Xbox

2002 FIFA World Cup

Advertising Blurbs

World Cup 2002 features all of the logos, trademarks, hoopla and hype that made the real World Cup in Korea and Japan such a global treasure.

Since this is a World Cup version of EA's FIFA series, there are only two modes of play: Friendly and 2002 FIFA World Cup. There are 41 national teams to choose from, each stocked with real-world players. Players can recognise star players like Spain's Sergi by the star icons which appear when that player has the ball. Like in real life, these players bring an extra spark to the game both on and off the ball.

Some teams have more star players than others. England has five, for example, while China has none.

Before or during a match, players have full control over team management. You can adjust the starting lineup, formations, strategies and even decide who will take penalty kicks. True technicians may miss the franchise mode, which is missing since this game focuses exclusively on the World Cup.

Superb play control is fortified by comprehensive camera control options and an adjustable game speed. The instant replay feature isn't the most sophisticated we've seen, but it's good enough for you to watch your best goals from a variety of angles.

EA has really captured the excitement of the World Cup through slick graphics and awesome sound. Players interact smoothly and realistically. After a goal is scored (or just missed), dramatic close-ups add a lot of emotion to the game. Everything has been created with World Cup flavour, including real-world stadiums, rowdy crowds and swelling music which fills the air throughout the game.

Commentary is provided by Andy Gray and John Motson, and it is seamless. This is truly some of the best, and most amusing commentary we've ever heard in a sports game. It repeats itself only rarely, and EA seems to have provided a special comment for almost every situation imaginable.

Even though FIFA World Cup 2002 only provides two modes of play, the World Cup experience is recreated well enough to make up for it. Four players can compete or cooperate simultaneously in pursuit of the World Cup, which definitely pumps up the replay value.


Contributed by Evil Ryu (31481) on Oct 02, 2005.

Right on the cleated heels of FIFA Soccer 2002, EA Sports is storming the keeper's cradle with FIFA World Cup 2002. Something of a semi-sequel, World Cup 2002 features all of the logos, trademarks, hoopla and hype that make the real World Cup in Korea and Japan such a global treasure. Olympic games? Whatever. For soccer fans -- meaning football fans -- the World Cup is as good as it gets.

The Clipboard

Since this is a World Cup version of EA's FIFA series, there are only two modes of play: Friendly and 2002 FIFA World Cup. There are 41 national teams to choose from, each stocked with real-world players. Players can recognize star players like Spain's Sergi by the star icons which appear when that player has the ball. Like in real life, these players bring an extra spark to the game both on and off the ball.

Some teams have more star players than others. England has five, for example, while China PR has none. Of course, even star players can suffer from fatigue by the time the grueling schedule is complete, so it's a wise choice to take advantage of the substitution feature.

Before or during a match, players have full control over team management. You can adjust the starting lineup, formations, strategies and even decide who will take penalty kicks. If you prefer, you can always ignore these details and dive straight into the action. True technicians may miss the franchise mode, which is missing since this game focuses exclusively on the World Cup.

On the Field

FIFA World Cup 2002 may well be the easiest to pick up and play of any EA title, but without diminishing the feeling of authenticity we?ve come to expect of this series. The A Button is used for ground-based passing, the B Button fires off a lob pass and the X Button is used for shooting. The longer you hold down a button, the farther your pass will travel or the stronger your shot will be. You can direct your passes by pressing in the desired direction on the Control Stick. Overall, the system feels great.

Every once in a while, you'll see one of your teammates dash ahead for a lead pass. Dotted lines appear on the field in such situations to give you an idea about where to pass the ball, but it's up to you to feed the ball into the correct position. Another passing option is accessed through the C-Stick. Tap the C-Stick toward a teammate to perform a give-and-go. This is a great way to get open, particularly near the goal.

Defensive control is equally tight. It's easy to change players, and the refs don't hand out yellow cards like candy. The B Button performs an aggressive slide tackle, while the X Button calls for a less forceful steal. When the ball is in the air, one-button control takes the guesswork out of possession battles.

Superb play control is fortified by comprehensive camera control options and an adjustable game speed. The game may seem to move slowly at first, but this actually gives you time to watch your plays develop. If you think things are moving too slowly, though, you can always pump up the speed. The instant replay feature isn't the most sophisticated we've seen, but it's good enough for you to watch your best goals from a variety of angles.

Sights and Sounds

Playing FIFA World Cup 2002 is about as close as you can get to experiencing the excitement of World Cup action. Even watching the event on television might not be as good. EA has really captured the pageantry and excitement of the World Cup through slick graphics and awesome sound.

Players interact smoothly and realistically, especially when jockeying for position. After a goal is scored (or just missed), dramatic close-ups add a lot of emotion to the game. Everything has been created with World Cup flavor. Real-world stadiums look great, and the crowd is suitably rowdy -- massive flags and swelling music fill the air throughout the game.

Commentary is provided by Andy Gray and John Motson, and it is seamless. This is truly some of the best commentary we've ever heard in a sports game. It repeats itself only rarely, and EA seems to have provided a special comment for almost every situation imaginable. Andy Gray can be pretty darn funny at times, too.

Grab the Cup

Even though FIFA World Cup 2002 only provides two modes of play, the World Cup experience is recreated well enough to make up for it. Four players can compete or cooperate simultaneously in pursuit of the World Cup, which definitely pumps up the replay value.

FIFA World Cup 2002 is scheduled to be released in April, 2002. Game progress is saved to a Nintendo Memory Card, requiring 49 blocks.


Contributed by Xoleras (66998) on May 06, 2005.

Only OFFICIAL licensed video game of the 2002 FIFA WORLD CUP

• The ONLY game that lets you take your country to FIFA WORLD CUP victory.
  
  
• Officially licensed uniforms, teams, players, and commentators - created to perfection.
  
  
• All the official stadiums, complete with crowd chants, celebrations, and special effects.
  
  
• Revolutionary "airplay" system - take total control and show off with the world's most skilled players!
  
  
• Select your elite 23 and lead them to glory with dramatic single-player story lines.
  
  
• EXCLUSIVE "behind-the-scenes" content.
  
  2002 FIFA WORLD CUP
  KOREA JAPAN
  

  Contributed by Corn Popper (66198) on Mar 13, 2004.