GAME STUDIO DESCRIPTION: Boasting unprecedented visual and audio features, a deep selection of advanced controls, and more than 350 official team and league licenses, FIFA Soccer delivers console quality to the PSP™ handheld entertainment system. Battle your way through Season and Tournament play, or replay famous games as you fight your way out of preset match situations in the Challenges mode. With Mid-Season Scenario and wireless capabilities, FIFA Soccer is the only complete, authentic, and intelligent soccer experience for the PSP system.
Key Features
* Get on the Pitch and Go – Play head-to-head in Friendly, Home, and Away modes. Take to the field in tournament play or customize your own tournament in Challenges, Season, Mid-Season Scenario, and Custom Season modes.
* Mid-Season Scenario Mode – Throw yourself in the middle of the action as you play out the rest of the 2004/2005 season with current real-time team standings.
* Challenges Mode – Master key game scenarios in the newly designed Challenges mode.
* Wireless Head-to-Head Gameplay – Play one-on-one against a friend in multiple game modes.
* EA™ POCKET TRAX – Listen to the rockin’ game soundtrack and watch your favorite music videos via EA™ POCKET TRAX, the built-in player designed exclusively for the PSP.
PLAY: You can play with any of the 350 soccer clubs or international teams. Sadly there is no franchise mode. You can play a season; however what do you have to look forward to once the season is over? It’s not much different than a regular shooter or adventure game because once you finish it there isn’t much to do after its over—unless you are a soccer addict of course.
You can challenge your friends in wireless play, have a one off exhibition game or challenge game. Challenge games allow players to change the course of history when they play in a memorable game from the previous year. The outcome is up to you. Being that I’m not much of a soccer fan this wasn’t all that exciting however I could see how great it would be had it been a football game. So soccer fans will eat this up.
FIFA Soccer controls are very similar to those for the PS2. One problem is the lack of the dual sticks that come on the PS2. Instead you have to bounce your thumb from the stick to the d-pad.
You can create-a-player. Mine was little Richie and he was really good—but very tall. I’m not sure why but he’s great on the head-butts and slide tackles. You can also move players around to different teams. There are tons of unlockables that are available and give you new stadiums, uniforms, soccer balls, and the ability to play at night. Very cool.
GRAPHICS: Each uniform is detailed with their colors and symbols. Even those players you might be familiar with are distinguishable from the others. The problem is that the players are pixilated and pale in comparison to the console games. From well above the stadium, where you spend most of your time playing, you barely noticed the jagged edges and it never really ruins the enjoyment.
SOUND: The commentary is very good, however it is the soundtrack that shines. It’s not a soundtrack that one fan will like and the rest will hate. There is a great mix of music and you might find some band that catches your ear you’ve never even heard before.
FRANKLY: Amazingly EA Sports over-delivered on a game that could have easily been a lesser release and still very good.
+ Richie Wright
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