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FIFA
Soccer 06
Score: 8.1 / 10
For quite awhile, EA's FIFA series has been
trailing a bit behind Konami's Winning Eleven (also known as Pro
Evolution in North America ) series. While EA once again has the
exclusive rights to teams, players and all of that, they've surprisingly
done a fine job in keeping up with the competition, especially since
Konami's next instalment won't be hitting until 2006.
For the most part, the gameplay is fairly solid. The new Pace Control
button slows down your player but gives them a bit more control over the
ball. There are a few quirks that you need to accept - namely, if you
accidentally hit a Pass button twice, you'll automatically do a one-two
pass, which can lead to problems if you're not careful. Additionally,
you can hold down the "R" button all you want to sprint with the ball,
but it still feels like all of the defending characters will catch up
with you
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the lowest difficulty setting, the CPU defense puts up quite a fight,
and it only gets harder as you progress up through the ranks. Naturally,
this can grow a bit frustrating to all but the most dedicated of
veterans.
While the graphics are smooth in standard definition, FIFA 06 also
supports 720p high definition, and it looks fantastic. However, the
action isn't quite as silky, and the framerate chugs during any
close-ups. Still, it should hold up favorably for anybody who can't
upgrade to an Xbox 360 just yet. The field looks excellent, especially
with the lighting effects, although the player models are just a bit
above average. Andrew Gray and Clive Tydsley come aboard as the new
English language announcers, though it does occasionally suffer from the
usual repetitive commentary from many sports games. Still, they sound
great, and I could swear there was a Lord of the Rings reference in
there somewhere. ("They shall not pass!")
Beyond the actual gameplaying, there's a whole slew of additional
options EA has tossed in this year. First and foremost is the Fan Shop,
which allows you to purchase classic teams, new stadiums, victory
animations, and plenty of other interesting features. These can only be
unlocked by getting points from beating a wide variety of Challenges.
Unfortunately, some of them can be quite difficult to beat, and it
would've been nice to earn some currency through some other venue. As
with some of the other 2006 EA sports games, there's a Retro mode which
lets you see how the FIFA series has evolved since the 16-bit days. Also
included are a few highlight reels, and voice clips of commentators from
famous plays. Add this up with some nice tournament options with Xbox
Live, and you've got a nicely featured package.
The superb Manager mode is one of the best parts of the games, and
proves to be incredibly addictive. After choosing your region and the
team you want to manage for, you're given full control to hire new
trainers, draft new players, and control the lineups. You're also given
complete control over the budget, allowing you to pick sponsors or raise
ticket prices. It's a little bit odd that the current is measured in
abstract "credits" as opposed to any actual currency, but I suppose
that's the only way to express it, given that you're managing teams from
all around the globe. There are also several instances where you'll need
to deal with the public relations office or deal with complaints from
both fans and players. In fact, manipulating the public image of your
club is one of the most enjoyable parts of the game, even though it
pretty much just boils down to answering multiple choice questions every
once in awhile.
Alas, it can be a little hard balancing your fan support, job security
and team morale. Keeping your players happy can also be a bit difficult,
as you usually need to rotate substitutes in order to keep them from
grumbling, which affects the overall morale. Since each one has to be
moved manually, and most of the screens have no indication of individual
morale, you begin to wish there was just some button that automatically
stuck benchwarmers out into the starting lineup. There are also other
minor interface annoyances - you can only simulate one game a team,
which makes managing a season a little bit slow going. Still, the music
selection that plays in the menu and during Manager mode is excellent,
with a wide variety of tunes and customizable playlists.
In the end, avid soccer gamers may still prefer the tighter gameplay of
Winning Eleven, but armchair managers will undoubtedly love the
marvellous simulation mode, and unlockable extras add up to a fine game
that fans will enjoy regardless of where their allegiance lies.
- Kurt Kalata
(November 22, 2005) |
