Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Different to the other FIFAs, but in a good way, 24 Oct 2003
Just got FIFA 2004, and I'm astounded by the number of changes in this version. Usually you got the odd tweak and the teams updated but EA have actually listened to fans moans and tried to do something about most of them. Firstly, the teams. Div 1,2 and 3 teams with the ability to get promoted is a real plus, especially if you support a lower league side. The negatives are the international line up is poor, EA should revert to fifa 98 when all the national sides were present and you could steer them to euro/world cup glory. Why this hasnt appeared since really annoys me, and surely globally the game would appeal even more. The ability to choose who made it into the international squad was also great and I'd love to this back in, along with the indoor matches. In terms of stadia, the number has been updated and they all look great and the ability to choose the weather should have been in the last version anyway. The free kick and corner system is great along with off the ball and in game tactics, and the animation improved a lot. It plays a lot more like ISS which means no more 50 yard dribbles and shots, and a more realistic build up play. I want to see all keeper kits included next year, and gloves and boots all proper names rather than fake EA. It would also be great to have real player photos, and the ability to make you own teams and leagues and a player edit(with putting your own face in via eyetoy/webcam)but maybe I'm asking for too much! I would also like to see the ability to make you own celebrations, and more commentary with better people(Motty and Ally please) and better crowd reactions, more stadia and the champions league/uefa cup. As for gameplay, still need to sort corners out a bit and make volleys/headers easier to execute. Also more leagues eg Turkish, Greek, Dutch, Argentinian league with more competitions like Copa America. And bigger squads, with the ability to loan players. Thats all! But great update, just some people will be dissapointed if they love the easy style of old fifa titles.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
FIFA: For once it really is in the game, 27 Oct 2003
OK FIFA is one of those games that comes around every year and gets bought by thousands regardless of its quality. Over the last few years it's been brushed aside by "real" footie fans for more worthy simulation style games such as Pro Evolution Soccer 2 on the PS2. FIFA 2003 took a step in the right direction by trying to react "real" football but fell a few yards short. FIFA 2004 puts this right in what is the most ambitious update in the franchises history. The emphasis on passing, teamwork and off the ball runs really makes the game feel like football should. The freestyle moves of last year have also been improved and relate directly to the real player's ability - something which works really well. The new "off the ball" system is a nightmare at first and you really need to practice for it to provide you anything special, but boy is it worth it! Gerrard hitting a precision pass over the defence for Owen to run onto and slot home looks as stunning here as it does for real. And that's one of the beautiful aspects of the game - every goal you score looks like something you see in football ( I know that might sound like an obvious thing but if you see the game running you'll understand). EA have pulled out all the stops once more in the style and presentation of the game, from it's fantastic soundtrack, to the player motion and commentary that wipes the floor with the opposition. However this is always the case, just this year EA and added some real substance to the style. The game is very club based with all the lower leagues available, but for me there is a lack of international action on offer. The new career mode is a worthy addition as is the revamped set-piece set-up. The lack of a player editor is however annoying. To sum up this FIFA is the best there ever has been. It does require some patience and a practice but the rewards are well worth it. Putting together a team passing effort right from the back until Beckham has time to pick out a fantastic through ball for the run that Scholes has made for him to smash the ball home on the half volley - then turning to your mate to gloat is something well worth your money. FIFA 2004 is the best football game of this year, and certainly on XBOX. It's not perfect, but it aint that far off.
IT'S IN THE GAME!
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fifa 2004, a step in the right direction..., 7 Nov 2003
So I sat back with anticipation as Fifa 2004 loaded up for the first time on my Xbox. Now I've been playing footy games for quite a few years now, across pretty much all the platforms. Still for me nothing comes up to the level of pleasure and enjoyment I got when I played Sensible soccer all those years ago, and still now and again. So every time I play a new footy game for the first time, I have that little glimmer of hope that this will be the game that takes me back to the days where I actually felt like I was running around on that pitch.
Lets face it, Fifa has never made anything near the ultimate footy game, realism has always meant to Fifa having all the right names, teams, stadiums, and the like. All this stuff is extremely important, don't get me wrong, but the gameplay whilst being ok has never completely blown me away.
Now lets get on to Fifa 2004. Now this honestly feels different to any Fifa game I've played to date. All the usual stuff is there, improved from the previous installment of course. But the first thing that strikes me is the camera angle is different. You seem to be a bit further away from the pitch, now I like this! I hate footy games that put you too close to the play and don't let you see what is going on around you. I want to be able to see all player I could pass to, not have to hit blind passes in the hope that a player will be there. Of course you can change the camera angle to suit your preference. I liked the 'broadcast' camera angle too, it is quite realistic, almost looks like a real game of footy! Nice!
Ok, so it looks good.... But what about the game play. The basics are the same as the previous Fifa 2003, but with quite a few extra touches that make a massive leap forward in playability. These extra touches aren't going to be mastered overnight, but when they do come off they work extremely well, look realistic and give you a great feeling of achievement. I've seen people right the 'off the ball ' feature off in other reviews as unusable and a waste of time. Of course it is when you haven't mastered out how to use it yet!! Ok, I'll admit, it takes a lot of time to get to grips with all the controls, off the ball movements, free kicks, etc. But if you stick with it, then you'll have found yourself a very enjoyable, playable and realistic game of football.This must be the point where I rip PES3 apart. Well no actually, this is a great game too in its own right. It plays completely different to Fifa, and requires an equal amount of time to master the controls and get to a point where control becomes second nature, but this doesn't make one game better than another. One style of game might suit one person better than another, this will probably make you a Fifa or PES man.... Luckily for me I think they're both pretty good. I would really like to see PES on the Xbox though. Well after all that, if I'm honest they've both got a long way to go as far as making the 'ultimate' footy game.. but they're both going in the right direction, which can only be good news for us all.
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