Quick-fire review- FIFA 06 (56k warning)

[bignds]

Okay this is a short review of game ive bought in the last week.
In these reviews i'll just cover whats neccessary, so i'll get straight to it.



FIFA 06

FIFA games are ones im always sure to get.
Im a big football/soccer fan so this is almost a must have.

Gameplay-
In previous years, its been the Pro Evolution/Winning 11 band wagon.
"Oh, Pro evo has better gameplay, its more realistic".
EA listened to basically everything everybody had to say, FIFA 05 came very close, but from a mistake you learn.
This game does everything right, passes are more unpredictable, and taking chances from out side the box is a realistic means of scoring now.
This series has got to the point where you have control over just about EVERYTHING, seriously your team is at your every beckon and call.
Want to have that classy finish, with that extra bit of skill? You can do that.
Want to have you recieving player at the prime posisition? You can do that. Want to have complete control over your goalkeeper? You can do that too.
The "Manager mode" is the career mode of the game and it truly is brilliant. You pick your region then your league. Pick what you should look like and all your personal details. Then go for your team. Once your setteled down, you'll have to pick your sponser for the seaon, and this involves a certain stratergy, do you want the sponser who'll give you a lavish bonus? Or a modest but steady income? You'll then be greeted byyour menu screen, with the basic options of play next match, stats, but to actually make progress and experience the full game you'll need to go through everything, go to the transfer market for that new addition, go to team mangement to your latest signing or just to configure your team to perfection. You even have a "My Offoice" section, which speaks for it self.
At the beggining of each season your given goals by the board of directors which are emailed to your inbox, fulfill them to please. Lose one too many games and you'll soon start virtual pink slips popping up. This is really a great part of the game, and the depthcan certainly match any mangement sim out there.
Theres also a nice little "FIFA retro" section in the game, with a retro spective of the series, player bios and the complete FIFA 94 game, nice addition and you can see just how far the series has come.




Graphics-
FIFA games have always been strong on the visuals front and this time is no different. Its even better then before, character models look pretty life like but then you have the odd occasion when two players look the same and you work out that the developers couldnt be bothered with defining them, that aside, these default models even look great. Every player is smooth and no pixels sticking out what so ever, this is some of PS2s finest graphics. Animation is fast and fluent and you rarely get the framerate slowing down. When the actual match is going on, the players seem to move the same as their real life counter parts, but when it slows down to the player say- pleading the ref to not book him, thats when you can truly appreciate how good this game looks.

Sound-
An always topical side of FIFA has been the soundtrack, and it never normally fails, this is no different. The music fits the theme very well.
Commentating is even more detailed this time round and is a real treat to listen to.

Rating-
Gameplay-9/10
Graphics-8/10
Sound-9/10
Lifespan-10/10
Over all- 9/10
You really wont tire of this game until 07 comes out, but for that year, you'll be playing this constantly, the career mode is massive, online play, multiplayer, all the extras or just the odd exibition match, this games a keepr.
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[Skyline]

Awesome i'm gettin this for certain.

[Lkr]

seeing as I don't like soccer, its a no-go!

[Euan]

I still think if you want a soccer game (which LKR clearly doesn't) then you should go and get yourself Football Manager. A much better game than FIFA or Pro Ev if management is your type of thing.

Neat mini-review anyway...

[Skyline]

You also forgot to mention the Save Goals feature, which is good, if you have a PS2 or Xbox, yet again the Cube version is left without those extra features, missing out on the Retro/Fifa 94, the save goal feature, and also the stripey pitches etc.