FIFA 98: Road to World Cup / ФИФА 98: Дорога к чемпионату мира

"FIFA 98: Road to World Cup" is a football video game released by EA Sports in 1997. It was available for various platforms, including the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, and is the fifth game in the FIFA series.

Here's what made "FIFA 98" notable:

Gameplay:

• "FIFA 98" offered a comprehensive football experience, featuring a plethora of teams and real-world players from the period.
• The game included various modes, such as friendly matches, a season mode, and the Road to World Cup mode, where players could qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
• It boasted an indoor soccer mode, which was unique for the series at that time.

Features:

• The game featured realistic (for the time) player animations and ball physics, adding to the immersion.
• It was known for its extensive licensed soundtrack, which was a new direction for sports video games.
• "FIFA 98" also included varying weather conditions, player injuries, and offsides.

Sega Mega Drive/Genesis Version:

• The Sega Mega Drive/Genesis version was somewhat different from its counterparts on more advanced consoles (like the PlayStation) or PC due to the platform's technical limitations. However, it still managed to deliver a solid football experience that was highly praised at the time.

Legacy:

• "FIFA 98" is remembered for its authenticity and attention to detail, which was groundbreaking for football games of that era.
• It set a precedent for future FIFA games in terms of depth of gameplay and official licenses.

Playing "FIFA 98" on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis today would be a nostalgic trip for those who experienced it back in the day, and an interesting look at the evolution of football video games for newer players.