FIFA Soccer 96 (also known as FIFA 96: Virtual Soccer Stadium) is a football simulation video game developed by Extended Play Productions and released by Electronic Arts in 1995. It was released for the Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega Saturn, Sega 32X, Game Gear, PlayStation, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and MS-DOS compatible operating 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/Genesis editions used the FIFA 95 engine. It is also the first in the series to use real player names and positions, with ranking, transfer and team customisation tools.
Development – FIFA Soccer 96
The game’s budget was $3 million.[2]
Reception – FIFA Soccer 96
The game was a bestseller in the UK.[13] For the DOS version Computer Game Review gave it a “Platinum Triad” score and called it “the best soccer game, if not the best sports game available, bar none.”[11]
Reviewing the PlayStation version, Maximum applauded the game for the realism in the player controls and AI behavior, as well as the large number of features, such as the multiple camera angles and league play. They summarized “The remarkably user-friendly options ensure that even the most demanding players will be satisfied, and once the game begins properly, you will appreciate the time and honing skill that has been lavished upon this product by the truly professional EA Sports coders.”[9]
Tommy Glide of GamePro hailed the game for its realism as well, saying it managed to surpass even the 3DO version of FIFA International Soccer. He praised the use of more than 3,000 real players, the realistic passing controls, and the audio commentary.[14] In a retrospective review roughly a year after the game’s release, a Next Generation critic commented that “One of the deepest, most beautiful, and eminently playable sports games hasn’t lost a thing since its release”.[6]
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