FIFA Football 2004 (PS2)

OFF THE BALL

Great idea, but it just doesn't work properly. By the time you've cycled through which player to pick and guided them into space you've normally been tackled, especially if you're playing a friend.

CAREER MODE

Fantastic development, especially for a loyal West Ham fan. The transfer market is brilliant especially as you need to earn points before you can put in a transfer request. Adds realism you can't just relentlessly bid for one player.

LICENSES

Game is licensed to the hilt. Brilliant for supporters of lower league teams.

GRAPHICS

The cut scene animations are quite brilliant, however they are rather cartoony, and once the initial novelty wears off they become rather frustrating.

GAMEPLAY

This is where you should trust me. The gloss, the licenses, the online gameplay should not distract from the fact that this is just not a very good game to play. It is really slow, really really slow. That's fine if you want to play a samba esque brazilian game but for a frenetic english tussle in the mud it's just not doing it.

I was bitterly disappointed. I waited for an extra week for FIFA to come out to give it a fair go against PES 3. I though Off the Ball would redress the gameplay balance. I though the online option would give it that extra bit of mustard, i thought FIFA had come of age. I'm afraid to report that it hasn't. If you're minted buy both, if you're not like me get PES 3 and the Datel update disk. It may not be as pretty, but its the best football game out there. Trust me.

The graphics have been improved considerably from Fifa 2003. With more players that look more realistic and with added stadiums the graphics really is a great bonus in this game. Built in to the crowd are co-ordinating team and country flags that add to the realism.

With all of the club teams, accurate uniforms are imperative. There are championship stars, current sponsors, patches and captain's armbands all added to the players shirts and are easy to spot, you really feel like you are watching the game at the weekend!

The soundtrack for the game has been re-vamped with lots of hits from around the world. The UK hits are easily recognizable. Again the commentary during the matches is done by Ally McCoist and John Motson. I've only had the game for a week or so and already their comments are getting boring. Their reactions to some movements on the pitch is sluggish. Other times their phrases are just out of context.

These niggingly little things spoil the play after a while and you find yourself during down the volume.

The major addition to the �FIFA� series this year is the inclusion of the �Off-the-Ball� system. Designed to give player�s greater freedom for player runs into space, the system works by holding onto the Left shoulder button and switching between three different players. By using the right analogue stick, players can then make this player run into space and slot a pass through to him � well in theory. You see as with many of the new techniques introduced over the years in the �FIFA� franchise, the �Off the Ball� system merely confuses matters as it�s too hard to keep a check of your player on the ball and the one off it at the same time; however with practice I have started to use the move to my advantage. It's another nice challenge that is built into the game to improve the enjoyment of the overall game.

In terms of an actual game there�s a hell of a lot on offer. The game offers an extensive Career Mode for single players, which sees you taking on virtually any club in the world and becoming their Player Manager. In this role you must select the correct training to undertake each week, secure new signings and sell off players whilst also playing the game at the end of every week. It�s an excellent feature that provides more then enough challenge to �Pro Evos� Master League mode, and will certainly keep players entertained for months to come.

Away from this mode are the standard features that let you compete in various competitions, whilst it�s also possible to take the game online and play against others or import your team from EA�s �Total Club Manager� titles. There is also that added Practice mode that allows you to perfect your set pieces, your corners or just practice using the new controls that Fifa 2004 offers.

Overall I am very impressed with the game. I found it extremely hard to work with the new controls and different movements, graphics of the game as I was used to the Fifa 2003 game.

I really like the added game modes, the added players, the new stadiums and the new soundtrack. At the moment I am currently the manager of Glasgow Rangers in the Career mode, I am trying to make them the best team available, it's a hard task trying to manage the players, the training and then actually playing the game at the end of the week. I think this new feature of the game will give me and countless others hours of fun for the coming months.

If you want a lisenced game and have alot of time and patience on your hands, buy it. But if you just want something entertaining and playable- DONT!