I've been a huge fan of the fifa series and 2001 was no different, i was so looking forward to this years effort.... now after playing it im so bitterly disappointed. EA seem to have put every single pound of effort into the graphics and neglected everything else yet again.
First the AI, its absolutely appaling, the thru ball option is completely useless since the players dont make intelligent runs into the box, they all just gather round eachother in a little clump, so using the thru ball results in either a long pass straight to the opposition or a short pass to the opposition. Next up is the Offside rule yet again rearing its ugly head!! its not hard to get it right, im sick of being called offside when the player is so not offside. Then theres the opposition when they get the ball, why are they allowed to do whatever they want to you? be it shoulder charge, tackle, sliding tackle, rip your legs from under you, punch you? and the referee does nothing? Absolutely nothing, yet the simplist of tackles on the cpu results in a free kick 99% of the time and 9 times outts 10 a yellow card. Every time i run into the box its the same old story, defender comes across and bang over i go and the ball is back downfield again. And talking of defenders why are they so crap? the opposition runs at them and they all run away, try as you might to get the ball they just sprint off into the distance hurdling your tackles no problem and bury the ball into the net. However when its your turn you sprint towards the box and all of a sudden you SLOW DOWN!!! and 5 defenders all surround you and get the ball!!! i hate that, what gives with the slowing down business? The keepers are still superhuman, a long up n under always seems to arc straight into the keepers hands! wow he knows exactly where you were gonna put it. The power bar is a really good idea very badly implemented, the timing is rubbish, the lag is so bad between pressing the button and unleashing the shot that the opposition has the tackle in no problems, it also makes taking free kicks & corners a nightmare. Also why is it you cant do a complete wing to wing pass of the ball? its rubbish, try to cross it and it ends up travelling about 2 inches to the nearest player. And finally the damn crowd noise is crap again!!! i really wish EA would just stick a microphone in a real stadium for a couple of games. I can guarantee the derby between Sunderland & Newcastle doesnt produce a dull whisper when the ball hits the back of the net.
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I disagree a little bit about the thru pass. I can make beautiful pass using thru pass when one of my player is in an open position, typically on the wings.

Besides from the problem you mentioned, I also fell that the speed of the ball in passing is a bit unrealistically fast.
Anyone else feels that?

Stop winging!!! Just because your so **** that you can't score a goal.... you have to blame EA. I like the difficulty and the challenge, it makes it more enjoyable than wining 10 nill everytime.

I have played about 36 games of Fifa 2001 at the professional level. I find that the game this year is very good. I have seen my players passing with the outside of the foot, lobbing into open space for my players to chase the ball down the flanks. I have also seen my top class striker miss a sitter. My midfielders have also score from open play. Opposing goalies would not allow you to try the same style of scoring thrice. The best thing so far is the highest scoreline I have achieved so far is still 3-0. To me, that is realistic. I played with a 4 mins halves for my games. The only hitch in this game is that the chief stiker still remains the top scorer.
I have read in this forum where gamers achieve scoreline of 6-1 and above and criticism on the gameplay and how the game is scripted. Honestly, which video game is not scripted. The gameplay has been vastly improved. My conclusion of this game that it is worth to have on your hard disk.

i'm agree with you SocerFan, this game is much much better than f2000, i love it to play, they made much more diferences than the last one BUT, I HAVE A LAN IN HOME WITH A 3 PC AND IN THIS GAME EASPORTS SUCS, ALWAYS WE BEEN PLAYING COMPETITIONS WITH MY FRIEND AND WAS EXCELENT, BUT NOW WE CAN ONLY PLAY FRIENDLY GAME BY LAN....WHATS UP, FIFA 1996 TO 2000 YOU COULD PLAY IT TTOURNAMENTS, NOW IS CRAP, ONLY FRIENDY....SNIFFF

[This message has been edited by SWINEPOX (edited 11-04-2000).]