Back in 1998, Chumbawamba played on endless loops, the animation was impressively janky, and commentator John Motson would declare, "Like an archaeologist, this keeper's career is in ruins", every time a goal was scored.
The video game World Cup 98, with its limited commentator quotes and bendable trick shots, set the standard for football-based video games for a good number of years to come. One reviewer called it "the best football game in the world", and I spent more time playing it than I'd like to admit.
These days, it looks positively antiquated. Why? Because EA has consistently improved football games with annual releases ever since. These days, players expect multiple camera angles, unique commentary from official commentators, properly recreated stadiums, updated teams lists, and a full story mode.
And that's exactly what Fifa 19 delivers. It really is a remarkable game. Cameras follow teams out of the tunnel and on to the pitch. Score a goal and you can make Luis Figo caterpillar down the pitch, or Ruud van Nistelrooy kick the corner flag. You can even play in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a venue that's still under construction.
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Advertise with NZME.The options are endless. You can indulge in every level of football competition, from the UEFA Champions League to the World Cup - men's or women's. Once you've mastered the basic controls, there's an entire second level of tricks and tactics to master. And you can set different strategies for games, and switch between them.
Addictive? Absolutely. My son demands we play at least one Fifa 19 game every night before bed. Just like me with World Cup 98, he loves it. He's learned how to shoot, tackle and sprint around opponents. We play on the same team, and every time we score a goal, he jumps off the couch and high fives me.
The only difference? Bloody Chumbawamba aren't there to annoy us with endless replays of Tubthumping. Thank God for that.
Fifa 19
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Rating: G
Verdict: A near-perfect football experience
