FIFA Soccer 96

Review

by Joshua Romero

One thing that decides how a console is going to fair in the next-generation console wars is how strong of a sports library the system has. It's imperative that any system vying for the top spot to have a strong lineup of sports titles. Sega proved this theory to be true during their 16-bit days with their own sports titles as well as those by Electronic Arts and their sports division, EA Sports. So is the first soccer title by EA Sports for the Saturn as good as their previous soccer games? It is good but but not as good as one would expect, and unfortunately for Saturn owners, the PlayStation version plays a bit better.

Graphically, FIFA Soccer 96 is what you'd expect, more or less, from a 32-bit system. Provided the graphics are still sprite-based, the overall quality present is respectable. Although a few details here and there couldn't have hurt the title, the bottom line is that graphically, FIFA Soccer 96 is a strong title. Player movements have been improved the most over any other graphics feature.

But everyone knows that if a sports game isn't worth its salt in the gameplay department, then all that development time has been in vein. So how well does FIFA Soccer 96 fair? Well, average, at best. There are a lot of authentic soccer moves and strategies to appeal to both the soccer beginner and aficionado. However, what serves as a big letdown is the fact that the control for FIFA Soccer 96 is in dire need of help. It almost feels like you're controlling your players through a mud field. While the sluggish control doesn't kill the title completely, it does hinder it from becoming a superior soccer title.

On the audio front, FIFA Soccer 96 delivers well constructed sound. The crowd seems alive almost, reacting nicely to the way you perform. The announcers are a nice addition and say their parts on cue. On-field sounds such as grunts and the like are all convincing and add to the overall gaming experience.

The big picture is this, FIFA Soccer 96 offers quality soccer action that is just as good, if not better than competition even with the sluggish controls.