Three Lions (video game)
{{Short description|1998 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Three Lions
| image = ThreeLionsPlaystation.jpg
| developer = Z-Axis
Tarantula Studios (GBC)
| publisher = Take-Two Interactive
| designer =
| engine =
| released = {{Video game release|EU|17 April 1998|EU|1999 (GBC)|NA|21 May 1999 (PS)}}
| genre = Sports
| modes = Single player, multiplayer
| composer = Allister Brimble
| platforms = Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, Game Boy Color
}}
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",{{cite magazine |title=Sports Insider Previews: Major League Soccer |url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_107_Volume_09_Number_08_1997-08_IDG_Publishing_US/page/n85/mode/2up |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |issue=107 |date=August 1997 |page=85 |accessdate=2023-07-30}}{{cite magazine |title=The Fall of BMG: Three Lions |magazine=Next Generation|issue=41 |publisher=Imagine Media |date=May 1998|page=46}} 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
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,{{cite web |title=GOLDEN GOAL 98 - (PAL) |url=https://psxdatacenter.com/games/P/G/SLES-01222.html |website=PSX Data Center |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628214015/https://psxdatacenter.com/games/P/G/SLES-01222.html |archivedate=2020-06-28 |url-status=live |accessdate=2023-07-30}} in North America, Alexi Lalas International Soccer features Alexi Lalas.{{cite web |last=Perry |first=Douglass C. |date=1999-05-26 |title=Alexi Lalas International Soccer |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/05/27/alexi-lalas-international-soccer |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629173423/https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/05/27/alexi-lalas-international-soccer |archivedate=2020-06-29 |url-status=live |accessdate=2023-07-30}}
Development
Three Lions was developed under the title "Major League Soccer" for publisher BMG Interactive, but after BMG shut down, publication was taken on by Take-Two Interactive.
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Reception
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 49%{{cite web |title=Alexi Lalas International Soccer for PlayStation |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/196576-alexi-lalas-international-soccer/index.html |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501055826/https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/196576-alexi-lalas-international-soccer/index.html |archivedate=2019-05-01 |accessdate=2020-10-20}}
| CNG = 7/10{{cite web |last=Marrin |first=John |date=1999-05-11 |url=http://gamecenter.com/Consoles/Sony/Alexilalas/ |title=Alexi Lalas International Soccer (PS) |website=Gamecenter |publisher=CNET |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000823171501/http://gamecenter.com/Consoles/Sony/Alexilalas/ |archivedate=2000-08-23 |accessdate=2023-07-30}}
| CVG = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Key |first=Steve |title=Three Lions (PS) |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_and_Video_Games_Issue_199_1998-06_EMAP_Images_GB/page/n77/mode/2up |magazine=Computer and Video Games |publisher=EMAP |issue=199 |date=June 1998 |page=54 |accessdate=2020-10-20}}
| Edge = 7/10{{cite magazine |author=Edge staff |title=Three Lions (PC, PS) |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/7/77/Edge_UK_059.pdf |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future Publishing |issue=59 |date=June 1998 |page=94 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703200410/https://retrocdn.net/images/7/77/Edge_UK_059.pdf |archivedate=2023-07-03 |url-status=live |accessdate=2023-07-30}}
| EGM = 3.25/10{{cite magazine |last1=Davison |first1=John |last2=Hsu |first2=Dan "Shoe" |last3=Chou |first3=Che |last4=Hager |first4=Dean |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/5/57/EGM_US_121.pdf |title=Alexi Lalas International Soccer |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=121 |date=August 1999 |page=126 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127015505/https://retrocdn.net/images/5/57/EGM_US_121.pdf |archivedate=2023-01-27 |url-status=live |accessdate=2023-07-30}}{{efn|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.}}
| GI = 2.25/10{{cite magazine |title=Alexi Lalas Int'l Soccer |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=74 |date=June 1999}}
| GSpot = 3.3/10{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Josh |date=1999-06-02 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/alexi-lalas-international-soccer-review/1900-2545989/ |title=Alexi Lalas International Soccer Review [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000"] |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050112113103/http://www.gamespot.com/ps/sports/alexilalasis/review.html |archivedate=2005-01-12 |url-status=live |accessdate=2023-07-30}}
| NGen = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Alexi Lalas International Soccer |url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_56/page/n91/mode/2up |magazine=Next Generation |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=56 |date=August 1999 |page=91 |accessdate=2020-10-20}}
| OPM = {{Rating|1|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Kujawa |first=Kraig |title=Alexi Lalas Int'l Soccer |url=https://archive.org/details/Official_US_PlayStation_Magazine_Volume_2_Issue_11_1999-08_Ziff_Davis_US/page/n87/mode/2up |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |volume=2 |issue=11 |date=August 1999 |page=88 |accessdate=2020-10-20}}
| PCGUK = (PC) 41%{{cite magazine |last=Pierce |first=Matthew |url=http://www.pcgamer.co.uk/games/gamefile_review_page.asp?item_id=1255 |title=Three Lions |magazine=PC Gamer UK |publisher=Future Publishing |issue=58 |date=July 1998 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20001031231735/http://www.pcgamer.co.uk/games/gamefile_review_page.asp?item_id=1255 |archivedate=2000-10-31 |accessdate=2023-07-30}}
| PSM = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/psm-issue-024-august-1999_202301/page/n37/mode/2up |title=Alexi Lalas International Soccer |magazine=PSM |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=24 |date=August 1999 |page=38 |accessdate=2023-07-30}}
}}
The PlayStation version received unfavorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.
Next Generation said, "If you're looking for speedy, no-nonsense physical play, you could do a lot worse than Alexi Lalas International Soccer." 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."{{cite magazine |title=Three Lions |url=https://archive.org/details/extreme-playstation-06/page/42/mode/2up |magazine=Extreme PlayStation |publisher=Quay Publishing |issue=6 |date=June 1998 |pages=42–43 |accessdate=2021-08-26}}
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Notes
{{notelist}}
References
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External links
- {{moby game|id=/17743/alexi-lalas-international-soccer/}}
Category:Association football video games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:PlayStation (console) games
Category:Take-Two Interactive games
Category:Tarantula Studios games
Category:Underground Development games
Category:Video games based on real people
Category:Video games developed in the United States
Category:Video games scored by Allister Brimble
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