Man, sometimes a random memory just hits you like a truck. I was sorting through an old box of my kid’s unused school supplies, and I swear, I found an eraser that smelled exactly like the inside of my old gaming storage crate. Instantly, I just had to play Tecmo World Cup 98.
I know what you’re thinking—why ’98, and why Tecmo? It wasn’t the big one, not FIFA, not ISS (International Superstar Soccer). But this game, on the Mega Drive (or Genesis, depending where you were), had this specific, fast-paced, ridiculously simple charm that just stuck with me. So, the process began. I needed to see if that old feeling was still there, or if my brain was just playing tricks on me with a thick coating of nostalgia.
The Great Console Digging Expedition
The first step was locating the gear. My old console has been sitting in a dedicated ‘archival box’ in the back of the hall closet for maybe five or six years now. I had to pull out three different winter blankets, a broken vacuum cleaner, and a massive stack of tax documents just to get to the lid. It was a dusty mess.
When I finally hauled the box onto the living room floor and popped it open, the smell hit me again. Just stale plastic and forgotten electronics. I rummaged through the cables—it looked like a nest of snakes in there. Eventually, I found the console, the power supply (a gigantic, heavy black box), and two controllers. I blew off the decade of dust from the actual game cartridge itself—that classic ritual we all know.
- I retrieved the console from the dust pit.
- I located the original power brick (thankfully it still worked).
- I found the game cartridge—the label was peeling slightly.
- I searched for the old AV cables. That was a serious challenge.
The Hardware Headache Setup
This is where the ‘fun’ of retro gaming meets the reality of modern tech. I pulled out my 4K TV manual to figure out which port still accepted the yellow, white, and red RCA connectors. Of course, none of them did directly. I had to dig out a $20 RCA-to-HDMI converter box I bought years ago for another project. This part always drives me nuts.
I connected the console to the converter box, the converter box to the TV, and then plugged in that massive power brick. I flipped the switch and… nothing. Black screen. I unplugged everything, tested the converter box with another signal, and it was fine. The issue, as always, was the cartridge.
I took out the Tecmo ’98 game, blew into the slot aggressively, like I was trying to inflate a tire, and slotted it back in. This time, when I hit the power button, the magic happened. The low-res, slightly blurry, but instantly recognizable Tecmo logo flickered onto my gigantic screen. Success! The picture was a mess, all blocky pixels, but it worked.
The Gameplay Reality Check
I picked up the controller. The D-pad was stiff, definitely not as responsive as I remembered. I started a game—Brazil versus Italy, because you have to—and the music immediately brought me back. Simple, looping, digitized synth that was just pure 90s crap, but I loved it.
I tried to play like I play modern soccer games—careful passes, calculated moves. I got absolutely schooled. This isn’t FIFA. This game is all about running straight, using the ridiculous speed boost, and hitting the over-the-top banana shot that curves around the keeper. I had completely forgotten the simplicity.
I spent the next hour just re-learning the game. I rediscovered the joy of slide-tackling someone from five yards away and not getting instantly red-carded. I laughed at the player names, which were clearly just slightly off versions of the real ones to avoid licensing fees. I scored a few goals that defied physics and physics teachers everywhere.
The Verdict: Is it Still Fun?
After a good two-hour session, where my thumb was actually aching from the stiff D-pad, I came to a conclusion. The answer to ‘Is it still fun?’ is a definitive, but qualified, ‘Yes.’
It’s not fun because of deep mechanics or stunning graphics. It’s fun because it’s pure action. There’s no complexity. You just mash buttons and watch the ball fly. It’s a completely different kind of enjoyment than modern sports simulations. It’s the joy of seeing an old friend, even if that friend is a bit simple and constantly cheats.
I packed up the console again, carefully coiled the cables, and slotted the game back into its home. It was a quick, necessary dive into the past. I’m glad I did it. It proved that sometimes the simplest, roughest game from your childhood is exactly what you need to remind you that gaming doesn’t always have to be about 4K resolution and complex skill trees. Just a stiff controller and a ridiculously overpowered super-shot is enough.