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EA Sports' FIFA series has never been my favorite among the different sports games they've made over the years. I've noticed that the '98 line has been a huge improvement over '97 on the various systems, and FIFA is no exception.

Graphics - 87/100

Visually, FIFA '98 is very impressive. This was apparent from the second the game's intro started. The FMV was above average in terms of clarity, but I was surprised to find that the intro made very little use of actual game footage- instead, the intro starts with a few people kicking soccer balls around, and then goes into a collection of clips from the game. The various setup screens are very vibrant and well-done. The true test is within the game, though, and EA comes through. The players are done in 3D, as would be expected, and are very detailed. One could ask for more variety in the appearances of the players, though. There are a few different hairstyles, hair colors, and skin tones, but that's it. It's better than nothing, but there's something missing when you're playing as Holland, but there are no dreadlocks within sight. Still, it's easy enough to recognize the real "characters," like Ibrahim Ba and Carlos Valderrama, and even guys like Gheorghe Hagi and Zinedine Zidane when compared to the rest of their respective teams. Character animation has always been the best part of FIFA, graphically, and I have to say that I have never seen better animated characters in any sports game anywhere. The moves are extremely smooth and life-like.

Sound - 84

The first thing you hear (after "EA Sports... it's in the game," of course) is the unmistakably English sound of Blur's "Song 2," which would have come as a surprise to me, had I not heard before playing the game that it was included. This is the first time I've heard a song that's actually popular (different from the heavy metal waste-of-time music of the Saturn Road Rash) on a video game. The intro is well designed around the song, as it starts off as nothing special, but then explodes into a collage of action game clips as the music turns into a guitar blast, started off by the well-traveled cry of "Woo-hoo!" The rest of the tunes in the game are somewhat forgettable techno cuts. The most noticeable sounds during gameplay are obviously the trademark play-by-play of John Motson and the familiar commentary of Andy Gray. Desmond Lynam usually has a couple lines to introduce the match, and there's a very good variety. After frequent play I'm still hearing new ones from Des. John Motson's lines hold up for a while, but soon enough you're hearing the same stuff. Same with Andy Gray. Still, there's a lot more variety in this game than others. The gameplay sound effects are dead-on, from the boot of Paul Gasgoigne serving up a perfect pass accompanied by a subtle bump, to the crowd chanting things like "Argentina! Argentina!" during a particularly good game.

Gameplay - 97/100

Despite the other obvious strengths of the game, the control and gameplay are the areas where FIFA '98 pulls way ahead of its competition. Playing the basics alone is incredible. Past FIFA games where you would have to hold down a button for the appropriate amount of time didn't quite feel right. Instead, EA Sports opts for easier, yet still much more precise controls this time around. With Ronaldo through on goal, a tap of the C button while pressing towards the bottom corner makes him calmly slide the ball in, while the keeper looks on, helpless. In other soccer games, the player would blast the ball in, while the goalie could still dive across the goal to rob him. EA's approach is clearly much more realistic. The sheer number of things you can make your player do is amazing. As Romario, I dummied an American defender into challenging my opposite side with a classic step over-flick move, and then fired the ball at the near corner, only to be denied by a diving Kasey Keller. Frustrated, I challenged Keller as the other players cleared out with a high boot, sending Keller to the ground with a leg injury, and getting Romario red carded. Never before have I ever seen anything come close to this level of realism (not that too many star players see the need to tackle the keeper while he handles the ball, that was just funny) in a sports game.

To sum things up, I'd have to say that this game blows WWS '98 away. Far, far away.

Overall - 90/100