FIFA Soccer 2005

good
key review info
  • Game: FIFA Soccer 2005
  • Platform: Playstation
  • Show system requirements
  • Gamepad support: N/a
  • Reviewed on:

Unlike Konami's Winning Eleven arch rival series (known as Pro Evolution Soccer in Europe), whose success largely rests on managing to capture the feel of the sport with its excellent gameplay, EA Sports' fully licensed FIFA titles have always been known for their focus on graphics and arcade-like gameplay. EA's attempt to emulate some of its opponent's strengths with FIFA 2004 only succeeded in making it feel cumbersome and unfinished, but the 2005 edition not only takes care of these issues but successfully adds new ones, marking a huge improvement for the series in terms of what matters most: gameplay. It's still not in the same league as its opponent, but it certainly is a stride in the right direction.

Gameplay In terms of the actual gameplay, one of the most notable changes the game has undergone is to the soccer ball itself, which has a profound effect on the whole gameplay experience. It's still spherical, don't worry. The ball is an independent entity subject to the laws of physics now, no longer magically attached to the foot of the player in its possession, which makes passing and ball control take on a much more important role, just like in the real soccer game.

There have been a number of wonderful additions to the control scheme that take full advantage of the new ball physics. The most important by far is the "first touch" system, which gives you the ability to determine how your players control the ball at the exact moment it reaches them. This is a very nice touch, as it allows you to react to the positioning of defensive players and get a chance to quickly pass to another player, break down the field, or get a clean strike on the net. Playing the realistic passing style of real soccer has never been more feasible and satisfying.

Another addition to the control system is the ability to perform intuitive dribbling moves for a bit of finesse, which ties into the "first touch" system superbly. This allows you to improvise more often, to play creatively, and it's really up to you to exploit any defensive lapses and create scoring opportunities. All players have attributes such as creativity, ball control and dribbling that influence their ability to pull such moves off successfully, but it's possible to perform at lest some sort of fancy trick with practically anyone.

Yet another addition is the possibility to gracefully lob the ball over obstacles, be it the opponent's back line or any foolishly advancing keepers, which adds a whole new dimension to the gameplay. Speaking of goalkeepers, this time they really know how to block and hold onto the ball when the need arises, which provides for more authentic scoring results than before. The low scoring results may not appeal to some gamers, but fans of the sport will surely love it.

You can play a more active role in the positioning of your team by assuming control of a second player if you prefer, using the "off-the-ball" control system introduced in FIFA 2004. Sending your strikers on runs into the penalty area while you're in the possession of the ball with another player is as easy as pressing a single button. The same off-the-ball control is available during throw-ins and corners, only you're able to control any of three players and move them around while the opponent attempts to mark you with three of his.

In terms of gameplay options, as we've become accustomed by now, FIFA 2005 offers a wealth of them, as well as a huge lineup of teams and rosters from all over the world, totaling around 11000 players. All the generic modes from the previous games are in there, ranging from quick matches to tournaments and a much improved career mode in which you're likely to spend most of your time when playing solo. You are also given the possibility to create your own tournaments, and to customize minor player appearance options in the create-a-player mode, feature that had been left out in the last two games.

In the career mode you assume control of a team from the lower division of a certain world region, and you have to work your way to the top of the soccer scene. You are initially given a number of management points you can use to improve the skills of the people working for you, which include five coaches specialized in fitness, goalkeeping, defense, midfield and attacking play, a finance department, scouts, as well as a medical team, and you're rewarded with additional points to spend by winning games. The benefits of having a good staff are quite significant, as the fitness coach for example will improve the recovery rates of your players between matches, while good scouts will give you additional information on any players that you're interested in transferring to your team. As you progress through the career, you'll be offered the chance to work for more prestigious teams, and you can take your coaching staff with you when that happens. It's nowhere near the level of complexity of the Football Manager series, but it's a nice addition nonetheless.

The AI is has been improved a little, but it's still far from that of its competitor. You really need to switch players in order to better take control of the game defensively, and there is no midfield whatsoever, allowing attackers to get near the opponent's penalty area almost unchallenged. The defense refuses to join into the flow of play even if you work the ball up very slowly, passes aren't made often enough, and the AI controlled opponents will often pass the ball just for the sake of passing, often giving up favorable positions. The advantage rule which Konami did a great job of implementing in Winning Eleven does not exist in FIFA 2005, the shooting mechanics are still as unsatisfying as ever, and there are plenty of little things that just don't feel right.

To keep your interest from dropping, the game gives you bonus points for completing certain objectives, like winning by a certain number of goals, but the unlockables aren't particularly great.

Video and Audio Visually the game looks considerably better than the previous one, and the most important improvement is to the animations. The new dribbles, tackles and shots look great, and the players pass from one state to another in a fluid, natural manner. All players have authentic uniforms and are more detailed than before, particularly the world's premier players like Ronaldo and Beckham, who have not only accurate faces, but accurate playing styles as well. The crowds that fill the stadiums are quite bland looking, but that's not such a big issue.

The sounds are as good as the looks, especially with the crowds whose chanting and cheering really add to the atmosphere. The game's commentary provided by Ally McCoist and John Motson is quite enjoyable at first, but it inevitably becomes annoying after you hear them drop the same lines over and over again. The eclectic soundtrack contains almost 40 different tracks from all over the world, from reggae and folk to rock 'n' roll, and you have the option of turning off any of them should they not be to your liking.

Multiplayer FIFA 2005 can be played online, where you can participate in tournaments with up to seven players. It has a bit of lag at times, but thankfully it doesn't happen that often. The game also has offline play, where two players can go head-to-head on the same console.

Conclusion FIFA 2005 is undoubtedly a good soccer game, with authentic teams and players, and sporting a few nice, unique features, but if you're looking for an authentic gameplay experience, Winning Eleven is a much better choice.

story 0
gameplay 7
concept 7
graphics 8
audio 8
multiplayer 7
final rating 7.9
Editor's review
good