FIFA: Road to World Cup 98

Last updated

FIFA: Road to World Cup 98
FIFA 98 cover.jpg
British and Irish cover art featuring David Beckham
Developer(s)
Publisher(s) EA Sports
Electronic Arts Victor (Japan)
THQ (Game Boy)
Composer(s) Jonnie Forster (Windows)
Eric Swanson (SNES, Mega Drive)
Series FIFA
Platform(s) Windows, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Sega Saturn, Game Boy, Mega Drive/Sega Genesis, SNES
Release
November 1997
  • Windows
    PlayStation
    Nintendo 64
    • EU: 20 December 1997
    • NA: 22 December 1997 [6]
    Game Boy
    • EU: November 1997
    Mega Drive/Sega Genesis, SNES
    Sega Saturn
    • NA: 18 December 1997
    • EU: December 1997
Genre(s) Sports
Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer

FIFA: Road to World Cup 98 (commonly abbreviated to FIFA 98 or RTWC 98) is a football simulation video game developed by EA Canada [7] and released by Electronic Arts in 1997. It is the fifth game in the FIFA series and the second to be in 3D on the fifth generation of video game consoles. A number of different players were featured on the cover, including David Beckham in the UK, Roy Lassiter in the United States, Mexico and Brazil, David Ginola in France, Raúl in Spain and Portugal, Paolo Maldini in Italy, and Andreas Möller in Germany. [8] FIFA 98 was the last FIFA game released for the Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).

Contents

Game features

The player on opponent's penalty area (PS1 version). FIFA Road to World Cup 98 screenshot.png
The player on opponent's penalty area (PS1 version).

The game includes an official soundtrack, team and player customisation options, 16 stadiums, improved artificial intelligence and the Road to World Cup mode, with all 172 FIFA-registered national teams that took part in qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup (including Brazil and France, who qualified for the tournament automatically as holders and hosts respectively). No subsequent edition of the FIFA series attempted to replicate FIFA 98's inclusion of every FIFA national team, until 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa , which included all 199 FIFA nations that took part in qualifying. Players have individual faces.

FIFA 98 features many accurate team rosters, including national reserves for national call-up when playing in the round-robin qualification modes. In addition, 11 leagues are featured, containing 189 clubs. The game also features a five-a-side indoor mode and was the first FIFA game to contain an in-game player/team editor.

For the first time in a FIFA game, the offside rule is properly implemented. In previous games, when a player was in an offside position doing anything except running, that player was penalised for offside even when the ball was passed backwards. The Windows, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Saturn versions of FIFA 98 correct this so that the game only awards a free kick for offside if the ball is passed roughly to where the player in the offside position is.[ citation needed ]

Soundtrack

The theme music for the game was Blur's "Song 2". Four songs from The Crystal Method are included – "More", "Now Is the Time", "Keep Hope Alive" and "Busy Child" – as well as a song by Electric Skychurch entitled "Hugga Bear". Des Lynam was retained for the game introduction and John Motson and Andy Gray remained as match commentators.

Development

The game was built on the FIFA '97 engine. [9] David Ginola served as the game's motion capture actor. [9]

Reception

FIFA: Road to World Cup 98 was positively received. Though widely regarded as still inferior to International Superstar Soccer 64 , [10] [15] [17] most critics considered it a strong comeback from its predecessor, FIFA 97 / FIFA Soccer 64 . [10] [11] [12] [15] [17] [20] [21] Moreover, a few reviewers said that the game's extensive licensing of real players and teams was a strong advantage over International Superstar Soccer 64 which, though not enough to make it an overall better game, was a compelling enough reason for soccer fans to get both games. [15] [17] [20] Next Generation , for example, concluded that "The game still doesn't have the fluidity of ISS 64, but the real players and variety of options make FIFA RTTWC 64 a game that soccer fans all over the world should enjoy." [17] GamePro disagreed with the majority comparison to International Superstar Soccer 64, assessing FIFA 98 as "a super-fun title, easily topping International Superstar Soccer 64 in overall gameplay." [20]

