World Cup '98
Reviewed by Bryan
EA Sports has another soccer game ready to go for the World Cup. How does it
stack up with the competition?
Graphics
World Cup '98 is pretty amazing looking. The polygon models are realistic and move
about well most of the time (there's a bit of jittering here and there) and the
cinematic scenes when players prepare for penalty kicks or after shooting goals
are second to none. The stadium graphics, especially when playing evening matches
are also really cool, with an orange sky and different colored lights in the tribunes.
Too bad the audience isn't animated, but at least there are two giant flags corresponding
to the teams in the stands. EA's attention to detail is again apparent in the fact that
the field will actually get worn down as you play, meaning brown mud will eventually
shine through the grass close to the goal areas. Unfortunately one problem that has
plagued the FIFA series makes a return again. Although the framerate has improved,
the game still appears jerky at times. A far cry from the smoothness of many other
EA games -- and, of course, Konami's ISS series. The menu and tournament screens
deserve special mention. They may be a little difficult to navigate at times, but
they sure are gorgeous.
Music and Sound
Not much has changed here. Overall, EA's soccer games have never disappointed in the
sound department, and this one's no different. N64 owners will be treated to the
fantastic Dolby Surround sound (at least someone's doing it!) cheers and the usual
sparse but spot-on commentary by Lynam and Motson. As usual, the game starts off
with a short digitized music clip, this time from Chumbawamba's Tubthumping. It
would be cool if next time, the in-game midi tune would echo the intro, but that might
be a bit much to ask.
Game Challenge
Only months after the release of FIFA: Road to World Cup '98, EA Sports is already
on the ball again with a sequel. World Cup '98 is essentially a refined version of FIFA,
minus the player-creation mode and the FIFA teams -- but with improved gameplay
and cinematic scenes.
Game Play-Fun
World Cup '98 offers five different modes of play for up to four players: World Cup,
World Cup Classic (only available to players who win a World Cup), Friendly, Penalty
Shootout, and Practice. At first sight, the game may appear like a slimmed down
version of Road to World Cup because of the lack of a player creation mode and FIFA
teams, but World Cup does exactly what you'd expect it to do: Perfectly simulate a
soccer World Championship. Thanks to the complete World Cup license, accurate teams,
and a stadium selection that ranges from Lens to Marseille, World Cup '98 feels like
the real thing.
Gameplay and control are largely similar to Road to World Cup, but the game runs
faster and more smoothly (you can also adjust the speed) and the reaction time has
been tightened (thanks to some EA doohickey called Compression Touch). On the
downside, the game is still not as responsive as it could be. EA decided that it was
more important to portray accurate player motions than to cut the animations short
by letting players turn on a dime. In the game, this translates into video game soccer
that's beautiful to watch, but sometimes frustrating to control. Another recurring
problem is the passing AI. It may be realistic, but it's really easy to overshoot
when passing to a team member.
Thankfully, the artificial intelligence (AI) routines have been completely reworked
to deliver "smarter" goalies and player AI (for example, the goalie won't accidentally
kick the ball out when kicking off and reacts more realistically to different ball speeds).
One of the best new additions to the game -- that in my mind pushes this game ahead
of its enjoyable predecessor -- is the "on the fly," in-game management. Players can
activate four real-time game tactics at any time in the game by pressing Z and R. This
way, sim fans can pull off off-side traps, send men forward, and execute wing back
runs. Another good, new feature is the handicapping system, that enables more evenly
matched contests between otherwise mismatched teams, and trivia for die-hard soccer
fans during the half time intermission.
Finally, the World Cup Classics Mode is a nice little bonus feature that lets you replay
eight classic final matches from World Cup history -- complete with the authentic
teams and outfits of that time. However, you need to beat the World Cup once to enable
the Classics Mode (and you need a controller pak to keep it).
Replayability
You can virtually adjust everything. From referee strictness to player fatigues,
difficulty levels, handicapping, speed, volumes, controller config, clock times,
weather -- you name it. Don't get confused by the front page set-up menu. You
need a memory card to save it if you adjust features there. Once you go into a game
menu, you can adjust everything without having to save it. It's needlessly complicated,
but you'll get used to it. Note that World Cup is yet another memory hog, just like
most other sports games. Reserve a whole Memory Pak for this puppy.
Multiplayer
Up to four players can compete. Set-up is fast and painless and the game plays
well even with four people on board. When playing with several players on one team,
World Cup beats ISS hands-down. Each player has a differently colored marker (as
opposed to ISS's different shapes) and playing with three or four guys against the
computer is the next best thing to watching the real World Cup.
Overall
Slowly but surely, EA Sports is inching closer to the perfect soccer game. The full
license and authenticity of the graphics and atmosphere will make this a favorite
with World Cup enthusiasts, even though it doesn't quite play and move as well as
ISS. Having said that, if you're into soccer, you should definitely get it -- even if
you own ISS. It offers a much different experience from Konami's game and a more
"authentic approach." If you already own FIFA Road to World Cup, you might want
to think twice about buying World Cup '98, unless you can't live without a more
accurate WC sim. Everyone else, check it out. The multiplayer modes are too good
to pass up. Created by EA Canada (the makers of both FIFA titles), World Cup '98
will simulate the tournament with all 32 teams that qualified (plus eight that
didn't and eight hidden ones) and 10 fully licensed World Cup stadiums. The enjoyable
predecessor featured fantastic options and a ton of features, but we felt the gameplay
and speed still didn't match up to Konami's International Superstar Soccer. And while
control- and gameplay-wise World Cup '98 is still not quite up there with ISS, the
presentation, options, and multiplayer capabilities of this game serious butt.