Although I do like playing soccer video games, I will premise this review like all others on soccer, I am not up to speed as the rest of the world on the intricacies of the game. In playing EA Sports newest version of their long running soccer series, I have to admit, I think FIFA ’07 is about as far as the original X-Box engine will take it. With amazing graphics, great online play, incredible special features and a licensing commitment that would make the local penitentiary jealous, FIFA has evolved into something that only the Xbox360 can carry on.There are many ways to begin this review on what is great about this game and what it might lack. To begin with, remember, I play video games, I like sport games and if its not baseball or football, I don’t know much about the finer aspects of a game. The subtle moves or strategies that get me so involved in other games confuse me in this one. I mean, I finally learned how the Premiere League runs in Europe by running across an old article in Sports Illustrated about a Cinderella story of a man who played at a nearby college making it big there. I am in for the enjoyment, not the purpose of catching everything that is wrong with this game.
When you look and hear the game of soccer being played on FIFA ’07, it is hard not to get the adrenaline pumping through your veins. The team related chants, crowd and game noises sound as real as if you were there. I continue to get lost in the emotion of the sellout stadiums around the world and the atmosphere that the game creates. The graphics continue to improve and become life-like. Looking at the evolution of games and systems, the X-Box version of this game gets as much out of it as it can. I truly believe that if I want to be in the game, I have to go to the next level of gaming systems, or they will just have to come up with a first-person view of the game. Players move and look life-like, and the cut-screen action continues to impress with its fluid motions and fun action shots. The players during game, though small, look extremely real. Bigger is not necessarily better since it allows the gamer to view more of the field and feel more in control of what a player is doing and the view that they have. FIFA continues to do a nice job with their bottom screen radar, but until you become accustomed to the game it is hardly usable. Any type of soccer fan should be happy with the way the graphics and sound set up in the game.
The control of the game continues to maintain the level of consistency that one would expect from the FIFA series. Control settings can range from extremely easy for those looking to play immediately, to more advanced control for those really getting into the game and playing for long hours. By giving the gamer the ability to advance their controls and moves as they play, the game becomes more immersive, allowing for better game play. The thumbstick also allows the gamer to control some of the best players in the world to create a move to get past the defense. This did take me awhile to learn, and I am still unsure if I have all the control of the players down. It was nice being able to use the touch passing immediately to feel as if you are playing in the game, but press the button too many times and you pass it to the other team. One part of the controls I did have a problem with was kicking the ball on net. Whether in the box, in a corner or on a breakaway, time and time again I had trouble finding the net. Many times my shots were obnoxiously wide or high.
The game offers four different levels of play. The new player will find the second difficulty level hard, but not impossible to play. As the players progress to higher difficulty levels, the computer intelligence becomes even more challenging. I didn’t have a chance at these higher levels. I felt the game played pretty true to what a real soccer game would. The ball seemed to move well with the players and many times I had to chase it down, not just the quick pass to a player who’s there that I was accustomed too. I used to be able to try to just set up a crossing passes into the box from the top of the screen and get a header in on every four attempts. This time, just getting the ball up to the top played a little more difficult. Though scoring was difficult, I can see if I played more often my score would improve. I liked the way the game moved and the controls felt, and I believe that most people will be happy for the improvements.
All told, this is EA’s best soccer game to date. As the game evolves to the next system, it will continue to give the feel and emotion of the world’s favorite sport. In doing a little more research on the game and talking to high school soccer players, many loved the game and how it played. They felt the controls were smooth and the feel of the game very real. Being able to adapt to different coaching sets gave the game a real-life feel to it. In game strategies were quick and easy to use and gave many of these players hours and hours of fun. I think would make a worthy gift for the soccer fan in your house.
I played my first video game in 1976 which was a pong game plugged into our black and white TV to keep me busy while my mom took my brothers and sisters to school. I was 4. I played games growing up in the arcade and at friend’s consistently after school, many times missing dinner. I became completely addicted during a long night stretch of Kung Fu on Nintendo. I had to get one and get one I did. I love the old school games, never forgetting my roots. Many a memory I have growing up and conquering games with friends, sacrificing sleep for the thrill of victory. I can play with anyone in Nintendo or Sega games, and yes, I was one of those Sega Hockey freaks who did very well. When game systems changed to the types you see now, I did not immediately jump on the gaming scene. The internet was more important and computer gaming was large. Now, home gaming systems have caught up and you can do all the online gaming you want. I am a big sports game fanatic, love baseball, hockey and now enjoy playing the football games. Though I played different types of shooter/strategy games, the FPS games are now of interest to me (even though my skills are no where near the typical high school gamer). It is fun to get together and play with people who are out having a good time. Though time is a bit tight these days, sacrificing sleep for playing is all part of the game. I enjoy the outdoors, but competition keeps bringing me back to games, and now that they are smarter, makes it even more challenging
