Reader Reviews

FIFA Football 2005 (Xbox)

by Kincaide

I am a PES fan. Hang on, don't judge me yet - I just wanted to put that on the table before we proceed. For let's face it, in the current generation of consoles, and you are a fan of football - you are either a PES or a FIFA fan - and I wanted to clear that up first.

I haven't played FIFA properly since FIFA 1998: Road To The World Cup. I loved that game before I discovered ISS (which lead to PES). Sure, there where sweet spots, and it was very 'arcadey' - but it had every international team I could think of, with the right kits, and the right names. So with PES (online!!) not coming to the Xbox until a month after FIFA's release, I decided to give it another go.

The game loaded up, and after I got through the initial, usual, 'A+' EA presentation I had a feeling of disappointment. Where were all the international teams that made RTTWC feel so expansive? Eventually I got over it, but their exclusion did smart of cynical marketing on EA's part (keep those international teams for a World Cup release shall we??) - ANYWAY, I eventually got into the game itself, and I must admit I was impressed.

FIFA does so many things right that PES does not. It is almost as if FIFA is the ying to PES' yang. FIFA has: the right teams, player's names, the right leagues, the right cup competitions, better commentary, better music (IMHO), better presentation. One of my favourite FIFA "yings" is the Career option. I like working my way up from the lower division team upwards, you get to choose to build up your team via points you get for winning - and points can also be spent on your staff, to increase Midfield training or on the finance department, etc. FIFA works in building upon the actual game of football, and extends into the world of football itself. It is quite immersive - I think this is best summed up in the following scenario that happened to me recently: League Two team Yeovil signs up Gazza from Boston. The next game is against Bolton in the League Cup. Yeovil are at home, and after a tense 2-2 after extra time, it goes to penalties. Gazza scores the winning penalty, I punch the air, and all is well with the world. After the game I get an email from my midfield coach - Gazza had an argument with someone after the game, and his morale has plummeted as a result, which means he won't be as up for it in the next game. All excellent stuff.

So - FIFA is an out-and-out success? Well, yes and no. FIFA is top trumps for the world of football, but the game of football still has some problems. The players still don't 'feel' right. The control you have over them doesn't feel as responsive as what I found in PES3 (not having played PES4). The sprint button makes little difference, the ball doesn't respond as you think it should. And you quickly learn some soft spots - certain things you can replicate - and usual get the same results. It's hard to put a finger on exactly what is missing, but when you sprint down the wing, cross it in, and your centre-forward heads it in - it just doesn't feel as rewarding as PES does. In PES, sometimes you really have to carve out a result - changing tactics, and players really make a difference - in FIFA the same applies, but just not to the same degree.