Other common subjects of critical praise were the accuracy and variation in the play-by-play commentary, [10] [13] [14] [15] [19] [20] the detailed rendering of the player models, [10] [11] [13] [14] [15] [19] [20] [21] the smooth animations, [10] [11] [13] [14] [15] [17] [20] [21] the wealth of play options, [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [19] [20] [21] and the realistic moves. [10] [13] [17] GameSpot commented, "From header lobs, header shots, and high volleys, to hip checks, hyperaggressive lunges, and slide tackles, the range of movement and playing style is enormous." [13] However, critics widely mentioned weaknesses in the A.I., particularly the goalie A.I., [10] [11] [12] [15] [19] and occasional drops in frame rate. [10] [11] [12] [15] [17] [19]

IGN stated in their review of the Nintendo 64 version, "EA seems to have learned its lesson and made use of some of the N64's unique features instead of treating the N64 the same way as PCs or the PSX." [15] Electronic Gaming Monthly 's Kelly Rickards said that the PlayStation version "doesn't quite have the magic that the N64 version provides" but is still the best soccer game for the PlayStation to date. [11] GamePro also declared it the best PlayStation soccer game to date, particularly citing the "slick new passing cursor", fast gameplay, and stunning graphics. [21] The Saturn version was much less well-received; most reviews, though still positive, identified problems which did not exist in other versions of the game. GameSpot, for example, noted that the commentary often lagged behind the action in the Saturn version alone. [14] Dan Hsu of Electronic Gaming Monthly complained of flat stadiums, broken player models, and a slow frame rate, and added, "Now, normally graphics are a secondary concern for me (gameplay, replay and all the other good stuff is way more important), but when the market has so many great soccer games, you need to make them look good." His three co-reviewers agreed that the game should have been better but nonetheless felt it held up well against the competition. [12] By contrast, Sega Saturn Magazine panned the game, remarking that "With the infinitely superior SWWS '98 already available, it defies logic that anyone would purchase EA's latest lacklustre addition to the ailing FIFA series." [19]

Upon its release, the game was a bestseller in the UK for two months. [22] At the 1999 Milia festival in Cannes, it took home a "Gold" prize for revenues above €37 million in the European Union during the previous year. [23]

The game was the winner for "PC Sports Game of the Year" at the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' inaugural Interactive Achievement Awards (now known as the D.I.C.E. Awards). [24]

During the game's 20th anniversary in 2017, Luke Plunkett of Kotaku wrote an essay arguing that FIFA 98 should be considered as the best sports video game of all time, focusing on its then-unprecedented depth and breadth of content, which Plunkett contended is the main differentiating factor between titles within the highly incremental sports video gaming industry. Examples cited were its inclusion of all FIFA national teams of the time, customization options for rosters and kits, multiple game modes, and groundbreaking soundtrack including licensed rather than original music. [25]

Related Research Articles

FIFA has licensed FIFA World Cup video games since 1986, of which only a few were received positively by the critics, but given the popularity of the competition, they all did positively on the market, and the license is one of the most sought-after. Originally in the hands of U.S. Gold, Electronic Arts acquired it in 1997 and is the current holder.

<i>Rampage World Tour</i> 1997 video game

Rampage World Tour is an arcade video game released in by Midway in 1997 as the sequel to Rampage. It was developed at Game Refuge by Brian Colin and Jeff Nauman, who designed the 1986 original. Ports were released for the Sega Saturn, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, PlayStation, and Microsoft Windows. It was re-released on Midway Arcade Treasures 2 and included in Rampage: Total Destruction.

<i>Fighting Force</i> 1997 video game

Fighting Force is a 1997 3D brawler developed by Core Design and published by Eidos. It was released for PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, and Nintendo 64 on 15 October 1997. Announced shortly after Core became a star developer through the critical and commercial success of Tomb Raider, Fighting Force was highly anticipated but met with mixed reviews.

<i>FIFA Soccer 64</i> 1997 video game

FIFA Soccer 64, known in Europe as FIFA 64 and in Japan as J. League Live 64, is an association football video game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts for the Nintendo 64. The cover features Manchester United midfielder Jordi Cruyff. The game garnered mixed reviews from critics upon release. Although its simulation was generally praised as realistic, reviewers critiqued the jerky animation, choppy frame-rates, unresponsive controls, and underwhelming usage of the Nintendo 64's capabilities. The Japanese version has officially licensed players and teams from Japan's J. League.

<i>FIFA 99</i> 1998 association football video game

FIFA 99 is a football simulation video game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports label. It is the sixth game in the FIFA series and was released in 1998 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation and Nintendo 64.

