FIFA Soccer 2005

With the success and critical acclaim of FIFA Soccer 2004, EA Sports has proven that the beloved sport has a fan base that appreciates a soccer game that not only plays excellently but also features all the goodies that make this such a cool sport.  As a soccer fan, I felt that EA Sports not only captured the sport well enough but, judging by FIFA Soccer 2005, it wanted to take things one step further.  Is this a step in the right direction, though?

FIFA Soccer 2004, as I mentioned above, was as perfect as it could get on the Xbox.  It played a fluid game of soccer and it was downright addictive to boot, but it somehow didn’t feel as complete as it should have and EA’s reluctance to offer Xbox Live support just didn’t sit well with fans.  Luckily for us, the whole EA/Microsoft thing worked out for the better and now all of EA Sports recent releases are now seeing some Xbox Live support.  FIFA Soccer 2005 now feels like a complete game and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.  While the game played great last year, this year’s changes just add more to the gameplay and franchise mode.

The most notable change is directed at the game’s Career Mode.  You start your career as a manager, selecting a lower level team from the large number of leagues both international and national.  Starting with a limited budget you set out to turn your little team into a big deal and thanks to a wonderfully clear-cut tool that keeps track of everything surrounding your team‘s coming and goings plus any roster changes you might want to make.  The higher you take your team, the more prestige you earn.  When you’ve gained enough recognition, you can select a team in a higher division.  For example, if you chose to involve yourself in the Spanish Primera, you’ll start with a low-level team and then work your way into managing Real Madrid.  Now this is what I call a franchise mode.

There is also Tournament Mode and this is the mode that will have you playing this game well into next year.  With so many leagues to chose from you’ll be happily playing for cups in different divisions and leagues.  Aside from the US leagues and the wide assortment of English leagues, this year’s game includes the Mexican Leagues.  All of this adds up to a Tournament Mode that will not fail to make fans jump for joy.  Always wanted to put out Chicago Fire’s, well, fire using LA Galaxy?  Always wanted to put to rest which Argentinean club is better--River Plate or Boca Junior? 

Control-wise, the game plays fluidly enough much like last year.  The improvements are really quite minor but they’re improvements that just take the game from great to excellent.  UEFA Euro 2004, EA Sport’s other soccer game revolving around this year’s Euro Cup, introduced a tighter control scheme that also shows up in FIFA Soccer 2005.  Most particularly, the free kicks are more direct due to targeting cursor and a kick meter.  New to the game is the First Touch Control, which basically gives a player that was just passed the ball more precise control of the ball with the simple movement of the right analog stick.  You see new skill moves as you sprint and are near the goal post.

Passing and dribbling feel a lot better this year as well.  Even tackling is a lot better, although you’ll be heading in foul territory.  It’s really absurd how frequently and easily the referee passing out yellow cards for minor infractions, this is really one of the game’s biggest flaws.  Other than that, you’ll have fun with chip shots and pulling off some cool tricks (although that takes a lot of practice to get right).  As for the Xbox Live, it’s what we’ve all hoped it would and dreamed it would be so I see gamers enjoying online play long until next year’s game is released.  It runs smoothly and, thanks to some rules that weed out the cheaters (such as users getting penalized for leaving a ranked game in progress)--you’ll have a blast, trust me.  

As far as the graphics are concerned, it’s hard not to be impressed with the level of graphical detail, colorful stadiums and great player models that make up this game’s visuals.  Players like Brazil’s Ronaldo look a lot like the real thing that you’ll instantly recognize him before you even catch a glimpse of his name on the back of his jersey.  Still, with the more recognizable star players looking like their actual counterpart, little had been done for the rest of the team.  You’ll find a number of “clones” that will eventually meet up with other “clones” in other teams.  Unlike EA Sport’s UEFA Euro 2004, a game that had a broader variety of players faces, there really isn’t an excuse for so many look-alikes . . . but that’s just me.  The rest of the game looks and flows great.

Don’t you just love sitting in a soccer stadium filled with fans who stomp their feet in unison, cheer with enthusiasm and sing songs that are significant to their country or favorite club?  What you’ll hear in these stadiums is all that and you’ll even hear the coaches shout out to their teams in their own languages.  It gives the whole experience that televised appeal and it works brilliantly.  What doesn’t work, though is the British commentary team of John Motson (whose Scottish accent is so thick you’ll wish his commentary came with subtitles) and Ally McCoist.  They make a number of offbeat comments, offer inane advice and hardly ever point out great plays you just happen to make right before their eyes.  They will, though, interrupt any commentary that’s being made at the time to point out players reaching the goal or causing a foul.  There’s music played during the menu selection screen and the song list is pretty eclectic--although many of these songs from all over the globe might not be everyone’s cup of tea.  This is, unless of course, you like Franz Ferdinand or Scissor Sisters.

FIFA Soccer 2005 is a step in the right direction in every possible aspect so if it’s perfection you’re looking for this is the best soccer game on the Xbox to date.   With intuitive controls, plenty of extras, a lengthy and in-depth Franchise mode and Xbox Live support, you’ll feel like you died and went to soccer Heaven.  If you’re new to the series, this is the perfect introduction. 

Gameplay: 9.0
As solid as a rock and as smooth as a baby’s behind, this is what a soccer game should play like.  The new First Touch Control is a real asset and taking a direct free kick or passing the ball feels a lot more natural this time.  You might not easily make a lot of cool tricks like bicycle kicks or headers at the goal but with the intuitive controls it’s all possible with a lot of work.

Graphics: 8.2
This is a very colorful and sharply beautiful game.  It’s hard not to get swept away by the thousands of fans lighting up flares or the close ups of the more familiar players like England’s Beckham or Brazil’s Ronaldo.  Unfortunately you’ll find a number of “clones” and that takes away from the visual presentation.

Sound: 7.5
The music might not suit everyone’s taste, although there are some cool Latin rock tunes mixed in with the likes of Morrissey.  The commentary team is mismatched and don’t offer insight or any praise.  What do we have to do to impress these guys?  At least the stadium sounds (fans cheering and singing) and the coaches barking out orders in their native tongue is superb.

Difficulty: Medium
The opponent AI is great at defense and the goalkeepers are always on their toes so there’s no scoring discrepancies in this game.  What will get on your nerves, though, is the referee’s unmerciful handing out of yellow cards . . . it’s unrealistic.

Concept: 9.0
The new additions to the game will satisfy fans that wished last year’s game included their favorite leagues like all the Mexican leagues (kudos for bringing us Chivas and Cruz Azul). First Touch Control rocks!  And the Create-A-Player, while not as in-depth as the one found in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005, is a very welcome addition.

Multiplayer: 9.0
Xbox Live support finally pits soccer fans like myself up against other soccer fans from all over.  The game moves along fluidly online and, thankfully, there are strict rules in place to prevent cheating.  EA Messenger lets you issue challenges to friends or other gamers.  If this is a dream I don’t want to wake up.

Overall: 9.0
EA Sports scores once again with its stellar FIFA Soccer franchise and this year’s game just adds more bang for your buck.  Sure Winning Eleven 7 for the PS2 dominates this particular sport’s genre in terms of gameplay, but FIFA Soccer 2005 is a solid game with an even greater online multiplayer mode.  Buy it if you love the sport, your Xbox will thank you for it.