FIFA Soccer 2002: Major League Soccer

The Good
The game play of FIFA 2002 is a significant improvement over that of previous games in the serious. Its new passing and tackling systems give a more realistic feel to the game and demand more of the human player. The graphics are good, but not spectacular. But the best part of this game, as is part of EA Sports tradition, the vast number of actual leagues, teams, and players, along with a World Cup qualifying mode that nearly exactly duplicates the actual qualification for the 2002 World Cup.

The Bad
While the game play is vastly improved, FIFA 2002 is not even close to the realism in game play employed in other well-known soccer series. The biggest problem with the FIFA games are the levels of difficulty...three in this case. Amateur is easy enough to play right out of the box. Professional level can be mastered in a week or two to the point that you can take Nepal and make France look like, well, Nepal. But the World Class level is next to impossible when it comes to the league and qualification modes. If you've ever suspected the AI of cheating in one of your games, your suspicions can now be confirmed. It is often the case that you will completely outplay your opponent in World Class mode, take 15 shots in an eight-minute game, send 10 wide and hit the post on the other five. The AI will then beat your entire team down the field or pass to players making runs while your defense stands completely still in the last minute and score on its only shot of the game. This happens over and over in games you need to win to advance.

The Bottom Line
It's a fun game for its great variety, but if you have a tendency to throw your controller when a result doesn't go your way...You've Been Warned!!!! I've busted a few controllers over this game due to an AI that employs blatant cheating tactics. Still, I play on, as many do because nowhere else can you play exact schedules with so many teams with true players.