FIFA 07 Review

Going back to EA Sports' FIFA 07 (Do we have to? -Mo), all I can say is that the game is very deceptive. At first, it will seem like the physics have been greatly improved and that the feel of the game is much more natural, and therefore, slightly more resembling a simulation than the previous FIFA games. This is, in fact, untrue, as the gameplay dynamics are straightforward once you get the hang of things. While the control scheme is good, what with the 'C' key being assigned for something resembling a dribbling, the game relies way too much on wing charges and sprints in general, as well as player abilities in those regards. Arsenal's Thierry Henry is able to outrun every single defender with the ball at 'semi-pro' level and then stop with the ball so effectively that the defender stands no chance, so the matter of scoring the goal comes down to simply making the right choice in the penalty box. From 10 meters away, he can turn and shoot, or he can look for an open teammate as he draws more defenders.

Come here, ya big lug!

It's about to cross the line!

The game physics work pretty well (though I couldn't tell the difference between this current-gen version and the next-gen 360 version that I tried in Leipzig), but let's assume for whatever reason that there is one. Regardless, the more natural ball properties and the rougher, more physical positional play (pushing and the shoving with your back turned to the defender) make the game different.

On the other hand, the AI is very predictable and constantly employing the same passing and ball handling options, and as I said, offensively, FIFA 07 is forcing you to play a certain way. This is not good.

Graphically, the designers have spent way too much time on the cinematic camera angles and player close-up pixel-shader effects, which are redundant and completely useless in actual game situation. Performance-wise, FIFA 07 is a mixed bag of blessings. On slower rigs, the close-up shots of players and slo-mo replays will literally run at five frames per second, while the actual game camera will allow for smooth play and steady frame rates. The only problem here for me was trying to hit 'Escape' while I was in the replay mode. Otherwise, the real-time shadows look nice and the weather effects are great and have a decent impact on the properties of the pitch.

In FIFA 07, the offside is calculated much better, so that now you can actually tell when one of your players is offside.

Still, the rather poor feel of the actual shots at goal and the unrealistic way in which goalies catch some of these shots remains very much the trademark of the series.

Serious football fans are still better off sticking with Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer (Winning Eleven stateside). WE offers much more versatility gameplay-wise and it's just a better attempt at a simulation overall.

FIFA 07 might impress at first, but if you stick with it, you'll realize some fundamental things about the game of football are still eluding the developers in their efforts to make a good game.

Regardless of what I say, however, the men at Electronic Arts will keep making money off this franchise as they release a new version like clockwork every 11 months, proving yet again that this game is indeed larger than life and intertwined with more facets of our lives than anyone cares to admit. Here. Ball. Go run after it.