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| offerings have now been replaced by stadiums | | | | action on the pitch rather than by everything |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