Review: "World Cup '98" is the console soccer champ

"World Cup '98" has all-new motion-captures, like this high-flying scissor kick

June 5, 1998
Web posted at: 9:00 AM EDT

By CNN Interactive Producer Dave Ragals

(CNN) -- Soccer games traditionally haven't been among the stronger sports titles in the console gaming world. Titles like "VR Soccer" and "Adidas Power Soccer" did fairly well, but weren't up to par with the leading titles in other sports.

Recently, however, that's started to change. EA Sports' "FIFA" really raised the standard, and Konami's "International Superstar Soccer," which will have a sequel in July, continued the trend. Fox Sports will also release a good-looking soccer game this summer.

Now, EA is upping the ante again. And with its customary perfect timing, it has released "World Cup '98" less than a month before the world turns its eyes to France.

An easy formula for success might have been to repackage and re-release "FIFA," perhaps fast-forwarding to the end of the "Road to the World Cup." But with the competition on its heels, the game likely would have had an incredibly short shelf life. Instead, EA rebuilt its soccer game, added every World Cup element it could and included more than a touch of history to create a really great game.

World class graphics and audio

"World Cup '98" looks great on all platforms -- PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and PC. The players, stadiums and playing fields are very sharp. Of course, the N64 and PC graphics look better than the PlayStation, especially up-close. Even better than the graphics is the motion-captured animation, which is extremely smooth. EA pumped a bunch of new moves into this one, and they look more realistic than any motion-captures out there.

Enhancing the realistic look is the audio, a consistent strength among EA's titles. No one makes a game sound as real as EA does, and "World Cup '98" is no exception. The constant singing and cheering of the fans in the background includes country-specific chants. You can also add celebratory cheering and stomping when you score.

The pre-game introductions and in-game commentary are also very good. If you're a soccer fan, you'll probably recognize the voices of John Motson, Chris Waddle, Gary Lineker and Andy Gray. Unfortunately, the N64 version doesn't include nearly as much commentary, because the cartridges have limited capabilities compared to CD-ROMs. But on a PlayStation or PC, you'll be treated to great commentary after every big play. You'll also be chastised for bad moves, with lines like "Schoolboy stuff, that is."

Practice makes perfect

Few games these days include practice modes, and that's too bad. Many people may not have the patience to practice, but it's a lot more fun than getting spanked two or three times before you get the hang of it. "World Cup '98" lets you practice all types of situations with everything from one-on-one to full-squad. You can also play as many "friendlies" as you like before diving into World Cup competition.

"World Cup '98" features a very realistic TV-style presentation

Taking your team all the way is a real challenge, as it should be. Even on the amateur setting, taking a U.S. team to the Finals isn't easy, at least until you master some of the advanced moves. Try it on a harder level, and you'll see teams like Argentina and Brazil dance around your players.

Another nice touch is that the game doesn't end once you win the Cup. You are then allowed to play in World Cup Classic mode, which lets you recreate eight classic finals.

The only real disappointment in this game is a lot of the built-in difficulty seems to be in the goaltenders. Getting a shot off isn't too tough. In fact, you'll likely end up outshooting your opponent by a wide -- and somewhat unrealistic -- margin. But the opposing goalies will be up to the task. But, hey, sometimes that's soccer.

Overall, this a fantastic game. It has great graphics, animation, audio, gameplay and control. It's a considerable improvement over its predecessors, and once again, raises the standard for its genre.