This has been the review I have been waiting for, these guys IMO give the best unbias reviews and have been brutally honest on FIFA games in the past. I expected maybe an "8" but a "9"? WOW!

As a former PES fan (that is until Konami starts appreciating their customers) I knew I wasn't crazy, I think FIFA is absolutely great.

http://reviews.operationsports.com/reviews.aspx?game=fifa07360

Look at these 360 sports reviews:
http://reviews.operationsports.com/reviewsindex.aspx

My review summary:

Gameplay: 7.5 (big improvement especially ball physics. Players bouncing off each other are bad, control has to be a bit more responsive, Headers need more work, aerial game is lacking, AI tweeked a bit, ball sticking to net even at 70 mph gotta go).
Graphics: 8.0 Nice pitches, most stadia look good, Very choppy cut scenes,Guti looks like that guy from "In the Mouth of Madness", Bernabeu doesn't have Marca ads, Orgullo Vikingo banners, banners, spanish flags, etc,)
Audio: 8.0 (nice chants but some are old and nonrelative (i.e: Campeones cahnt in Bernabeu stadium!, glitches during subs, commentary is way in front of play and sometimes get excited by a shot form 90 yards out., overall fairly solid, music tracks are excellent as always)
Online: 10 amazing!
Replay Value: 9.0 (mostly due to online!)
Depth: 7.0 (playing manager mode gets tiring because there are no trophy celebrations (inexcusable), you play all away game sin same stadium, lack of leagues, cup tournaments, training, customization.
Overall: 8.2

WOW! an 8.2, last time you did this I believe you put this game in the 7 range.

It's strange cause I averaged out the scores posted above and I feel it doesn't deserve an 8.2 overall...weird. I think the online mode really really helped. Online aside, it's a 7

It's strange cause I averaged out the scores posted above and I feel it doesn't deserve an 8.2 overall...weird. I think the online mode really really helped. Online aside, it's a 7

I so beg to differ, gameplay wise I give it a 8.6

I so beg to differ, gameplay wise I give it a 8.6
So would I as its not perfect and does have a couple bad parts, but the bad parts are nowhere near as bad as I have seen in other highly praised for its gameplay soccer games *cough PES cough*.

deftones man! I see Werder are losing 2-0 at the Nou Camp! Sux! I was hoping Werder would win....fat chance. Gameplaywise I give Fifa a 7.5, PES a 9.

You'd give that scripted game a 9 in gameplay................PES is a joke to even look at after watching the player and ball movement in this new FIFA.

You'd give that scripted game a 9 in gameplay................PES is a joke to even look at after watching the player and ball movement in this new FIFA.

I give WE9, a 9.0 That's what I meant. I just feel that there is alot of freedom for the players, like they can run in 28 directions, you can actually do headers correctly and low crosses are far more realistic and have power behind it. What I don't like bout Fifa 2007 is the fact that players bounce off each other like it were bumper pool. Players like Robinho are impossible to use. I know he's not the strongest, but why does he always fall as if he were 10 kilos? Also, responsiveness needs work and themomentum needs to be slowed a bit, otherwise you keep running past players at 50 kilometers per hour. That said, it's a decent playing footy game. I particularly like the turns, passing (except some aerial), animations. Hopefully Fifa gameplay will get a 9 from me in 2008

I just feel that there is alot of freedom for the players, like they can run in 28 directions
Mate, PES/WE is only 8 directional movement. Well 16 if using the sprint button, but this is no different from FIFA 07 on the 360.

Mate, PES/WE is only 8 directional movement. Well 16 if using the sprint button, but this is no different from FIFA 07 on the 360.

It feels more than 8! I think it is loser, more fluid overall. It's not too hard for EA to really put out a true 9.0 Fifa in 2008. The engine is superb, animations, ball physics (best in any sport game I've played).

The engine is superb, animations, ball physics (best in any sport game I've played).
Well, I guess I can't be upset because at least you agree on that part. :ewan:

Well, I guess I can't be upset because at least you agree on that part.

I like FIFA 2007 alot. Especially compared to the prior fifa's..which were horrible. The players moved as if they were on ice skates, the ball moved as if it were a puck with a ball costume on and it was soooo scripted. Thi sFifa is a different story. Being that it is the first form this new engine, it's a good job. I have extremely high expecatations for 2008.

