So FIFA So Good (2002 FIFA World Cup (Xbox))

Member Name: tonyf1

Product:	2002 FIFA World Cup (Xbox)
Date:	09/05/02 (81 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Superb Game, excellent graphics

Disadvantages: Not enough modes possibly

As another World Cup approaches, another official Fifa game gets released. 1994, 1998 and now again in 2002 ? and this version?s fantastic. Maybe it?s just me, but I?m sure you?ve noticed a great improvement in EA sport?s games recently & with the latest incarnation of the most popular sports game in the world you will certainly not be disappointed.

The first thing you?ll notice is the superb visuals. The Xbox version is the most impressive making use of all those megahertz; player animation is absolutely superb with many famous players having their faces recreated for optimum realism ? out of all the football games around David Beckham looks the most realistic in Fifa without doubt. The stadiums have become more than mere boundaries ? new life breathes from every stand with excellent crowd animation, all the stadiums of course are accurately recreated to look just like the Japan & Korea counterparts ? flags wave, fans jumping up and down, all sorts of paraphernalia going on off the pitch.

The colours are wonderful, texturing is first class and pure fluidity of the graphics make the game move onto a whole new level ? just the way the players move its so realistic now. Another aspect that makes Fifa stand out from the crowd is of course the expert commentary from the master John Motson and the bubbling with information Andy Gray. The commentary is fine bar the repetitive comments said in nearly every match (every striker that skies it was obviously thinking of the back page headlines?), but that?s all part of the fun. Crowd sounds and cheers have taken a leap too ? they?ll cheer the names of whichever teams are playing to really add to the atmosphere. Every time the referee stops play or a goal is scored we?re treated to the sounds of a string orchestra, I?m not quite sure why, but it?s a nice inclusion.

Fifa World cup is instantly playable, meaning everyone can pick up and play, but there?re enough special moves a skills to hone to keep
the very best players happy, the controls are easy to learn, star players (e.g. Beckham, Owen and Gerrard from England) have their own unique skill and generally everything just plays so well, it can only mean promising things for Fifa 2003? The comet style tail on fully powered shots looks a little gimmicky to begin with, but it?ll become second nature to see a red flashing ball fly into the back of the net from time to time. I love the way you can add spin to your pass or shot ? recreating those Beckham free kicks ? oh yes!

The game just plays so much better than even Fifa 2002, although that was on the PS2, but still there?s a lot to congratulate EA for with the latest edition. From the kick off to the final whistle just watching the game is entertaining, yet alone playing it. The tackling system is fine too, with two styles; sliding and conservative, insane score-lines won?t occur in every second game, you won?t score every time, but when you do its very rewarding ? funny too with the replays and player celebrations; for some reason their heads suddenly become over inflated! Maybe some kind of ego joke EA?

It?s all about the world cup as you?ll know, it?s great to be playing in the actual stadiums, against the actual real life times you?d be playing in the group stage, and then progressing to the final levels. With four modes of difficulty you can keep on coming back for more world cups to see how good you really are. Winning the world cup will also unlock secret teams such as the European all Stars ? so there?s plenty of reply value, even if you?re just playing a mate or the computer in a friendly. Speaking of which, the AI has improved too, making the whole gameplay experience more exciting.

Sort out the oversized heads, do something with those ?crazy eyes? and hollow teeth and the next Fifa could be incredible! There?re no club teams, but for the ultimate virtual World Cup experience look no further than this supreme console game!
Get it now!

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