Football Pro '96

Football Pro '96 Review

Between the lines, Football Pro '96 stacks up well against against any PC football sim out there. The players are on the smallish side, but the SVGA graphics keep things so clear that you can even distinguish running lanes up the middle of the field--a rarity in any football simulation, computer or console. The action is fairly realistic, although defenses tend to tackle your ballcarriers from suspiciously long distances. As you might expect, the play calling (and play designing) features take a while to master, but there are three complexity levels to choose from, so you can learn at your own pace. Calling the plays is, of course, quite distinct from executing them--let's just say it takes a while before you can really apply the hurt to anybody.

If Football Pro '96 has a major flaw, it's that it bears too close a resemblance to its immediate predecessor. Even with its new graphics engine, it's a questionable purchase for those who already own Football Pro '95. Let's hope that Sierra has plans for a total revamp this coming season; in PC games, those who stand still inevitably fall behind.

Gamespot