FIFA 99 (PC)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 4.5 stars Outstanding
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 9.2 (4.5 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Josh Smith
• Reviewed on: 12/09/1998
• Updated on: 05/01/2000
• Released on: 10/31/1998
• Originally published on GameSpot: FIFA 99 (PC) Review

EA Sports has produced some of the finest soccer games on any platform. Last year's two versions of the FIFA franchise came replete with more options, stunning graphics, and hours of gameplay than ever before. With terrific animations, dozens of special moves and in-game strategies, it begs the question: Is there room for improvement, aside from just keeping up with new hardware and processing speeds? Little, but there is some. EA tweaked the graphics, added commentary and celebrations, beefed up teammate AI, and "smartened" sideline control - making FIFA 99 a better choice for the neophyte, and an almost-essential upgrade for the die-hard soccer enthusiast.

All the moves you expect from an EA Sports FIFA title are here: flick passes, diving headers, slide tackles, and rainbow kicks. FIFA 99 adds new moves like directional chest-trapping to bring the ball down away from enemy players. You can fake the receipt of a pass. And draw fouls. And push the goalie down with the touch of a single button. It's now possible to volley an airborne ball directly to a teammate's head or feet. Shots on goal now include a chip shot and a poke shot to disarm the unsuspecting keeper. These aren't the same static goalies of last year's editions either. Instead of automatically grabbing and holding the ball every time, sometimes they kick the ball away, other times they fail to gain control and leave it in play, dangerously close to the goal. Plus, you can now have a hand in their control, and though this primarily means deciding when to pick up or drop the ball, it's now possible to charge enemy strikers. The threat of charging goalies makes offensive timing more of a critical issue.

Tactically, there's nothing new here. Still, EA deserves credit for showing that soccer is in fact a game of strategy. It was the first to implement a strategic component in the electronic soccer world - something that has existed in video (American) football gaming since the Atari 2600 days. The four plays from World Cup 98 return here: For the defense, an offside trap moves the defensive line forward to draw the enemy offsides. Offensive plays include an attack press to team up on defending ball carriers to force a mistake near the enemy goal and two breakaway plays. And as in previous versions of the game, three separate customizable formations are available on the fly. If you're willing to tire your team out fast, you can effectively have the bulk of your squad in your territory and enemy territory, by switching formation whenever the ball switches sides of the field.

All this strategy is further customizable with the various setup options. Control each formation's orientation, from defensive to attacking, as well as each individual player's attitude, from "calm" to "nutter." In addition, all the usual stat and cosmetic tweaks recur in this version, so you can still create strange races of bald, neck-beard-sporting, super-strikers that are all speed and no endurance. Nothing new over last year's edition, but filled with possibility nonetheless.

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