Sports Game of the Year

FIFA 99
Publisher: EA Sports
Developer: EA Sports

"FIFA 99 is a good choice for the neophyte, and an almost-essential upgrade for the die-hard soccer enthusiast."
- Josh Smith, GameSpot Review

Soccer got some respect this year. It's always had it internationally, but Americans started to take notice because of the World Cup. For soccer fans everywhere, France's upset of Brazil in St. Denis was at least as big as Denver's upset of Green Bay in the Super Bowl, if not bigger. The same might be said for FIFA 99. If sports fans would but take a look at EA Sport's premier soccer game, they'd realize it's the best sports game the EA label has to offer. Graphically, it's the best of the bunch, and that's praise indeed considering EA Sports' fantastic looking games. The animation on the players is incredibly lifelike, the frame rates are smooth and fast, and the overall graphics quality is outstanding.

Gameplay in FIFA 99 is better than it's ever been, and it is a game that captures all that is fun about soccer. Nearly everything you'd want in a soccer game is here. You can head, chest-trap, fake, switch seamlessly between different kicks, and even tweak the goalie's play style a little. As in previous FIFA games, you can also set different offensive and defensive formations, a feature often missing from other soccer games. The AI in FIFA 99 also took a leap forward, so that rival players could play more intelligently and aggressively, and friendly players could really complement your play. FIFA 99, thanks to the improved AI and ball control, is less arcade-like and more sophisticated. Passing and smart play really are key. In every respect, FIFA 99 is a much more polished version of FIFA 98 and World Cup 98. Although it isn't a sequel that leapfrogs its predecessors, its incremental improvements nevertheless push it that much closer to sports perfection. It still has a small ways to go, but for now, it's the best in sports gaming.

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