Almost Perfect (2002 FIFA World Cup (Xbox))

Member Name: Luke UK

Product:	2002 FIFA World Cup (Xbox)
Date:	06/06/02 (90 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great graphics and sound, near perfect gameplay and decent multi-player, authentic teams and stadiums

Disadvantages: a little lacking in modes

Firstly, what attracted me to this game was the event itslef (obviously), i had watched the England v Sweden game when i really had the urge to play a decent footy game, cos in my opinion, thier hasnt been a decent, worhtwhile one since ISS Pro on the PSone.

Maybe im wrong, but hey- i thought the fifa games from the last few years have been rather tedious, with an exception of the last World Cup (98) game which was a corker.

So, does this game break new ground on footie games, and proove fifa's history of 'so so' attempts on the beautiful game wrong, well the ansewer is Yes, with big But aswell.

You begin the game with high resolution menu screens, and are greeted with four main options,

1)Friendly

2)World Cup

3)Options

4)Bonus materials

I begun with freindly with a mate, and we were both instantly impressed with the quality or both the graphics and sound effects. The gameplay was good aswell, but its an area of the game which takes a little getting used to, but bear with it- after a few hours the gameplay WILL seem perfect.

Sometimes the celebrations after a goal can be very over the top, and when you play it, you will see what i mean, but by no means make it annoying, i think it brings some quality into a game where normally things are depicted by a cardboard crowd and a midi format style roar, which sounds more like a tumble dryer than thousands of fans.

However, this is not so in fifa 2002 world cup cos the game looks damn perfect, the players, stadiums and ball physics are all top notch (think the best looking footie game ever made and your on the right track).

So, the World Cup mode is no exception in terms of the high standard of quality of the rest of the game, and the bonus materials arnt bad either (thier basically a collection of videos).

The downfalls of this is simply simplicity, and lastability. Simplicity because i think thier arnt
many modes avialable, and the tactics could of been improved somewhat. And i say lastability cos the game lacks rewards, and you find that you've done everything far too quickly, leaving you with a sense of completion, when you play through as a different team.

It must be noted that you DO get three new teams from completing it from the three different areas of the world.

Overall then, a decent footie game, but a shame about the length, but it should still satisfy most cos of the decent multi-player mode which adds replayablity somewhat.

Summary: