other game where you could lead the Cook Islands to World Cup victory. FIFA98 had a bit of an arcade feel to its gameplay, which wasn't exactly my cup of tea, but overall, it was still a solid game.
Majestic.
Fifa 98 (1997): El primer gran juego de fútbol; Infinidad de licencias, completamente en 3D y acercamiento a la simulación con previas, juegos de cámara y múltiples animaciones de victoria. Hoy día es aburrido y está más que superado, pero su importancia es histórica (7,40)
Played for nostalgia's sake. Hilariously primitive by modern FIFA standards.