FIFA '99

by Air Hendrix
January 01, 2000 00:00 AM PST

Even if you've already sprung for FIFA '98 or World Cup '98, it's time to bust out that wallet again. With such impressive cross-the-board innovations and refinements, FIFA '99 a must-buy for sports gamer.

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If you dismiss FIFA '99 as just another boring soccer game, you'll miss out on one of the best sports games of the year. Awesome refinements to the graphics, A.I., and controls push this game to the pinnacle of its sport.

Tough Tackling
With four years until the next World Cup, FIFA '99 focuses on the fierceness and excitement of club soccer, offering such prominent teams as Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan, and more than 237 others. The only bummer is that EA didn't land the MLS license, but most hardcore American soccer fans devote themselves to European soccer anyway. Other hot features include the European Dream League, customizable cups and leagues, national teams, trades, and exhaustive strategy options.

But the best news is FIFA's smart A.I., which delivers phenomenally fun, realistic gameplay. Keepers perform more intelligently, the defense covers you more tightly, and the offense slips slick passes through any available openings.

As for controls, everything just works better and more intuitively. The crisp passing's a breeze, players are armed with more jukes and moves, and when the ball's in the air, headers, chesting, and so on are much more lifelike.

Golden Goal
FIFA looks sharp, too, sporting a sweet new player model, cool new animations, and a quick, clean frame rate. As for sounds, those stuffy announcers return with that familiar, humdrum two-man commentary, but the music and onfield sound effects totally rock.

Even if you've already sprung for FIFA '98 or World Cup '98, it's time to bust out that wallet again. With such impressive across-the-board innovations and refinements, FIFA '99's a must-buy for sports gamers.