FIFA Soccer 96

FIFA Soccer 96
Developer:	Extended Play Productions
Publisher:	Electronic Arts
Platform(s):	Game Boy PlayStation Sega 32X Sega Game Gear Sega Mega Drive Sega Saturn SNES
Release date(s):	July 1, 1995

FIFA Soccer 96 (also known as FIFA 96: Virtual Soccer Stadium) is a video game developed by Extended Play Productions and released by EA Sports in 1995. It was released for the Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega Saturn, Sega 32X, Sega Game Gear, PlayStation, Super Nintendo Entertainment System and DOS systems.

FIFA 96 is the third entry in the FIFA Series, its tagline being Next Generation Soccer. It was the first in the series to feature real-time 3D graphics on the Sega Saturn, PlayStation, 32X, and DOS versions, using technology called "Virtual Stadium". The SNES and Mega Drive editions used the FIFA 95 engine. It is also the first in the series to present players with real player names and positions, with ranking, transfer and team customisation tools.

Features

Leagues

Main article: List of teams in FIFA Soccer 96

1. Brazil
2. England
3. France
4. Germany
5. Italy
6. Malaysia
7. Netherlands
8. Scotland
9. Spain
10. Sweden
11. America
12. International

Soundtrack

FIFA 96 features 15 songs which were composed and arranged by Graeme Coleman.

Reception

The game was a bestseller in the UK. IGN gave the PlayStation version 7.8 out of 10, while GamePro gave the same version 4 out of 5. For the DOS version PC Gamer gave a 92 out of 100. Sega Saturn Magazine gave the Saturn version an 80%, applauding the comprehensive selection f players, customizing options, and camera angles, but complaining that the animation is "both slow and slightly jittery." They concluded, "[FIFA] '96 makes a brave attempt to capture the real thrill of football. At the end of it all though, it lacks the smoothness and speed to merit championship distinction."