Xbox

FIFA Soccer 06

I love the FIFA franchise. It’s a love that goes beyond my obvious affection for the sport as an Englishman and sports fan. While the Winning Eleven game on the Xbox was magnificent I seem to always turn my attention to EA Sports soccer game. Yet in the year of the Xbox 360, this year’s edition might very well be the best soccer game you’ll play on your original Xbox. Welcome to FIFA 06, soccer fans.

Regardless of its less-than-perfect online play, FIFA 06 is a game that no soccer fan should be without. The offline gameplay is difficult to fault, the graphics (especially the stadiums and player animations) rarely fail to impress, and the game's eclectic soundtrack (which boasts no fewer than 38 tracks from all over the world) never sounds out of place. The sound of a stadium full of fans chanting in FIFA 06 is also a real treat, and it really helps set the atmosphere ahead of an important match. To quote one of the game's many musical anthems, FIFA 06 "feels just like it should."

Simply put, if you’re a fan of football (or soccer), you really can’t miss with this title. The gameplay is extremely solid, the managerial mode is surprisingly deep and the additional features make FIFA 06 a great sports addition for fans of the sport.

EA Sports continues to refine the FIFA franchise in an attempt to finally topple the Winning Eleven series as the number one game in soccer fans' hearts. It's come close in previous years, with last year's game doing a remarkable job of getting so close as to be a matter of taste, rather than features -- but will it follow Madden as the definitive choice for the sport?

EA's other football franchise remains popular but isn't always the choice of the most serious soccer fans. For the 06 version, the developers at EA Canada have jammed every detail of every team and player into the game, making it the most thorough, most accurate representation of FIFA football we've seen yet. Knowing Thierry Henry's birthday, however is only so much fun. The challenge set before FIFA 06 this year and every other year is how well it can appeal to soccer fans who crave the gameplay depth and control found in Konami's Winning Eleven series.

Cette année promettait un choc de titan entre FIFA et PES, ce ne sera pas le cas puisque le premier nommé étant une franche déception. Si Konami se moque des licences, EA Sports se moque du gameplay en nous proposant encore et toujours la même façon répétitive de jouer. Au final, nous avons un bon jeu de foot mais qui est loin de tutoyer les sommets. La révolution n'aura donc pas lieu même si de petits efforts ont été faits mais l'évolution entre ce volet et son aîné est bien trop faible pour prétendre à une meilleure note.

The FIFA versus PES debate rages on. As the former gets better, so does the latter, and so the status quo remains; while FIFA 06 is probably the best game in the series so far, it's also still unable to close that gap that makes Pro Evolution Soccer 5 the more fluid, more realistic, and ultimately more enjoyable game of football, but at the same time provides enough entertainment in itself to warrant a purchase as well. That is, if you don't already own last year's version...

This is one of the few years in FIFA's seemingly constant restructuring where one of its gameplay elements actually got stronger instead of being ignored or inexplicably dropped.

And it's this, combined with smart marketing and a plethora of licenses that will no doubt win over mainstream fans in FIFA's 15th year. But for skilled gamers looking for a more realistic and deep challenge it doesn't come within cooee of Pro Evolution Soccer's godliness. A decisive run up the midfield for sure, but robbed of the ball just before the penalty box.

In effect what we have here is a flawed classic. It plays superbly, the management mode is certainly addictive in the extreme, the AI is great, the graphics detailed and crisp and there are so many modes to enjoy. So it all comes down to those stutters, which seem to affect some gamers more than others - meaning it could be a DVD Drive issue. Let's not get too bogged down on the issue of stutters though, certainly its not stopped me enjoying FIFA 06 more than any other football game I've ever played.

If you are into soccer I suggest you pick this game up. Most FIFA fans know what I am talking about. They are loyal to the brand. But, its more then just small upgrades. With every FIFA there is always something that is radically different. EA has been great to keep up with these games. There is always improvements being made and EA is always trying out new features to make the next game even better then before. It is amazing how much work goes into these games.

FIFA has come a long way in the last twelve years, but most of its changes take a few iterations to refine. This is again the case with FIFA 06, a solid all-around improvement over last year’s game. Still, EA should focus on really nailing the online play missing in Winning Eleven and stop embarrassing the franchise with petty control tweaks. It’s the best FIFA to date, but still only the second best player on the pitch.

So I am going to turn my sights towards the Xbox 360 version of FIFA '06. To me this version of the game seems to have taken a step back in some regards. FIFA is always going to look good. And they have improved the Dynasty mode and brought some other neat game modes in. But gameplay has always been the staple of a good Soccer game, and when playing against the computer, FIFA '06 just doesn't have it like FIFA 2005 did. The online gameplay really though saves the game from total mediocrity though. Against human opponents the game is still very fun to play. Like I said, bring on the Xbox 360!!

Americans, as a rule, don’t have much patience for soccer. “Too boring,” is the common complaint. “Nothing ever happens.” Since the rest of the world calls the sport “futbol,” Americans tend to compare it to American football, and the two sports couldn’t be more different. Comparing it to hockey makes a bit more sense: both sports are about controlling the ball (or puck), passing well, and setting up scoring opportunities. Goalies in both sports have huge responsibilities. And … both sports tend to be low-scoring. Strategy, rather than action, is the rule of the day.

September and we're already reviewing FIFA? What's that all about? Some things are carved in granite, and FIFA's annual late October outing among the falling leaves and the bracing weather has been as predictable and comforting as a steaming cuppa in the morning.

This version of the game seems to have taken a step back in some regards. FIFA is always going to look good. And they have improved the Dynasty mode and brought in some other neat game modes. But gameplay has always been the staple of a good soccer game, and when playing against the computer, FIFA 06 just doesn't have it like FIFA 05 did. The online gameplay really saves the game from total mediocrity, though. Against human opponents, the game is still very fun to play.