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| offerings have now been replaced by | | | | kickoff, as well as by whether you're |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