<i>International Superstar Soccer 64</i> 1997 association football video game

International Superstar Soccer 64 is a video game developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Osaka in the International Superstar Soccer series by Konami. Its team lineup follows the Super NES version of International Superstar Soccer Deluxe, only with South Africa replacing Morocco.

<i>NBA Live 99</i> 1998 basketball video game

NBA Live 99 is the fifth installment of the NBA Live video games series. The cover features Antoine Walker of the Boston Celtics. The game was developed by EA Sports and released on November 4, 1998, for the Nintendo 64, and then on November 10, 1998, for the Windows and PlayStation. Don Poier is the play-by-play announcer. It was the first NBA Live game released for Nintendo 64. NBA Live 99 was followed by NBA Live 2000.

<i>Madden NFL 98</i> 1997 American football video game

Madden NFL 98 is a 1997 football video game. It was the last edition of the Madden series to be released for the Super NES, Genesis and Sega Saturn platforms, as well as the last Madden game to utilize 2D sprites for the players and referee, on 3D playing fields.

<i>NBA Live 98</i> 1997 basketball video game

NBA Live 98 is a basketball video game based on the National Basketball Association and the fourth installment of the NBA Live series. Its cover art features Tim Hardaway of the Miami Heat. The game was developed by EA Sports in 1997 for Windows, PlayStation, and Sega Saturn, while also being the final NBA Live game released for the Super NES, Genesis, and Sega Saturn.

<i>NFL Quarterback Club 98</i> 1997 video game

NFL Quarterback Club '98 is a football video game, released in 1997. It was developed by Iguana Entertainment and published by Acclaim Entertainment under their Acclaim Sports banner for the Nintendo 64. It was the first football game announced for the Nintendo 64.

<i>Puzzle Bobble 3</i> 1996 arcade game

Puzzle Bobble 3 is an action puzzle video game developed by Taito. The second sequel to Puzzle Bobble, it was released for arcades in September 1996 and later ported to the Sega Saturn, PlayStation, Game Boy, Nintendo 64 and Microsoft Windows. Like its predecessors, the player is tasked with shooting balls at groups of balls, creating groups of three or more, which are then removed from play. Further ports for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were released in February 2023 by City Connection alongside Puzzle Bobble 2.

<i>NASCAR 99</i> 1998 video game by EA Sports

NASCAR '99 is a racing simulator video game developed by Stormfront Studios and published by EA Sports. It was released for Nintendo 64 on September 10, 1998, and for the PlayStation on September 22. NASCAR '99 was the second game in the EA Sports NASCAR series of video games.

<i>World Cup 98</i> (video game) 1998 video game

World Cup 98 is a football video game released in 1998 to coincide with that year's FIFA World Cup football tournament, developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts under their EA Sports label. It is the first official FIFA World Cup game developed by EA Sports after obtaining the rights from FIFA in 1997. Unlike the previous World Cup games, which were in 2D and showed a bird's-eye view, World Cup 98 used a 3D engine, utilising DirectX for the PC version.

<i>NHL 98</i> 1997 video game

NHL 98 is an ice hockey video game developed by EA Canada. It was released in 1997 and was the successor to NHL 97. It was the last installment of the NHL series to be released on the SNES, Sega Genesis, or Sega Saturn. It is based on the 1997-98 NHL season.

<i>NHL Breakaway 98</i> 1997 video game

NHL Breakaway 98 is a 1997 ice hockey video game for the PlayStation and Nintendo 64. It was the first hockey game to come from Acclaim Entertainment and the first game released under the publisher's new Acclaim Sports label. The game met with divisive reviews upon its release for the PlayStation, though the game's management mode and its system of using points to improve aspects of a team received widespread praise, but reviews for the later Nintendo 64 version were more consistently favorable. It was followed by a sequel, NHL Breakaway 99, released the following year.

<i>International Superstar Soccer Pro 98</i> 1997 video game

International Superstar Soccer Pro 98 is a football video game which follows International Superstar Soccer Pro developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo. The Japanese version was re-released in late 1998 as Winning Eleven 3: Final Version with some slight improvements, such as a wider camera option. In Japan, a version of the game featuring only J-League clubs was released in December 1998 titled J-League Jikkyō Winning Eleven '98-'99.

<i>Sega Worldwide Soccer 98</i> 1997 video game

Sega Worldwide Soccer '98, known in North America as simply Worldwide Soccer '98 and in Europe as Sega Worldwide Soccer '98 Club Edition, is a video game developed and published by Sega for the Sega Saturn in 1997 and Windows in 1998. It is the third game in its series, following Victory Goal and Sega Worldwide Soccer 97.

