Let's use this thread to post and read what gaming mags and other websites are saying about FIFA 2004. Only from October, since it seems to be the most updated version of FIFA they are reviewing. Please put in the proper credits or links.

Thanks.

http://uk.playstation.com/news/newsStory.jhtml?storyId=104555_en_GB_NEWS&linktype=SSL

"FIFA 2004 hits form"
Tim Clark, Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine
06 Oct 2003

The latest instalment in EA's long-running series shakes off a couple of niggles to play an absolute blinder.
Earlier this year Official PlayStation 2 Magazine was invited over to Vancouver on a scouting mission to assess the fitness of FIFA 2004. The report which came back was worrying... Worrying in the same way that little Mickey Owen picking up an injury before the crucial Turkey match is worrying. Foremost among our concerns was the new-fangled Off The Ball system. This comprised a suite of controls used to manipulate players positioned away from the main action. Its most controversial instance involved pressing a shoulder button to zoom the camera out and select from three possible 'receivers', each with a different symbol hovering over their heads. Now just hit the corresponding button to launch a laser-guided pass. Incredibly disorientating and more than a little gimmicky. We left muttering 'John Madden' under our breath. But the really worrying thing was the core gameplay - pass, move, tackle, shoot - which simply didn't feel like football.

So when the review code arrived in the office last week there was no small sense of trepidation. Could EA really turn around its flagship sports franchise in such a relatively short space of time? Oh yes. The finished version is almost unrecognisable from the build we played in July, and it definitely looks likes the development team has listened to the suggestions we made at the time. The biggest improvements have been made to the basic game. By EA's own admission, the gameplay only really became genuinely enjoyable in the last couple of weeks. As things stand now FIFA 2004 plays like a slightly woollier version of PES3. Which might sound like a backhanded compliment, but true PS2 footie fans will appreciate the significance.

The passing is crisp, players make intuitive runs and - perhaps most importantly - the shooting system (which was practically non-existent in the preview version) works a treat. The emphasis is very much on recreating the beautiful game as authentically as possible, which means the nine-nil drubbings of year's gone by are a thing of the past. However, there's still plenty of scope for flair. Tweak the right analogue stick and your player will shimmy past a challenge, although as you'd expect the chances of the move coming off are relative to the skill of the player in question. So don't bother trying it with Heskey. Here's another neat touch. Hold down the R2 button and your player will bring the ball under close control. You can now roll it around, hopefully tantalisingly out of the opposition's reach.

What then, of the Off The Ball Mode? Well, it's now being pitched more discreetly as a set of advanced techniques to be used by expert players. Generally though, it's also much improved. Where the jostling routines used at set pieces used to resemble a brawling mini-game, now the way the players fight for space feels like a fresh new take on dead ball situations. As for the remote receiver passing, this too has been toned down. The camera no longer swings out, and instead you're able to toggle through different passing options and then select and control the chosen teammate using the right stick. Still slightly bewildering, but at least it now feels like it could be useful during matches. Extended play will reveal all.

Realistically though, in raw gameplay terms FIFA 2004 isn't likely to surpass the unalloyed genius of PES3. However, that might not matter because, as a package, this year's FIFA is crammed with all-star quality. First off there's the licensing. Being able to play as any team from the Premiership down to Division Three is likely to be a huge selling point for UK gamers. Top flight clubs have their own authentic crowd chants, and the attention to detail extends down the leagues, with accurate strips and player likenesses throughout. Then there's the prospect of online play. We've yet to test the network mode, but rest assured it's in there and you're going to be able to take on challengers from all over Europe and set up your own league competitions.

Finally, there's the comprehensive management mode, which will give yours truly the chance to reverse Wimbledon's cataclysmic decline and, eventually, lead the Crazy Gang into Europe. Well, erm... that's the plan. Expect a massive FIFA 2004 update, including first impressions of online play, nearer to release. But for now the good news is that this year's championship is definitely going down to the wire. Game on.

*FIFA 2004 will be released on 31 October.

Wow!

I knew 100% it wouldn't play as good as PES3, but for them to say it's just a bit woollier, which to me sounds just a bit below the PES3 standards is brilliant!

And FIFA 2004 looks more like football (graphics) then PES3, certainly has more licensing and better sound and now it seems to have great gameplay just a bit below PES3 standards…lets hope the demo shows this! :)

Nick.

thats nice news

wow that really cheered me up that did!

and they only played for some hours so sure its better than PES! if they already can tell its close! this is going to be the best football ever!! i cant wait to play that god damn demo NOW!!

Originally posted by Mads Holm
and they only played for some hours so sure its better than PES! if they already can tell its close! this is going to be the best football ever!! i cant wait to play that god damn demo NOW!!

nah don't get carried away mate. i won't be better than PES in terms of actual gameplay on the pitch, I can almost state that as a fact. but lets not develop this into FIFA v PES. remember, there's already a forum for that.

so what if it is not better than WE 7. i do not care and i dunno why other people should. i have WE 7 and love it but as long as FIFA 2004 is a quality game i will buy that also. things are looking good. some people go on like you have to choose one or the other. its silly!!

can you guys please stop comparing FIFA and PES?? we don't want to start fights again

Originally posted by Lennon
can you guys please stop comparing FIFA and PES?? we don't want to start fights again

you're asking people to stop comparing arsenal to man utd.

ok guys forget comaring, let's talk bout FIFA.
anyway, Brilliant news for a brilliant game, I can't wait for it, maybe I will commit a suicide if it comes in november.

who gives a s*** about PES3 or that other game (dont even know what it's called) Do any of these games have real players...NO! Do any of these games have real leagues...NO!! Do any of these games have real stadiums...NO!!! I will always buy FIFA over any soccer game for the one and only reason that matters... AUTHENTICITY!!!

