| Since 1994, not a year has gone by without EA | | | | how well your players feel the match is going. |
| Sports releasing at least one new FIFA soccer | | | | This doesn't necessarily mean that your team will |
| game. And, predictably, 2005 is no exception. The | | | | become stronger if it's winning, though, because |
| isometric pitches and teams of identical players | | | | your players' morale is influenced by recent action |
| that graced EA Sports' earliest offerings have | | | | on the pitch rather than by everything that's |
| now been replaced by stadiums and players that | | | | happened since the kickoff, as well as by whether |
| can be difficult to distinguish from their real-life | | | | you're playing the match at home or away. |
| counterparts. And although there have been some | | | | The boost your team will get from stringing |
| ups and downs along the way, the series' | | | | together a few good moves against a team it's |
| gameplay has evolved at an equally impressive | | | | losing to is definitely noticeable, and you'll find the |
| rate. FIFA 06 is particularly unusual in that it | | | | opposite is true if you're in charge of a winning |
| ditches some of the series' recent innovations in | | | | team that's struggling to retain its lead. Individual |
| favor of tried-and-tested gameplay mechanics. | | | | players can also be affected by events on the |
| However, it also adds plenty of new features that | | | | pitch, and if you notice that one of your players is |
| help make it the most realistic and accessible (and | | | | feeling particularly down, it's invariably a good idea |
| best) FIFA game to date. | | | | to replace him with one of your substitutes--none |
| The first time you play FIFA 06, you'll be | | | | of whom enjoys sitting out match after match on |
| prompted to let the game know which of its | | | | the bench. |
| 500-plus teams is your favorite, and then, before | | | | On the pitch, FIFA 06 is undoubtedly the best |
| you know what's going on, you'll be challenged to | | | | game in the series to date, but it's not without its |
| a match against a formidable "Classic XI" squad | | | | flaws. The goalkeepers, for example, are |
| that counts such men as Zico and Eric Cantona | | | | extremely slow to come off their lines--even |
| among its players. Winning that match will award | | | | when the ball has been hoofed from the other |
| you your first 1,000 points to spend at the fan | | | | end of the field and there are no other players |
| shop on such unlockables as classic player profiles, | | | | with a hope in hell of reaching it before they do. |
| all-star teams, different-colored balls, alternate | | | | This is actually a good thing when it's your |
| team uniforms, extra player celebrations, new | | | | keeper, because you can bring him off his line |
| stadiums, and season highlights footage from last | | | | manually, and you don't have to worry about him |
| year's German, English, French, and Italian leagues. | | | | going on a walkabout of his own volition. The |
| To stand a chance of winning that match, you'll | | | | keepers on CPU-controlled teams, though, appear |
| need a good grasp of FIFA 06's control scheme, | | | | to be largely unaware of the "keeper charge" |
| which--although there have been some | | | | button, although they do become more proactive |
| improvements made since last year--certainly | | | | as you move up through the game's four |
| won't be a problem if you're a fan of the series. | | | | difficulty levels. FIFA 06's other main flaw, which is |
| If you're not a fan of the FIFA series but are | | | | more of an issue on the PS2 than on any other |
| taking the time to read this review, it's probably | | | | platform, is that the whole game can slow down |
| because you're a Winning Eleven devotee, in | | | | quite dramatically when a large number of players |
| which case you'll be pleased to know that the | | | | is onscreen simultaneously. The drops in the |
| PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions of FIFA 06 let | | | | frame rate aren't so bad that the game is |
| you opt for an alternate control scheme that's | | | | rendered unplayable, but they're certainly |
| straight out of Konami's soccer franchise. The PC | | | | noticeable enough to be worthy of mention. |
| game also features customizable controls, | | | | The PC version of FIFA 06 uses the same EA |
| although it's impossible to re-create Winning | | | | Nation online infrastructure as other EA Sports PC |
| Eleven's controls perfectly. | | | | games, meaning you can bet credits from your |
| Once you've decided which button you want to | | | | virtual wallet on the outcome of matches, choose |
| use for shooting and which you want to use for | | | | an EA Sports-themed avatar for your profile, and |
| long passes, you can start familiarizing yourself | | | | use an entirely different, clumsy lobby system to |
| with some of FIFA 06's new controls, which | | | | search for opponents. With that said, the online |
| include using the D pad or left analog stick to | | | | play in the PC game performs well once you get |
| change offensive and defensive tactics on the fly, | | | | a match started, though you won't be able to use |
| as well as using a single button to perform a | | | | any custom control setups against online |
| dummy move (either to yourself or to a | | | | opponents until the first FIFA 06 patch is released, |
| teammate) whenever a pass is headed your way. | | | | because there's currently no way to save them. |
| There are eight different tactical changes and | | | | Regardless of its less-than-perfect online play, |
| team mentalities you can switch on and off on | | | | FIFA 06 is a game that no soccer fan should be |
| the fly, including counter attack wing play, box | | | | without. The offline gameplay is difficult to fault, |
| overload, offside trap, and zone defense. Like | | | | the graphics (especially the stadiums and player |
| many of FIFA 06's new features, these aren't | | | | animations) rarely fail to impress, and the game's |
| really explained in the instruction manual but are | | | | eclectic soundtrack (which boasts no fewer than |
| instead covered comprehensively via | | | | 38 tracks from all over the world) never sounds |
| easy-to-follow help screens in-game. | | | | out of place. The sound of a stadium full of fans |
| Other changes you'll find on the pitch in FIFA 06 | | | | chanting in FIFA 06 is also a real treat, and it |
| include much simpler (almost to the point of being | | | | really helps set the atmosphere ahead of an |
| retro) control systems for set pieces, | | | | important match. To quote one of the game's |
| much-improved commentary and TV-style | | | | many musical anthems, FIFA 06 "feels just like it |
| presentation, and the all-new playing-style feature, | | | | should." |
| which affects your team's performance based on | | | | |