FIFA Soccer 64 (Nintendo 64)

FIFA Soccer 64 is EA Sports' highly-anticipated foray into the mighty N64 universe. But like EA's initial, stumbling Super Nintendo titles, FIFA Soccer 64 is plagued by confusion, recycled designs, and hampered execution.

The play mechanics of FIFA Soccer 64 should be familiar: get the ball, pass, score, repeat. Getting started is surprisingly easy - select a game option (friendly "exhibition," playoff, tournament, or league); pick the play mode (action, simulation, or arcade); choose your team (from over 150 in five different leagues); and start playing. The fresh features the original FIFA introduced to the genre, such as multiple camera angles, a killer soundtrack, and vast quantities of animation, are all present in this version. EA has, however, upped the ante by combining these features with elaborated play controls. These new controls let you clear the ball after a goal attempt, execute a variety of tackles, and perform new moves and kicks on the ball (more than in any previous FIFA game). Even with two control options ("Semi Pro" and "Complex"), mastering the commands takes a lot of time - meaning that, at least initially, most players will probably stick to the basics.