2006 FIFA World Cup : PS2

Visual and audio treat

Visually, the FIFA series is still looking great. Character animations are superb, with over 100 players modelled on their real life counterparts. The accurate reconstruction of the 12 World cup stadiums, complete with superb on pitch lighting and shadowing techniques, are superbly executed. The seats in the stadiums are packed full of animated flag waving crowds who react to the action on the field.

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The 2006 FIFA World cup soundtrack boasts 35 excellent tunes from a variety of bands across the Globe, including a tune from the ageing new romantics, Depeche Mode. I’m a huge fan of game soundtracks and EA rarely disappoint in their sport’s titles, their latest offering is no exception. Crowd noise is excellent and, for the most part, runs alongside the action on the pitch, you’ll even hear England’s brass band piping up when you’re on the offensive. The in game commentary however tends to go off on a tangent, at times you’ll wonder if they’re watching the same match.

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Although there’s nothing revolutionary about EA’s latest offering, it’s a reliable footballing experience that concentrates on capturing the speed and flair of the game rather than the intricaces of modern day football. It’s a huge improvement on FIFA : Road to the World cup, but still lacks the superb gameplay experience of the Pro Evolution soccer series. Once again, there’s room for improvement.

Pros
First touch improvement
Great, easy to use menu systems
Excellent graphics & sound
It's the World cup!

Cons
Few changes to previous title
Style over substance
Automatic player switching
Too easy to score
Historical matches are a waste of time

The best World cup game from Electronic Arts so far.

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