2002 FIFA World Cup

Eddie Pope sends a lob pass down the field to Landon Donovan. The speedy striker for the United States receives the ball, turns up the field and ignites the jets that double as legs. He splits a pair of defenders then dashes for the net.

The keeper hesitates only a moment before charging, but Donovan cranks a shot into the lower left corner before the keeper can leave his feet.

2002 FIFA World Cup, an EASports release for the Xbox, brings solid graphical soccer/football gameplay into the forefront and takes on some nifty animation. The EASports title is the only official licensed video game of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, which sets it apart from the pack. This also brings some pageantry to the venue, and adds a nice little boost.

EASports has also taken steps to make sure that this is an extremely user-friendly game. A beginner level has been added, slowing down the game play and making it easier for newcomers to the platform-based sport to enjoy the experience without getting routed by a computer opponent.

The basic control elements have been kept simple. A and X control the passing, B is for shooting and Y is for a speed burst. On defense X and B controls the type of tackles you execute, with the X for the aggressive slide tackle and the B for the push-off tackle. A will switch players. The L and R button will help you put spin on the ball, causing it to curve. As you get more acquainted with the game, you can add other elements, such as step-overs (to try to fake out the defender) or juggling the ball.

Unlike another Xbox soccer release (MLS ExtraTime 2002), the announcers in FIFA do actually name players and call the action without just spouting numbers. And the play-by-play is available in several different languages (English, German, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian, Japanese, Korean and Greek). With the chanting crowds and robust game calling, it is hard not to enjoy the various aspects of this game.

As mentioned, the action is not at a rapid pace, though you can, with the right key combinations and exact timing, move the ball quickly up the field, or back down the field. Graphically this game is a delight. The animations are solid; you can actually curve the ball and direct your shots, and players move quite realistically.

This game does not have the same level of passing that MLS ExtraTime featured. There are no through balls, and no 1-2 pass combinations unless you manually try to execute that – which is very hard to do.

The game is also a little light on the options front. MLS allowed players to practice, but FIFA World Cup doesn’t allow that. You pick a country and learn by playing friendlies, not by practicing on a pitch somewhere. Each team in FIFA World Cup is rated and you can beat up on the lower echelon teams to prepare yourself for the tough matches. There are only two ways to play, a friendly or the World Cup tourney.

That aside, 2002 FIFA World Cup is a dynamic sports game. It features the nuances of the game, and delivers the audio and visual excitement of World Cup play. There are some other behind the scene features that are enjoyable, but when you purchase a game of this sort, what you are looking for is a solid and entertaining gaming experience. EASports scores on both fronts

This program is rated for Everyone.

Gameplay: 8
This may seem a little simplistic, and to those used to doing contortions to execute complicated moves, this game is simplistic, but it moves well and the games play well.

Graphics: 8.5
The player animations are well done, and the ball movement is excellent. Great pains have been taken to faithful render the environments and it shows.

Sound: 8.5
This portion of the game does an excellent job of supporting the graphics. EASports has long been known for faithful audio rendering, and FIFA World Cup continues the trend.

Difficulty: Easy
Even the absolute beginner can jump in and have fun. The controls have been kept simple and with four difficulty levels, gamers can find the one that is right for them.

Concept: 7
This program is very light in the options department. You can credit EASports for focusing on one aspect and delivering it well, but on the whole, this program feels like it is missing something.

Multiplayer: 8.5
While the AI is very good in the single player games, like most games of this nature, it really excels in the multiplayer mode.

Overall: 8.4
This is a good soccer program, featuring excellent animation and sound and solid game play. If there is a drawback it would be the lack of gaming options. However, fans of the sport will doubtless enjoy this outing.