Tuesday 17 Oct 2006

Each year EA treats the world to a new addition of FIFA, constantly enhancing the experience with the latest teams, improved gameplay and not to forget the latest compilation of EA tracks. This release of FIFA 2006 is no exception and while it sticks to the tried and tested formula, it delivers a compelling gaming experience.

Soccer players and fans alike around the world are recognised for their passion and enthusiasm. EA have done an excellent job at capturing that emotion in the design of the game. Right from the opening screen you will be drawn in, forgetting about trivial annoyances like eating, drinking and that pesky hindrance, sleeping. The player antics, ambient sound and commentator mesh seamless, immersing one in the soccer experience and collectively create a sense of grandeur that can only come from a polished title. In the blink of an eye and the twitch of a thumb you will find yourself dribbling, fouling and scoring your way into virtual soccer history.

As your progress through your career, taking on your arch rivals and dispatching them in the manner that should have occurred in the “real-world,” you’ll earn rewards. You can use these hard earned rewards to unlock legendary players and special apparel for your heroes.

The gameplay is sublime with the players responding quickly to your commands. New players to the FIFA franchise (where have you been hiding for the past 10 years?) will be completely at home after a couple of hour’s gameplay. The basic controls are intuitive, offering a short learning curve, so you can jump right into the action. If you prefer managing your substitutions, setting your formation, checking wind speed and volumetric pressure there are plenty of readily available features to keep you enthralled.

A new game mode called Global Challenge is included in this release for those hardcore enthusiasts, sadists and soccer historians. In Global Challenge you can replay 40 classic moments in FIFA World Cup history and see if you can do any better.

There is support for playing against friends in up to eight-way multiplayer mode. If you can get everyone into the games, holding their positions and not all following the ball at the same time it promises to be an enjoyable experience. Either way you are going to have fun once the red cards start coming out … the ref is completely unbiased and immune to bribes, unfortunately.

A superb release with 127 national teams to choose from, loads of atmosphere, fouls and grit to keep the hooligans firmly on their couches. An addictive and engaging soccer experience which can be enjoyed with all your best mates. Now if only there was a head butt feature…

Pros: Fluid response; great atmosphere; quick learning curve.
Cons: Main menu text too small/blurry on standard AV output; no head butt feature.

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Contributor:	Wayne

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