Three Lions (The Official England Team Game), released in North America as Alexi Lalas International Soccer, is a video game developed by Z-Axis and published by Take-Two Interactive, based on European football (soccer). It was released for the PC, PlayStation and Game Boy Color on 17 April 1998 and in 1999 as the official video game of the English Football Association. Originally announced under the title "Major League Soccer",[1] it was also marketed under other names in other regions, including Golden Goal 98, Bomba:98 All Champions Challenge, Mundial:98 and Pro:Foot Contest 98.
Cover stars edit
Editions of the game in different regions feature native international footballers. In France, Pro:Foot Contest 98 features Didier Deschamps, in Italy, Bomba:98 All Champions Challenge features Roberto Di Matteo,[2] in North America, Alexi Lalas International Soccer features Alexi Lalas.[3]
Reception edit
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| GameRankings | 49%[4] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| CNET Gamecenter | 7/10[5] |
| Computer and Video Games |   [6] |
| Edge | 7/10[7] |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 3.25/10[8][a] |
| Game Informer | 2.25/10[9] |
| GameSpot | 3.3/10[10] |
| IGN | 5.5/10[3] |
| Next Generation | [11] |
| Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine | [12] |
| PC Gamer (UK) | (PC) 41%[13] |
| PlayStation: The Official Magazine |  [14] |
The PlayStation version received unfavorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[4]
Next Generation said, "If you're looking for speedy, no-nonsense physical play, you could do a lot worse than Alexi Lalas International Soccer."[11] Extreme PlayStation said, "Three Lions doesn't boast great graphics and has a few niggling flaws (like the omission of any type of analog control), but there's enough innovation and gameplay here to give the other World Cup bandwagon games a run for their money."[15]
Notes edit
- ^ Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 2.5/10, and two others gave it each a score of 4/10.
References edit
- ^ "Sports Insider Previews: Major League Soccer". GamePro. No. 107. IDG. August 1997. p. 85. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ^ "GOLDEN GOAL 98 - (PAL)". PSX Data Center. Archived from the original on 2020-06-28. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ^ a b Perry, Douglass C. (1999-05-26). "Alexi Lalas International Soccer". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ^ a b "Alexi Lalas International Soccer for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
- ^ Marrin, John (1999-05-11). "Alexi Lalas International Soccer (PS)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 2000-08-23. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ^ Key, Steve (June 1998). "Three Lions (PS)". Computer and Video Games. No. 199. EMAP. p. 54. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
- ^ Edge staff (June 1998). "Three Lions (PC, PS)" (PDF). Edge. No. 59. Future Publishing. p. 94. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ^ Davison, John; Hsu, Dan "Shoe"; Chou, Che; Hager, Dean (August 1999). "Alexi Lalas International Soccer" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 121. Ziff Davis. p. 126. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ^ "Alexi Lalas Int'l Soccer". Game Informer. No. 74. FuncoLand. June 1999.
- ^ Smith, Josh (1999-06-02). "Alexi Lalas International Soccer Review [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000"]". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 2005-01-12. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ^ a b "Alexi Lalas International Soccer". Next Generation. No. 56. Imagine Media. August 1999. p. 91. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
- ^ Kujawa, Kraig (August 1999). "Alexi Lalas Int'l Soccer". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Vol. 2, no. 11. Ziff Davis. p. 88. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
- ^ Pierce, Matthew (July 1998). "Three Lions". PC Gamer UK. No. 58. Future Publishing. Archived from the original on 2000-10-31. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ^ "Alexi Lalas International Soccer". PSM. No. 24. Imagine Media. August 1999. p. 38. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ^ "Three Lions". Extreme PlayStation. No. 6. Quay Publishing. June 1998. pp. 42–43. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
External links edit
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