Well, at least it was on target
Written: Jun 29 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: INDOOR GAME!
Cons: Controls a bit sluggish,players shirts, controls for outdoor matches
The Bottom Line: those who want a fun indoor footy title should look here, the outdoor game isnt any different to the 95/96 entries, but indoor is madcap fun.
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| flash-hammer's Full Review: FIFA Soccer 97 for Sega Genesis |
Despite the fact that this was the console I had at the time the FIFA series was at the height of its popularity, for some reason this is the only FIFA title I own for the Megadrive/Genesis. I’m pretty sure it was also one of the last games I got for the console during its lifespan, with only Virtua Fighter 2 coming to mind as a later purchase.
In case you do not know, the FIFA series is EA’s Soccer/Football title along the lines of its NBA Live! And Madden series or sports games. This entry’s new features included an indoor match option, and David Ginola (then of Newcastle Utd.) on the cover, presumably to attract female fans.
The game offers international teams as well as clubs from a selection of leagues including Brazil, England, France, Spain, Italy and Holland. There are several types of game to play, ranging from a one of friendly match to tournaments, leagues and play-offs. Also in there is a training mode, and the ability to transfer players from club to club, and even create players from scratch. This is a feature that it pains me to point out, because my cart is actually broken and not only will it not allow me to transfer players anymore, but it also messed several of the teams up, so now Ian Rush stars for Hearts or something similar.
Also included is an option to alter the way matches are played. Simulation is a ‘realistic’ experience in which players fatigue and such, Action offers no fatigue and arcade makes all the teams equal and totally eliminates fatigue. This is a pretty nice feature, seeing as playing what was the best they could do for simulation in 1997 isnt exactly all that fun now, however the other two modes fare a bit better.
The game refuses to even allow me to use my Six-Button pad to play it, so 3-Button controllers are a must. The game controls in a manner similar to previous FIFA’s:
On the Ball:
A:Lob
B:Pass
C:Shoot
To sprint B or C must be held down.
Off the Ball:
A:Slide
B:Switch Player
C:Sprint
B C: Elbow opponent
The control’s respond all right, but saying they were any better would be being incredibly generous. At the time the game seemed to be the closest thing to real football we would ever see on a console. Now it seems rather sluggish to do anything. The most infuriating is the whole having to hold down B or C to sprint farce. This means that you either have to hit a far too strong pass or a shot at the end of every sprint you go on. Why they couldn’t have configured the game for the Six-Button pad, which was well into use at that point, I have no idea.
Graphically the game isnt really any different at all to FIFA 96. The players look good enough for the time and the console’s power, but aren’t anything world-shaking. The strips still cause me grief however. The game still has every team sporting the same kit. Plain with one horizontal stripe across the chest (think the shirt France wore in Portugal 2004). Juventus, the two Milan sides and Barcelona all must go without their famous stripes. The worst insult is reserved for Atletico Madrid however. You see, Atletico wear a red and white vertically striped shirt with blue shorts. In this game they wear blue shorts, with a white shirt with a blue stripe, which looks far more like the type of kit their arch-rivals Real Madrid would wear. Ooops.
The sound in the game is really only the crowds, which are decent enough but nothing exactly brilliant.
So how does it play? Well, first of all I will handle the outdoor game. In this, the pitch size, and general feel of the stadium is still large and really atmospheric. Sadly, the poor control’s means that you will be running out of play with the ball every few minutes. Should you actually find your way into the opposition box, you should find scoring to be incredibly simple, and the chances of the opponents scoring into you aren’t all that large.
All in all, it’s the same as FIFA 96 for the Super Nintendo .
The indoor game has the same controls, but is played on a much smaller park, 6-a-side and with no way for the ball to go out of play other than a goal. No free kicks, nothing.
This is far more fun, with the ball bouncing off all the walls, and rebounding anywhere like a pinball. This may not even be remotely tactical, but by god it sure is a far more fun way to spend your time.
To be honest, FIFA 97 isnt all that great, but at the same time it isnt all that bad. At the time it was pretty amazing, but seven years later how dated it is is pretty embarrassing. With that said, the indoor matches are great fun if you can get another player, and usually result in horrifically high scoring matches that are also horrifically high on entertainment. I wouldn’t say this was anywhere near the top of the pile of great football titles on Sega’s 16-Bit console, and rate Sensible Soccer, ISS Deluxe and Fever Pitch/Head on Soccer as being far better in terms of passing the test of time and still being highly entertaining.
I would recommend it over the other previous Genesis/Megadrive FIFA’s, purely because of the indoor mode. I am aware that FIFA: Road to World Cup 98 was released for the console in its dying days, but seeing as I haven’t played it, I cant comment on how this compares to it.
So, if you want to play some indoor footy action on your 16-Bit, I really cannot give a better alternative. However, if it’s the outdoor game you are interested in, I would opt for one of the previously mentioned titles before going for this. It isnt at all terrible, just not at all great.
More Football related Reviews
Games
Fever Pitch/Head on Soccer for Sega Genesis
FIFA 96 for Super Nintendo
FIFA 96 for Sega Saturn
FIFA 2003 for XBox
International Superstar Soccer Deluxe for Super Nintendo
Olympic Soccer for Sega Saturn
Sega Worldwide Soccer 97 for Sega Saturn
Kit
Adidas AC Milan Home Shirt 02/03
Adidas France Home Shirt 02/04
Kappa AS Roma Third Shirt 01/02
Kappa Italia Home Shirt 00/02
Movies
Escape to Victory
Recommended:
Yes
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flash-hammer
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