FIFA Soccer 64
Reviewed by Matthew Zak
Before I start, let me say one thing........I HATE SOCCER!!! I never
understood it, and probably never will. But, for some reason, I love soccer
video games. I loved the one for the NES, and FIFA Soccer 64 is no
different.
GRAPHICS: 8
The graphics in FIFA are relatively good- not up to the full N64 standards-
but good. The players move with fluidity as they run up and down the field.
There's many different camera angles in the game, (8 to be exact) and each
one gives you a clear picture. are many "celebrations" that the players do
after they score a goal, and after they win the game. They all look
beautiful, but a few of them leaves the player looking "flat," like a piece
of cardboard. That is just worth mentioning, however, and hardly effects the
gameplay.
OPTIONS: 10
What can you say, except that this is everything a soccer enthusiast wants in
a soccer game. 160 teams (if I counted right) in 6 different leagues. I'm
told that they're all real players. (I'm not the one to be asking) There's 4
different Matches to select- Friendly, (exhibition game) Playoff, (a playoff
tree....you lose, you're out) League, (go through an entire season with up to
8 teams) and Tournament. (Control up to 8 teams- dominate your bracket to go
to the Playoffs)
Note: you'll need a controller pack to save any League, Playoff, etc. you
started and that you want to continue another time.
On top of all that, you also have 3 Game Types to choose from. They include:
ACTION: Faster gameplay, no subs, and exaggerated attributes.
ARCADE: Players never get tired, all players have the same attributes.
SIMULATION: Players and teams act like they would in real life.
Substitutions are limited to 3 per game.
You may also change the camera angles, field conditions, time length,
penalties on/off, offsides on/off, 3 different languages(English, French,
Dutch), and a hole bunch more!
GAMEPLAY: 9
All of the yellow cards, red cards, penalty kicks, bicycle kicks, and headers
are included in this one. In Simulation, the players reflect their actual
attributes as in real life! There's also a bunch of descriptive charts in
the Instruction Booklet to help you learn how to do everything. The
announcer actually DOESN'T get annoying!! Instead, he gives you the feeling
of watching the game on television. The variety of camera angles also gives
you a different perspective on the game.
SOUND/MUSIC/FX: 8
The crowd goes haywire during play with their numerous chants!! The British
announcer adds to the realism of the game.(He DOESN'T get annoying!!!) The
announcer actually gets excited as the play goes toward a goal, and the
excitement level rises. You can here the ball being booted deep down field.
As for music, there really isn't a lot of it......just during replays and on
the options screen. Although there isn't a lot of it, it's pretty up-beat.
OVERALL: 94%
As I stated above, I HATE SOCCER......but I love this game. Fast paced
action, great options, enough statistics to make a statistician go crazy! If
I love this game this much, someone who lives and dies by soccer should run
out and get this one!!!!