Platform: Playstation 2

Genre: Sports

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Developer: Electronic Arts

ESRB: E (Everyone)

Released: Q4 2001

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FIFA 2002

Pros: 

- Nice passing game

- Power meter on passes and shots

- Good detail to the graphics

- Decent soundtrack

Cons:

- Terrible slowdown at times

- Repetitive commentary

- Sim-like approach won't be to everyone's liking

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Review: FIFA 2002 (PC)

Review: FIFA 2002 (Playstation)

"Even after all these years FIFA still offers plenty of good times for soccer playing console gamers."

Another year, another journey into the magical world of soccer. This installment is a wee bit different from past EA fütball offerings with it leaning far more towards being a sim, veering away from the somewhat arcade-like sensibility of past FIFA titles. You can't charge up the field as fast as you used to, and the games are kept to a more realistic score, so if your looking for a more fast-paced gaming experience you may want to look elsewhere. Those looking for a more simmy experience will quite enjoy this game though with its close attention to the technical aspects of soccer. By and large FIFA 2002 still makes for a fun game, but don't expect it to be vastly similar to past versions.

The most noticeable change to FIFA 2002, and what will be the most contentious for gamers, is the shift toward a more sim-like style of gameplay. Players can not feed the ball downfield nearly as easily as in past years as the computer controlled players have grown far more adept at intercepting the passes. With this expect to do a lot more midfield ball movement while you wait for a slip in the defense where you can get the ball up to your strikers for a decent shot. Even if you do get the shot off the goaltenders this year have hands of steel and are extremely good at thwarting your goal attempts. The closest players can get to a more arcade-like experience in FIFA 2002 is by playing on the easiest setting which is more or less pointless since it virtually guarantees victory, leaving gamers feeling dirty (and not in the good way).

With all of the ball movement in the game it's nice to see that the controls are quite responsive. No coaxing or pleading, the players on the field do as you wish when you wish it. The inclusion of a power meter when passing, lobbing, and shooting is very helpful. When you first press down on the corresponding button the meter fills up, the longer you hold it, the stronger the pass or shot is upon releasing the button. It's not so simple as just passing at full strength to get the ball through a large crowd because even if you do clear the pass there's always the possibility of overshooting the thing. I was 

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particularly happy to see that sliding tackles are quite manageable, with far greater precision than in years past, though there were some nail-biting close calls where I was fully expecting to be shown the yellow card. The refs must have been in a forgiving mood. No matter which way you look at it though, there is nothing to complain about in terms of the control of this game.

Nor is there much to complain about regarding FIFA 2002's graphics, though there is one big problem which will be addressed shortly. Last year's installment on the PS2 had us all drooling at the sheer detail of the environments which popped off the TV screen with incredible vibrancy thanks to their high resolution. This year the visuals are just as good with the sharp character models, the incredible lighting that differs tremendously depending on the time of day a game is being played at. If it's during the day expect the field to look bright and warm, while a night game has the more artificial, sterile glow of the huge lights beaming down from above. There's no noticeable choppiness in the framerate while playing, but I was shocked and dismayed to see slowdown, very noticeable slowdown in fact, while playing. More confusing was the fact that it often kicked in during a breakaway with very few characters on the screen at the time. Whatever the case this is completely unacceptable. Slowdown has reared its head in this series and many other EA Sports titles for years, yet it keeps coming back. Mayhaps the developers should actually take heed of this problem and keep it out of future titles so us reviewers don't have to keep bringing it up again and again, it's only hurting the games' scores by being present.

While the visuals do have their low points, the soundtrack is a treat for those into electronic music. There's a remix (by Soulchild) of the Gorillaz "19-2000", tracks by Cirrus, Edison Factor, and several other artists. It's far better than past musical entries into the FIFA series. Sound effects are serviceable in their own right with the expected crowd noise, including the basic cheering, team specific songs, and such. Commentary is too limited though. John Motsen and Andy Gray are back once more for some witty banter as the game progresses, however, once you've put in a good 5 hours on this game everything they've said will start to become very repetitive as it will have been said several times over at that point.

Despite some glaring visual flaws there is a lot to sink one's teeth into here. Every team that matters is in FIFA 2002 to play, plus plenty of teams that don't matter. The controls are great, and the sim-oriented gameplay is surprisingly fun, though certainly not for everyone. Even after all these years FIFA still offers plenty of good times for soccer playing console gamers.

- Mr. Nash

(December 17, 2001)

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