I gotta admit, it was weird playing PES the other day after playing FIFA for so long, it is clear in mind that these are two different animals, it's amazing, they play the same sport yet they play totally different, PES has the edge in the freeness of gameplay, where pretty much if you can think it, you can do it, whereas FIFA is still alil' stiff so IMO PES wins hands down, which is just an incredible feat for PES but sometimes that isn't always good, it becomes more about the user than the players attributes displayed which takes away from the individualness on the pitch BUT Fifa has a different type of freeness, it is more about the player's attributes than the user, which by itself isn't good either, at times it can become frustrating and feel like you are not in total control, but if they can find that median with PES style and stay true to FIFA, it will be EUPHORIC! because you can clearly see 11 individual entities all with strengths and weaknesses on the pitch, I love the AI in this game, you can distinctly feel the differences in players attributes, Cannavaro is freakin' impossible to get by, Grosso is all over his zone and Ronaldinho is almost impossible to stop, not to mention Ronaldo is at times greedy and a one man show on the field but pesky as hell just like in reality, this game clearly captures the inner essence of the players like no game I have seen before, it has the sort of freeness PES doesn't in that in PES over 60% of my passes I make with my back towards the oppositions goal but in FIFA it is so easy to turn around and challenge the defenders or create more space for yourself or your teamates to pass to just by merely holding on to the ball, you have more space to work with gives you time to catch your breath and strategize but the games still keeps a fast pace and flowing, how is that?, I can actually see plays developing, there was a time when I was getting burned like hell on the through balls, breakaways splitting my defence, but now I can see the holes forming in my "D" and I would respond by plugging it or I can actually maually play the offside trap, now I would average allowing 1 or 2 breakaways a game, you have to be patient on defence, everybody keep to their assignments, if you play PES style you will get burned whether it being creating holes in your "D" or just running your team ragged and don't have enough juice by the second half, this game is a true sim in every sense of the word, You can acutually feel momentum in this game and even feel the shift, you can see and feel your teams get tired, they get sluggish, passes aren't as crisp, not as fast, tired defenders start to make mistakes (10 foot one touch passes, not a good idea), therefore it forces you to become strategic, changes your game, you can feel the difference in a really good teams from average teams from the pass accuracy to the way your strikers disappear on the field. I absolutely love this game where it's the 70th minute and I am down by 1 goal just finished patiently defending and now got the ball back, I feel like a general marching down the field with his troops looking to tie the score. I love that feeling. The animation IMO is not good or great, it is absolutely spectacular! not given enough credit, very underrated at times, to say the animation in this game is "good" is a travesty, every game you swear you saw a new frame of animation, it's just that great, almost everything you see on the real pitch you saw in this game, I love when you have the ball and you beat a flatfooted defender and seeing his little leg sticking out as you skip by him, sometimes clipping you or not, Some of the hard fouls are awesome to watch and shooting in this game is absolultely sweet and smooth as a baby's behind.

FIFA IMO has done a great job putting the intricacy of football into this game, it is far from perfect, such as dribbling can be a tad easier but not like PES, I love FIFA's way you have to have a good dribbler where technique and strategy is involved, get your man out of position or flat footed. but all in all it's a great start.

if you play PES style you will get burned

To say the least. I have still to shake off my sprinting! Too used to PES style. Little by little. I like your assesment Luvpes, it's pretty spot on. although my gripes (gameplaywise) are:

1. Players bouncing off eash other like bumper pool. Not realistic
2. No dummys, special moves, stepovers. How many stepovers does Robinho do in real life? and Ronaldo? Christiano?, etc. Probably 4 or 5 times minimal, yet these are not included in Fifa 2007! They said the moves would be context sensitive and it is a lie. I've done the whole master league and bought attributes, suped up Robinho to 99 dribbling as well as Ronaldo and still I haven't seen context based special moves. It's nonexistant.
3. "weak" players shouldn't fall 70% of challenges.

2. No dummys, special moves, stepovers. How many stepovers does Robinho do in real life? and Ronaldo? Christiano?, etc. Probably 4 or 5 times minimal, yet these are not included in Fifa 2007! They said the moves would be context sensitive and it is a lie. I've done the whole master league and bought attributes, suped up Robinho to 99 dribbling as well as Ronaldo and still I haven't seen context based special moves. It's nonexistant.

I have to strongly disagree with you on this point. I do plently of stepovers and plenty of skill moves. IMO, I'm more than glad they got rid of the scripted trick stick and other scripted skill moves because thats what they all were..scripted. Are you really telling me you have never dribbled up to a defender and done say, stuck one foot towards the ball in one driection, the defender doesnt move, then you move your foot again and the defender starts to come after you that direction and then you snap back the other directionand blast past them. I'd say you are not finessing the joystick enough if you havent seen any of these.

I haven't noticed any. Maybe it's the camera angle I play on? Hey, email the admin from fifa-pro.com. Read below:

News - Change Of Players - 12-05-2006 23:34

Today a new player has enterd the league to replace one of the 2 newly available slots.
Ripton - Has taken over arsenal as BlackMagick has been ejected for exploiting.
There is the spot of reading left to fill, I have sent out a few e-mails to people who have applied after we were filled up. To take up the remaining space of reading. If anyone has a friend who would like it get in touch ASAP.
Due to this, all games that were previously played vs Arsenal and Reading need to be replayed ASAP you can get in touch with Ripton at any time to catch up. And when the 2nd new player is announced you will have to do the same with him.
I would like these matched caught up quickly, hope this is not a problem.

