How Electronic Arts Marketed The FIFA Football Video Games Over The Years PART II : FIFA 95 - [1994] ⚽ #retrogaming

Following on from FIFA INTERNATIONAL SOCCER [1993] EA served up an iteration to the existing tried and tested formula with FIFA 95 that had tweaks to the gameplay based on what worked and didn't work in the extremely successful original game.

This time EA were marketing the fact that FIFA 95 had:

• Improved intelligence.
• Players that move off the ball and provide better service. 
• An amended passing system to provide more accurate passes to team mates. 
• Bullet headers on goal, that could go beyond the reach of the diving 'keeper. 
• New volleys which you'll need to go one-on-one with smarter 'keepers. 
• Goals now can come from volleys, half-volleys and swerving banana shots. 
• They also boasted of harder shots, Faster players, Stronger passes. 
• Over 200 international teams. 
• The ability to play a complete domestic league season, then take your team on tour abroad. 
• Also an injury system that was innovative for the time as picking up an injury might mean that your star player could be out for the season. 
• Fatigue was also introduced as a feature which meant that players would tire during matches and the need for subs to be brought on was more of a tactical consideration.
• EA also added in a set piece system with on screen UI to assist you to be able to score from deadly set play free kicks. 
  

The Marketing copy from the time read: 

"There's only one way to avoid extinction on the football pitches of Europe.

By getting to grips with FIFA Soccer '95 - and fast. With more than 100 of Europe's native club sides battling it out for 11 league titles, only the fittest will survive. And when you've reached the top of the tree in your own territory, expand into the international arena. Milan against Manchester, Munich versus Marseille - it's a natural selection of the greatest teams in Europe.

Now take a giant step onto the world stage. FIFA Soccer '95!

It features over 200 of the best teams on earth, Discover for yourself which continent is superior in strength, skill and inborn soccer instinct.

Unless you want to be a football dinosaur, you'd better adapt to FIFA Soccer '95."

The legendary Erik Thorstvedt FIFA Front Cover 

This was clearly the start of the yearly incremental update  rather than a reinvention of the game and it worked well as reviews were just as good this time around with Mean Machines SEGA awarding it 92%.

Mean Machines SEGA Issue 26 FIFA 95 Review

FIFA 95 Advertising (1)

FIFA 95 PREVIEW ISSUE 25

FIFA 95 Advertising (2)

FIFA 95 TV Commercial [USA TV 1994]