FIFA 97 (also known as FIFA Soccer 97) is an association football simulation video game published by EA Sports. It was released for Windows, MS-DOS, PlayStation, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and Mega Drive, in 1996, with the Saturn version to follow in 1997.
FIFA 97 is the fourth game in the FIFA series and the second to use the Virtual Stadium engine. Unlike the first game to use the engine, FIFA 97 features polygonal players as opposed to the 2D sprites used in FIFA Soccer 96. The MS-DOS, Windows, and PlayStation versions were criticized for being sluggish.
Frenchman David Ginola (then a Newcastle United player) was pictured on the cover of the game in the European market. He was also used for motion capture for the polygonal models in the game, while Brazilian Bebeto was on the cover for the Americas and Asia-Pacific markets.
Game features
thumb|Screenshot of the Sega Genesis version
The main new feature of the game other than the motion capture was the indoor football mode. There are six ways to play the game, including outdoor and indoor, as well as action and simulation modes. 32-bit AI is used, as well as motion blending technology. It is possible to play six-a-side football in an indoor arena with the ball bouncing off the walls, meaning there are no throw-ins and therefore a much higher-paced game. Commentary is provided by John Motson and Andy Gray while the presenter is Des Lynam. Multiplayer games are also possible with up to 20-players via LAN and 8-players using a modem. The game trailer's tagline was "FIFA 97, it will blow you away."
Most European domestic leagues are featured in the game, including the English Premier League, La Liga, French Division 1, Serie A, Bundesliga, Eredivisie, Allsvenskan and Scottish Football League, with the clubs featured in the game playing in the 1995–96 season. Also featured are teams in the Malaysian Liga Perdana and national teams, as well as the American A-League clubs with fictional teams, composed of the game's creators such as Bruce McMillan and Penny Lee.
It is also possible to field custom teams made up of players from various real teams. However, these teams can only be played with in friendly matches.
Commentary
The game's commentary included the names of the majority of players on the game, and the names of the teams were also said by John Motson. To keep the commentary from sounding too robotic, EA Sports recorded Motson saying each phrase four different times, each time in a different tone. Several errors plagued the game's commentary, such as John Millar of Heart of Midlothian being referred to as Joe Miller, who in fact plays for Aberdeen in the game. Also, at times when a goal kick was awarded, the commentator would say that the kick had been given to the opposing team. Another similar error was that a kick-off would be referred to as a cross, as well as a goal in the first minute being described as a goal "that would win it surely". On rare occasions, when the game was being introduced by Des Lynam, the name of a player involved in the game would be said by John Motson, instead of Lynam saying the names of both teams. For example, a match between Partick Thistle F.C. and Kilmarnock F.C. would sometimes be introduced by Lynam saying "Welcome to the big match between-", and Motson's voice interjecting with "MacPherson."
The pronunciation of certain players' names would change depending upon whether they were performing attacking or defensive duties, such as Roy Aitken being referred to as "Akin" if he made a tackle or clearance. Similarly, Alessandro Del Piero, who was called "Del Piero Togon" on the game, was referred to as "Del Piero Tognon", followed by a small hiccuping noise when he performed a tackle.
Reception
FIFA 97s computer version received a "Gold" sales award from the Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland (VUD), indicating sales of at least 100,000 units across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The PlayStation version received a wide range of reviews. GamePro gave it a rave review, particularly applauding the motion captured animations, crowd noises, and "detailed, side-busting commentary". GameSpot's Stephen Poole disagreed on the commentary, noting that it is on occasion blatantly inaccurate. However, he opined that the slower pace of the gameplay is more realistic. Additionally praising the new indoor soccer feature, motion capture animation, and sharply rendered players, he concluded the game "does not disappoint." Saturn Power mentioned numerous aggravations with the controls and configurations, and summarized it as "Almost perversely entertaining for a game as flawed as it is." In 1998, Saturn Power ranked the game 95th on their Top 100 Sega Saturn Games. They found the game to be an improvement over its predecessor although it still has some flaws.
See also
- FIFA Soccer 64, a Nintendo 64 game announced as FIFA Soccer 97