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16 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Review without mentioning Pro Evo..., 2 Jun 2006
Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars
I bought this game on the back on a wave of World Cup optimism. Overall it's enjoyable, especially for multiplayer, but in single-player it's generally frustrating.
Good Points:
* This is without a doubt the slickest version of FIFA ever. The menus are smart, the game loading screens are montages and facts on one of the countries involved in the game, there is a virtual FIFA magazine that updates as you progress through the game, etc. Altogether, it's very polished. In-game you also get score-flashes of other games going on at the same time. When playing in the qualifiers or in the final group-stage game in the WC itself, this is a great touch.
* There are over 120 international teams you can play. They are selected via a smart-looking revolving globe. Rather than having the standard 5-stars to grade a team's strength, their FIFA ranking is used instead. It's a very nice touch.
* Gameplay options are varied. Yes, this is a game released specifically for the 2006 World Cup, and unlike other FIFAs you can't play the league and cup competitions of different countries. But EA have counterbalanced this with a number of different features. You can not only play in the WC 2006, or a randomly generated alternative, but you can also play in the qualifiers of any world region (it is quite fun trying to get Fiji into the WC!). There is the usual "Play Now" option for quick games, as well as an instant "Penalty Shootout" competition, and a "Global Challenge" section.
In the Global Challenge you must complete a series of tasks for each region. For example, one of the tasks in Europe is to get England to beat Germany in the semi-final of Italia 90... but you start 60 mins into the game, 1-0 down. There are gold, silver and bronze medals depending on how well you do. In this respect, EA are starting to introduce elements of other games such as Tiger Woods Golf into FIFA, which is welcome. Where EA have missed a trick is to include the historical squad player names. In the Italia 90 game for example, it just doesn't feel right scoring an equaliser with Michael Owen instead of Gary Lineker.
* The comparison with Tiger Woods continues with the introduction of objectives. Any game you play gives you the chance to achieve a number of objectives and points. There are hundreds available. Objectives include scoring a hat-trick in a game, scoring with 3 different players, etc. It's very much like the "Trophy Ball" set up in Tiger Woods.
Bad Points
* First and foremost, this game is far, far, FAR too easy. Note that I consider myself a 'casual' gamer. I normally buy games like this to play with mates and kill a few hours - so I am not one of these people who normally dominates a game within hours of buying it.
There are the usual 3 skill-levels: Amateur, Semi-Pro and World-Class. Amateur is so ridiculously easy that I am confident that someone who has never even picked up a console controller before can be beating Brazil within a few goes. Don't even bother. By default the game starts in semi-pro, and while it's a meaty step up from amateur, it's still frustratingly easy. Here's why:
- Computer AI. Computer controlled player are REALLY stupid. At first, you are quite impressed with the opposition. Even little teams like Fiji have an amazing ability to hold possession. The players retain the ball like their little lives depend on it, doing an amazing myriad of step-overs, pirouettes and Cryuff-turns. It's suprisngly hard to get the ball of them, and even more annoyingly, it's impossible to emulate this masterclass of close-ball-control with your own players. Unfortunately they do nothing with it. In fact, at times, if you put the controller down, you can sit and watch an opposition player repeatedly pirouette round in circles for a few minutes. When they do eventually move, they have a strange desire to run back toward their own goal. Players through on goal, rather than shoot, seem to stop, pirouette, then turn back to look for a pass, and failing that, they run back toward their own goal. After a few games, even on world-class mode, you will be screaming at the opposition to sort themselves out. It really spoils the game.
- Goal variety. EA have improved the variety of goals you can score. This is welcome. It adds a new dimension of realism and enjoyment, especially in multiplayer mode. Unfortunately, it just means it is easier to score from all over the park against the inept computer-controlled opposition.
- Through-Balls. The old triangle-button, through-ball in previous versions of FIFA was an annoyingly easy way to score. In this version... it's even worse. Your players tend to get caught offside more, but once you have 'mastered' (10 minutes should do it) when to press the button, you've done 99% of the effort required to score a goal.
* Considering the slickness of the menus, the in-game graphics are generally poor, and in my opinion, a step-back from previous FIFAs. The World Cup stadiums lack the realism of some of the club grounds from FIFA 2005 or 2006. There is far too much ticker-tape and streamers, it just looks stupid. The lighting tends to flicker as well.
* While the Tiger Woods style objectives and points system is welcome, it's wasted. In TW, you can buy hundreds of items of equipment and clothing for your golfer, most of which has an impact on the game. In FIFA, your options are very limited. You can buy match-balls or football boots - all of which look the same when viewed from the high camera-angle of the main game, and none of which have an impact on the game itself. You can buy classic players to add to "Play Now" squads; but the selection of players is poor, and their impact is negligible. Finally you can buy "game modes" such as Turbo-speed. These are interesting, but nothing more than a novelty.
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