FIFA 98: Road To World Cup was the pinnacle of gaming. The grainy graphics, the Peter Crouch-esque movement of the football players, and the nostalgia of bulky controllers and hours of torture trying to score an overhead kick, all those experiences are neatly packaged into a four-minute and twenty-eight-second indie gem called Fifa ’98 by Sombre.
It’s not all Davor Šuker and Ronaldo though. Featuring dreamy guitar riffs and hazy vocals, Sombre drift down on a cloud and take you on a journey. Floating through the sky, the frontman points out his childhood memories and personal monuments; his old house, the place where he had his first kiss, and the curb he broke his arm on. It’s a perfect lyrical story of times gone by, while the sound of Fifa ’98 is an ideal backdrop to the pining and melancholy you can hear in his voice.
I want to give Sombre a hug and a cup of tea, then get the Playstation out of the loft and play a game of Fifa. Let’s all enjoy the past together. Go on, press play and reminisce.