Thanks

I emailed them, but I don't want to play with reading. I want to play with Werder or Bayern, so I think I am going to have to wait until the next season.

Well being that all the games played by reading will have to be replayed you can probably switch teams. Hopefully.

I hope!

"BlackMagick has been ejected for exploiting"?

Yea, something about editing teams , using a glitch to be speedier, etc. Apparently everyone on his team ran at 6o mph.. Fifa videogame cheating is the equivalent of real life doping! Kind of cool actually, in a bizarre way. Even cooler that he got caught. Would have been great and realistic if they just deducted 10 points from him, as in real life.

But how did he edit teams, every time I play FIFA 07 on live it makes me load the online roster?

To say the least. I have still to shake off my sprinting! Too used to PES style. Little by little. I like your assesment Luvpes, it's pretty spot on. although my gripes (gameplaywise) are:

1. Players bouncing off eash other like bumper pool. Not realistic
2. No dummys, special moves, stepovers. How many stepovers does Robinho do in real life? and Ronaldo? Christiano?, etc. Probably 4 or 5 times minimal, yet these are not included in Fifa 2007! They said the moves would be context sensitive and it is a lie. I've done the whole master league and bought attributes, suped up Robinho to 99 dribbling as well as Ronaldo and still I haven't seen context based special moves. It's nonexistant.
3. "weak" players shouldn't fall 70% of challenges.

Skill moves

In FIFA 07 on XBOX 360, dribbling will enable you to trigger skill moves and beat defending players.

Brutal Stop: [View Quicktime Video] By pressing the RT or RB button without giving any direction with the left stick, the player abruptly stops. This helps keep control of the ball and unbalance the defender by abruptly changing the pace. RT makes the player stop and maintain the direction they were originally travelling. RB makes the player stop automatically face the opponent goal. [View Quicktime Video]

Change Lane: [View Quicktime Video] Release the direction control and turn 90 degree left or right as the player is slowing down. This is best employed when a defending player is approaching the player in possession from directly ahead at pace and with a little bit of space between the two players.

Knock On: [View Quicktime Video] Tapping the right analog stick while dribbling the gamer will be able to knock the ball into space. This move is best used on the Counter Attack or when a defending player is about to tackle to either unbalance the opponent and beat them or draw a foul.

Stop and Go: [View Quicktime Video] Hold the sprint button and release the left stick while dribbling and the player will briefly stop. Move in the original direction again with the left analog stick and the player will perform a Stop and Go as he will move on sprinting again.

Feint: [View Quicktime Video] In the middle of a 45 degree turn, use the right analog stick to flick the ball in another 45 degree direction [View Quicktime Video]. This is difficult to perform but is very effective to dribble past an opponent.

Context Skill Moves: In FIFA 07 on XBOX 360, the fact that the ball is completely independent enables the gamer to perform a myriad of unique and unscripted skill moves based on context (the player attributes, the position of the ball and the gamer input) of any given situation.

For example, the ball could be chipped over the head of the receiving player or he could juggle the ball several times after performing a successful trap. The more you play the more you will be able to see and reproduce those unique and exciting moves.

I don't think EA lied about context moves. I think you were expecting something else

But how did he edit teams, every time I play FIFA 07 on live it makes me load the online roster?

I found out how on a message board and it makes perfect sense. I won't say so that people start doing the same all over the place. The speed thing is obvious. You get a feeling, you'll know when it happens.

Knock on, Brutal stop,stop and go aren't skill moves. As for, context based??? Don't know what context? Robinhos stepovers should be very apparent since he does them everyyy time. Know what I'll do? I'll play on the tightest camera angle to see if I can notice the "moves".

I beg to differ, those are moves just not fancy but they are still moves, the trick is what you can do with them, if done right they can look really sweet

Being that you got a beautiful diving header against me :rolleyes: , I have no choice but to believe you. Gotta get some games in soon. Are you gonna watch the Champions League matches today? By the way, I was playing agame at the Velodrome at dusk, I must say the graphics are amazing! Not all the stadiums and pitches look equally great IMO though. I complain about this game alot but damn do I enjoy it. I've never felt like this about a game. Usually, when I get annoyed at a game I tend to quit playing it alltogether...not this one. I am determined to be King....well let me not take it that far

I'll call you king once you figure out how to do headers, how does that sound? :funny:

Being that you got a beautiful diving header against me :rolleyes: , I have no choice but to believe you. Gotta get some games in soon. Are you gonna watch the Champions League matches today? By the way, I was playing agame at the Velodrome at dusk, I must say the graphics are amazing! Not all the stadiums and pitches look equally great IMO though. I complain about this game alot but damn do I enjoy it. I've never felt like this about a game. Usually, when I get annoyed at a game I tend to quit playing it alltogether...not this one. I am determined to be King....well let me not take it that far

Nope I really wanted to see the games today...sigh....