FIFA Soccer 2002

"This year's installment fails to impress a long time fan."

As a long time FIFA fan I found my self highly disappointed with 2002. There are a few novel ideas (such as the new passing system) but ultimately they are badly implemented.
The first thing that strikes you is the terrible control - it's more sluggish than ever - FIFA games have always been a little sluggish, but this year it completely ruins the gameplay.
Then there are serious issues with the player AI - mostly your players (the computer controlled players are spot-on). I often found my players stopping in the middle of a run - it seems they don't know what to do when other players are scrambling for the ball and it suddenly ends up at next to them. They will either run in the other direction or remain inanimate.
When passing the ball around it requires extreme precision - not a bad thing - if it was possible... But most of the time you'll end up loosing the ball due to stupid/blind/paralyzed team mates or due to super-human anticipation skills from the computer. Occasionally you will also find your passes going in directions never intended. When scrambling for airborne passes the computer wins it 90% of the time - hardly realistic.
It really bugs me that the game has so many shortcomings - I see great potential hiding behind the shambles that is FIFA 2002.
I have only played against the computer on professional settings - it might be more fun playing against a human, but the game just feels so sluggish, incomplete, flawed and annoying, that I doubt it.
Never thought that would say that a FIFA game sucked - but this one really does... DOH!
If you're a die hard FIFA fan you might wanna give this one a go - otherwise hang-on 'till next year's incarnation and see if EA will fix the annoying things (bugs?) that plagues FIFA 2002.

Graphics: 9
Great looking players and stadiums. Smooth animations and player physics.

Sound: 8
Standard EA fare. Apt but repetitive commentators. Excellent music and sound effects.

Control: 5
Sluggish, annoying and frustrating.

Player AI: Are you kiddin' - what AI?
Most of the time your defensive players run around like chickens who had their heads cut off - actually I think that headless chickens would do a better and more organized job. Offensive play doesn't suffer from the same degree of stupidity - but is far from perfect.

Frustration factor: 10
Really hits the nail this year - it had me screaming and banging my head against the wall in no time.

I may give it a try later - but I'm afraid that I'll end up hurting someone (probably my self) if I don't stop playing for now.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 12/16/01, Updated 12/16/01