FIFA 96

FIFA Soccer 96 is an entry to the FIFA series of video games, and was developed by Extended Play Productions and published by Electronic Arts. Though it was not the first FIFA game (both FIFA Soccer '95 and FIFA International Soccer had come before it), FIFA 96 is often considered the first truly successful FIFA game, and opened the doors to annual sequels that continue to this day. It was released for the Sega Mega Drive, Sega 32X and Sega Game Gear, with a different version of the game being released on the Sega Saturn.

Released: 1995
Platforms: MS-DOS PlayStation SNES Windows
Genres: Association football Sports
Developers: Acclaim Studios London
Publishers: EA Sports
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Non-fiction
Country: Canada
Age ratings: ESRB E
Languages: English

About

FIFA Soccer 96 (also known as FIFA 96: Virtual Soccer Stadium) is a 1995 football video game developed by Extended Play Productions and released by EA Sports for the Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega Saturn, 32X, Game Gear, PlayStation, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and MS-DOS-compatible operating systems. It is the third entry in the FIFA series, its tagline being "Next Generation Soccer". It was the first in the series to feature real-time 3D graphics on the Saturn, PlayStation, 32X, and DOS versions, using technology called "Virtual Stadium". The SNES and Mega Drive/Genesis editions used the FIFA 95 engine. It is also the first in the series to use real player names and positions, with ranking, transfer and team customisation tools.

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Development

The game's budget was $3 million. FIFA 96 was the first game in the series to use the Virtual Stadium game engine.

The 32X version was released exclusively in PAL territories, making it one of only two 32X games, alongside Darxide, to receive a PAL release without a corresponding North American version.

Reception

The game was a bestseller in the UK. Computer Game Review gave the MS-DOS a "Platinum Triad" score and called it "the best soccer game, if not the best sports game available, bar none."

Reviewing the PlayStation version, Maximum applauded the game for the realism in the player controls and AI behavior, as well as the large number of features, such as the multiple camera angles and league play. They summarized "The remarkably user-friendly options ensure that even the most demanding players will be satisfied, and once the game begins properly, you will appreciate the time and honing skill that has been lavished upon this product by the truly professional EA Sports coders." Tommy Glide of GamePro hailed the game for its realism as well, saying it managed to surpass even the 3DO version of FIFA International Soccer. He praised the use of more than 3,000 real players, the realistic passing controls, and the audio commentary. In a retrospective review roughly a year after the game's release, a Next Generation critic commented that "One of the deepest, most beautiful, and eminently playable sports games hasn't lost a thing since its release".