<i>International Superstar Soccer 98</i> 1998 video game

International Superstar Soccer 98 is a soccer video game developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Osaka which was released exclusively for the Nintendo 64. It was released at the same time as International Superstar Soccer Pro 98, developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo (KCET) for the PlayStation.

<i>Micro Machines V3</i> 1997 video game

Micro Machines V3 is a racing video game developed by Codemasters and Novalicious for PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 64, and Game Boy Color.

<i>NBA Fastbreak 98</i> 1997 video game

NBA Fastbreak '98 is a basketball simulator released for the Sony PlayStation in 1997. It takes place during the 1997-98 National Basketball Association season. It was published by Midway Games and GT Interactive. Originally announced under the title "Hardwood Heroes", the game was released with minimal changes as NBA Action 98 on Sega Saturn and Microsoft Windows, published by Sega. Another version was being developed by Z-Axis for the Nintendo 64 under the title "NBA Fast Break 64", with a prospective November 1997 release, but it was cancelled.

References

  1. ↑ "Incredible Value on Sports Games!". The Sacramento Bee . 16 November 1997. p. 630. Retrieved 31 March 2024. New//FIFA Road to the World Cup 98//39.99 Comp Price//Windows CD 167701
  2. 1 2 "Get Your Toys from Us and We'll Give You Something to Play With". Stockport Times . 26 November 1997. p. 30. Retrieved 31 March 2024. FIFA 98 Road to the World Cup for PlayStation//Launches Friday
  3. 1 2 "Disks + Discs Computer Store". Staffordshire Newsletter (Uttoxeter ed.) . 21 November 1997. p. 55. Retrieved 31 March 2024. Red Alert, Fifa 98, Tomb Raider II, Worms II, Bomberman 64 all in stock next week.
  4. ↑ I. G. N. Staff (25 November 1997). "FIFA: Road to World Cup '98". IGN. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "PSN News Story" . Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  6. ↑ "ELECTRONIC ARTS SHIPS FIFA: ROAD TO WORLD CUP 98 FOR THE NINTENDO 64". 7 February 1998. Archived from the original on 7 February 1998. Retrieved 15 April 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. ↑ "FIFA: 98". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 100. Ziff Davis. November 1997. p. 77.
  8. ↑ "EA Sports FIFA 98 Cover Stars". FIFPLAY. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  9. 1 2 Nutter, Lee (November 1997). "EA Sports". Sega Saturn Magazine . No. 25. Emap International Limited. pp. 20–23. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Review Crew: FIFA: RTWC 98". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 102. Ziff Davis. January 1998. p. 154.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Review Crew: FIFA: RTWC 98". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 103. Ziff Davis. February 1998. p. 114.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Review Crew: FIFA RTWC 98". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 104. Ziff Davis. March 1998. p. 120.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Smith, Josh (5 February 1998). "FIFA Road to World Cup 98 Review". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 10 October 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Smith, Josh (6 February 1998). "FIFA Road to World Cup 98 Review". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 8 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Schneider, Peer (24 December 1997). "FIFA: Road to World Cup 98". IGN . Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  16. ↑ Weaver, Tim (December 1997). "FIFA '98". N64 Magazine . No. 10. pp. 58–59.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Finals". Next Generation . No. 38. Imagine Media. February 1998. p. 110.
  18. ↑ "FIFA: Road to World Cup 98". Play . No. 29. January 1998.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Nutter, Lee (February 1998). "Review: FIFA '98". Sega Saturn Magazine . No. 28. Emap International Limited. pp. 70–71.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 The Rookie (February 1998). "FIFA: Road to World Cup '98 Kicks its Way to the Top". GamePro . No. 113. IDG. p. 105.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 Air Hendrix (February 1998). "FIFA: Road to World Cup '98". GamePro . No. 113. IDG. p. 106.
  22. ↑ Gallup UK Playstation sales chart, February 1998, published in Official UK PlayStation Magazine issue 29
  23. ↑ Staff (12 February 1999). "Milia News; ECCSELL Awards Name Winners". GameSpot . Archived from the original on 30 August 1999. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  24. ↑ "The Award - Winners". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 15 June 1998. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  25. ↑ Plunkett, Luke. "The Best Sports Video Game Of All Time". The Bests. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.