Fifa World Cup 98: When you got knocked down, but got back up again
Just like Chumbawamba, we sing songs that remind us of the good times, in this Throwback Thursday
The first official World Cup game produced by EA (it’s in the game), Fifa World Cup 98 introduced many young PS1 and N64 gamers to the biggest tournament in all of sport. Based on dynamic gameplay and realistic player likeness, with real teams and players included, the officially licensed game shot onto the scene with the same power as a Roberto Carlos free-kick.
From the opening trailer nostalgia kicks in. France’s 1998 theme was all over this game: from the iconic music to weird mascot. EA did everything it could to take full advantage of their official licence.
But it was so much more than just an officially licensed World Cup game. Fifa World Cup 98 introduced some great gameplay techniques, some of which have sadly disappeared for newer Fifa games. The controls allowed for overhead kicks, dynamic skill moves, and even diving headers. There was also the unique ability to press a button each time you wanted to kick the ball forward, to dribble past players. This is something that put the fun into taking on players and keepers, and even provided the opportunity to jump over slide tackles. Sadly the AI of other players did not add much of a challenge to this, which meant it was fairly easy to dribble around every player and jump over the keeper to get an open goal.
EA’s first World Cup game allowed players to experience the tournament like never before. Actual stadiums used in France were included in the game, which allowed for a true World Cup experience. But on the pitch the game felt realistic too. Tackles felt strong and hard, and the option to go in two-footed is something that would always be used at least once a game…
Despite a small amount of game modes, EA encouraged replayability through a number of challenges. These would unlock the ability to replay classic games and finals, with the ability to even play the 1966 final. These modes would even include black and white graphics, or a no-subs rule, just to be more realistic to the actual games (although, the 1970 final did include substitutions, which EA mistakingly removed from that game).
The players themselves looked good for the time. Having recently moved from a 2D style, EA focussed on player likeness and realism. Even the kits were exactly the same, but for some reason the keeper kits were generic for all teams. Despite this, seeing the teams line up for the national anthems showed off the graphics engine in the game, and how each player’s design was true to the real player. World Cup 98 included some of the most loved and well known players: from Beckham to Zidane and original Ronaldo.
Fifa World Cup 98 was a dream come true for many football fans. With realistic graphics and likeness for the stadiums, players and World Cup music and scenes, it was the opportunity for all football fans to experience the World Cup like never before. For younger players, such as myself at the time, it was an introduction to the beautiful game being made beautiful on the N64 and PS1.
Replay Fifa World Cup 98 to relive all the greatest moments from one of football’s golden eras, but maybe avoid that Beckham foul against Argentina…As Chumbawamba would say, “Oh Davey boy…”