The Computer Chain - FIFA 96

By Simon Wright - Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88

Football has become one of the most popular simulations available for video game addicts.  There have been a range of different titles over the years, and in a new regular series for Simon’s Football Zone, I will be reviewing some of these games.  They will range from excellent playable games, to titles that were probably best being left on the shelf.

It is 20 years since the FIFA series started and I’ve been lucky enough to own all but one title at some point during my life.  In this review for The Computer Chain, it is time to see the way EA stepped up its game in 1996.

FIFA 96
Released: 1 July 1995
Systems: PlayStation, Windows 95, SEGA Saturn, SEGA 32X, SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis
Cover Stars: Frank de Boer and Jason McAteer

After a slightly underwhelming 1995 edition, FIFA stepped up its game with the 1996 version.  In fact, they created two different segments of the game.  One was for the Mega Drive and Genesis systems, which were starting to get outdated and others for the new generation of consoles in the 1990s.  That meant it was a battle between the SEGA Saturn and the Sony PlayStation (Playstation Intro video below).

I’ll start this review by quickly going over the Mega Drive edition (which was the one I got).  The game has a catchy introduction with a player demonstrating different celebrations inside the FIFA 96 logo (video below).  The rest of the game is a letdown, as EA Sports had clearly turned their attentions to the better graphical consoles.  Therefore Mega Drive users could only see minor improvements in comparison with FIFA 95.  The only pluses were having the chance to play in custom play-offs and tournaments, and the ability to transfer players between clubs for the first time.  Real-life players do make their debut appearance in FIFA 96, although you could decide to ditch Arsenal goalscoring legend Ian Wright from the Gunners team and replace him with the classical fictional name.  My favourites are Brian Plank and Ian Hards!


The other version for the Saturn and PlayStation consoles was most definitely worth value for money.  For the first time ever, 3D graphics were used using the ‘Virtual Stadium’ technology.  This alone revolutionised FIFA’s gameplay for players and therefore, it means FIFA 96 is still remembered.  Gamers would be lucky enough to see FIFA 96 from alternate camera angles.  Multiple options stretched to seven different ways to play the game, ranging from ball and television to shoulder and stadium cameras.

The great BBC commentator John Motson also features for the first time as commentary makes its bow on FIFA 96.  Motson’s commentary is actually quite realistic, and puts some of the more recent commentary efforts to shame on the FIFA license.  Three new leagues join the party in the form of the Malaysian Super League, the Scottish Premier League and the Allsvenskan in Sweden.  This added to the eight previous leagues from the 1995 game means most gamers get 3,800 real-life players and some 237 teams from club and international spectrums.  The Dutch defender Frank de Boer and Liverpool wing back Jason McAteer (both pictured) are the European cover stars on the box.

All in all, FIFA 96 was a huge step forward as EA Sports started to both embrace the radical technological changes and the feedback it was receiving from an audience that was only starting to grow.

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