FIFA Soccer 06 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)After reading the reviews on this site, I decided to buy Fifa '06 for Gamecube. I'm very glad I did. While still not at the highest level it could be, I do feel there are enough improvements to justify the upgrade from '05 (and I liked '05).

IMPROVEMENTS: 1) Ball handling is totally different. Many more dribbling opportunities... it's actually possible for a midfielder to get around a defender now. 2) Passing is also completely modified. Rather than passing or crossing to a player, you pass or cross to an area of the field. Sounds negative at first, but it makes things so much more realistic. Rather than having to remember some button combo to get the ball to behave how you want it, if you want to chip a ball in the box, just aim and try to get the right pressure on the button. In the old system, I'd often aim at a teammate and the computer would think I was aiming somewhere else. Now I feel I can aim the ball with greater accuracy. 3) They changed the announcers, which is reason enough to buy the upgrade! 4) Manager mode and the player creation center are both vast improvements over previous versions of Fifa. 5) Corner kicks, substitutions and throw-ins are much improved. 6) The computer is MUCH more intelligent. It used to just run down into the corners and cross the ball in the box, so once you figured out the patterns, the computer would no longer be a challenge. Now it will string passes together and try to go down the middle occasionally. The computer now also acquires cards and makes substitutions (previously you'd be the only team making subs and getting carded). 7) There's actually documentation for game features and little symbols used throughout the game! Not only is the manual a bit more in depth, but there are also places you can go in the game to learn how to play and what everything means.

NEGATIVES: 1) While overall gameplay seems faster, taking shots on goal almost seems like slow motion. It seems like there's no power in the shots. The goalkeeper can't even kick the ball to the midline... Something happened to player strength or something... 2) Stadiums are even more inaccurate than before. Granted, I play frequently with MLS teams and they've never had MLS stadiums in the game, but at least they matched stadium type to teams (e.g. San Jose with a small stadium, Columbus with an open-air soccer stadium, Revolution with an american football stadium). 3) Players are more inaccurate visually. According to the game, Pat Noonan on the Revs is blonde and Jose Cancela has red hair. They looked fine in '05: who decided to change them? 4) It's still impossible to get your entire team in on the attack. Strikers still hang out at the midline while a lone midfielder (with you controlling) chases down the ball in the opponent's 18... You also can no longer send teammates on runs by hitting the L button... they often bunch up around you and it can be difficult to make a pass at times.

OVERALL: Overall, I really enjoy the game and think it's totally worth it. Gameplay has dramatically improved in many areas, and even the negatives are somewhat superficial. I'm still waiting to see if, when you select a more difficult gameplay level, the computer improves it's game by worsening yours...

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Product Description:
FIFA 2006 brings you intense and realistic soccer action -- the world-class soccer action that true fans crave! Get out on the pitch as you play as you play a complete, authentic, and intelligent soccer experience. Become a player or a manager, as you guide a team through its career and create a legend. Special club transfers option for downloading updated roster information

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