FIFA Soccer 2004

"I'm giving it a 7, but only because of all the major licenses...the game itself stinks worse than a pound of week old horse manure"

Here we go again, the long waited arrival for the latest installment of EA Sport's annual Fifa series is finally over. Football fans, like me, all around the world will be excited by the massive player/team licenses, the numerous modes of play and top notch and graphics and presentation the series is renowned for. After all. that's what football games are all about right? Right???

Blah...the Fifa franchise proves yet again why it's no match for the Pro Evolution Soccer series....there's just no friggin' gameplay here!

Graphics - 8/10

The graphics were alright. Not really a vast improvement since 2003, but there were some really nice moments this time around; like when you score a goal sometimes they show a closeup of the crowd going up in a roar, good touch. The player animations are fluid and a lot of the faces are quite recognizable (Just look at Philip Cocu =D). But there's a decided lack of realism in the movements, especially when you shoot. The players often shoot in the middle of their running motions, and it looks really unbalanced and awkward. Kudos for the arguments that take place when somebody puts in a rough tackle though.

Sound - 9/10

Top notch once again, if it's one thing Fifa games just cannot be faulted for it's the sound. The commentary is excellent. The crowd is really quite vocal. There are a plethora of team chants. It's really quite nice playing as my favourite club and hearing ''Barca! Barca!'' in the background XD. The soundtrack is nothing I care for personally (the usual techno/rock/dance music), but it's well chosen and nothing that bugs or annoys.

Gameplay - 3/10

Ahhh, here we have the perennial qualm surrounding this series, and I'm sorry to say, this time around it's really, really bad. This game retains all the bads of the previous Fifa games and adds one or two major ones of it's own. The ball control is still unrealistic (although to a lot lesser degree). Defending is still a hassle rather than a part of the game. And there's still no option to make in depth changes to formation or strategy.

Not to mention poor AI; the keepers are abysmal in this game. You can shoot from anywhere in the opposition half and hope to score. Horrible passing; you have no control over the speed or accuracy of normal passes. It's really much more difficult completing simple 5 yard passes than scoring spectacular goals. 90% of all passes I make so far are intercepted by the opposition. The other 10% are rendered useless by their extreme slowness. Which brings me to my next gripe.

Speed. This game is slow. And when I say slow, I mean like a crippled turtle with a urine infection slow. Sprinting is awkward and unresponsive. You'll basically be forced to do everything at normal or (the latest useless ''innovation'' by EA) walking speed. And there's a reason for that, there's a lot of emphasis in this game on off the ball player runs. Which is quite innovative or quite annoying depending on which way you look at it. On the one hand, it gives a ton of options for making defense piercing runs and reveling in the satisfaction of making and scoring a goal entirely on your own part. On the other hand it makes the gameplay too complex and sacrifices the speed and flowing nature of the game. Football is a fast and frivolous game, and you wouldn't be able to tell that by playing Fifa 2004. This stuff would make your grandmother yawn.

Presentation - 9/10

Not much to be said here. The usual flashiness is here, coupled with more modes and licenses than you can shake a big stick at. The soon to be released Creation Centre also offers complete freedom to make alterations to the players/teams/kits etc as you see fit. It's all good.

Overall - 7/10

Yeah inspite of all it's flaws it still gets a decent 7/10. Why? Simply because the extras this game offers are unparalleled. And I'm looking directly at Konami when I say this. Year in year out EA make ridiculously unrealistic and uninnovative football games that sell like crazy. Just because of the official licenses. And it leaves die hard football fans, like me, in the middle pulling our hair out. I can't play this crap after having played PES3, but I can't keep myself from all the goodies this game offers either. Either EA need to start making better football sims, or Konami need to start buying major licenses. I can't take much more of this torture T_T

Oh and in case you're wondering whether you should buy this game or not, well that depends. If you: haven't played the PES series/just don't like it (ha, idiot :P)/ are a casual football fan, this game will keep you happy for the next year or so. Otherwise, it's your decision, I myself find it worth to have my way with Barcelona for a few seasons.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 11/13/03