FIFA Soccer 2004

"Mediocrity at it's Best"

Past FIFA games have continually set the bar for how a soccer game should look, feel and play. But as the years go on EA seems to grow complacent with their FIFA games. Don't get me wrong this isn't a horrible game but it could you some polish in several places.

Graphics: 8

This game has pretty incredible graphics with amazingly realistic player models and uniforms. It also has incredible stadiums with stunning attention to details. But it fails in the way the crowds are portrayed as 2-d models.

Sound: 4

It may be just me but many of the songs just get annoying too quickly and seem to drag the game down. The one plus side is that it does feature many different artists but they are mostly techno and I attribute this to the fact that this sport is mainly a European played one and their mainstream music is techno.

Gameplay: 6

To start off I would like to discuss this year's new feature called Off the Ball controls. It basically helps the player control his teammates to get open for an easier pass or a possible way to create an opening for a great shot. But I never was able to get to grips with this feature and only really like a simple free flowing game where I can pass the ball around without too many difficult controls. My final quirk is that there is such a distance between the difficulty levels it's ridiculous. For instance I find that Semi-Pro is too easy but Pro is too hard and that the difference is ridiculous and that this is some thing EA should have worked on.

Extras: 7

The improved Training mode is a plus for this game because it improves over it's predecessors by fleshing it out by allowing the player to improve on the Off the Ball controls. The greater number of teams and leagues helps this game. Another good side of this game is that there is a great number of unlockables from different uniforms for each major team as well as being able to unlock extras for the game by playing other EA games that are from the 2004 season.

In conclusion the FIFA series is a great one but has suffered with this installment. It isn't a horrible game but it is at the height of mediocrity.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 08/25/04