FIFA 98: Road to World Cup

FIFA 98: Road to World Cup is a release that many consider to be the beginning of the “golden era” of the series. The main feature is indicated in the name: in addition to the final tournament, the player was given the opportunity to go through the qualifying round of almost two hundred national teams. Bringing a team to the World Cup that actually didn’t get there became a matter of principle. In addition to the large field, the game now includes mini-football on closed courts with boards, which adds a completely different pace and allows you to play faster. The difference between the modes was immediately felt: where it was necessary to build an attack on the lawn, here everything was decided by speed and the ability to pass along the wall. The graphics and presentation looked breakthrough for their time: comments, sound from the stands, recognizable players and licensed tournaments. The controls were simple, but not primitive: the blows were set by pressing force, and the transmissions depended on the direction and situation. I was especially pleased with the opportunity to replay history: to assemble a team of players who were not actually included in the application, or to lead a weak team through the qualifying tournament. The music and voice acting of the menu are so memorable that they are recognizable from the first seconds. This is the same episode that many people remember when they talk about the first football simulator in their life. The game is still remembered fondly: for many, this is the first football simulator in which the real atmosphere of a big tournament appeared. Today you can play it just for the sake of nostalgia, and it's worth it.