Originally posted by nickclubman
Wow!

I knew 100% it wouldn't play as good as PES3, but for them to say it's just a bit woollier, which to me sounds just a bit below the PES3 standards is brilliant!

And FIFA 2004 looks more like football (graphics) then PES3, certainly has more licensing and better sound and now it seems to have great gameplay just a bit below PES3 standards…lets hope the demo shows this! :)

Nick.

But what about the weather Nick? ;) JK mate.

Originally posted by Matt Holme
But what about the weather Nick? ;) JK mate.


:kader:

lol :D I've got over it, hehe.

ye I'm tryin o forget weather too !!:mrpimp:

Originally posted by nickclubman
:kader:

lol :D I've got over it, hehe.
dynamic weather ;) u have loadz of thread about dynamic weather at ea fifa 2004 forums...

Originally posted by mapliopl
Here's another neat touch. Hold down the R2 button and your player will bring the ball under close control. You can now roll it around, hopefully tantalisingly out of the opposition's reach.



WoooooooooooooooooooooW!!!

Man this sounds so Zidanisticly good!!!!. Ill love that maneuver.

After hearing that review...im very happy. I was very sure that the game wiould br not better than WE7 in terms of GP, but,,like i said before..."if EA can just do a gameplay very close ot the WE series,, plus the graphics and licences,,,,this game could surely stand against WE"

Now im veyr very sure that ill enjoy this game A LOT. If im still playinf FIFA crap 2003 sometimes,, then ill play ths game foreva.


But the main main point of all..... EA now can start to build fifa 2005 and the upcoming games with this succesfull gameplay,,,and we can expect better games for the future!. *crossing fingers*

Sounds promising thus far, but so did FIFA2003... i just hope this baby has replay value as opposed to playing half way thru a season and been bored senseless coz the game is too easy

So, we are getting close to a release date for the UK, I still am not sure for the release date on the US. The easports web site says november, while the football comunity web site says 24th october...

Anyway, I'd like to read the review UK's magazine did for FIFA 2004, not the one from July or the web one, which I posted here, but the actual magazine article, which I think is coming out in the November issue of OPS2 UK. Whenever you guys get that review, would you put it here, thanks...

FIFA 2004 will be released on 31 October for PC (UK) and 24th PS2 (UK). - Just have to emphasise this :)

Originally posted by nickclubman
Wow!

I knew 100% it wouldn't play as good as PES3, but for them to say it's just a bit woollier, which to me sounds just a bit below the PES3 standards is brilliant!

And FIFA 2004 looks more like football (graphics) then PES3, certainly has more licensing and better sound and now it seems to have great gameplay just a bit below PES3 standards…lets hope the demo shows this! :)

Nick.

you change ur mind about the game like the wind mate...

the last thread i read - you said that u wouldnt be buying the game coz it looks crap!

I know the release dates on the UK, but what about for the USA?

Also, are there any new magazine reviews for FIFA 2004, where they've played the last build? I assume this web site I posted at the beginning of this thread was the newest build, but are they going to print it in a magazine or not? A review like they did for PES3, where they got a 10/10?

What do u think FIFA will get? I'd say a 10/10 based on all you can do with FIFA and the waaaayyyy muuuuch better gameplay...

according to eb games.. is october 29th for consoles and november 5th for pc and gba

here it is:
Score it got: 8.0, 8.5
"FIFA SOCCER 2004
Your arsenal

Earlier this year, Konami finally brought the best soccer franchise stateside - Winning Eleven. Previously, EA Sports had grown complacent with its FIFA series, preferring to tinker with the gameplay instead of honing it to perfection. Now it has built a foundation I think it will successfully add to for years to come.

The series still hasn't found a way to make the ball and player feel like two separate entities. Thus, this game doesn retain some of that "hockey on grass" feel. What helps change this, however, is the Off the Ball controls. You can control offensive runs for players without the ball, letting you orchestrate moves into open space like Claudio Reyna. Some of these methods work better than others. Set plays like corners have been given new life with the ability to fight for positioning with the right analog. Finally, the defensive AI hasn't totally gotten the makeover it should.

This series now has a worthy career mode. You'll get Prestige points as you hit job milestones, and you can even set up a training regimen. There are more teams and leagues than ever, allowing for promotion and relegation. These inclusions really make the game feel like the international drama that it is, and help make FIFA a party that I recommend everybody gets on board with. - KATO

SECOND OPINION
I don't think that there will be any rioting or stampeding surrounding the release of this year's FIFA, but it is better than past efforts and gives football (the real one) fans something to cheer about. The new Off the Ball controls open up the play nicely and Career mode finally have some depth. I still prefer Winning Eleven, but EA is closing the gap."

Doesnt sound too positive about the gameplay (surprise surprise) but hopefully it will be as good as the "Making Of" clips make it out to be.

Let the discussion begin....

That review ABove is from the GameInformer mag

I have never read Game Informer.. so I dont know how reliable their reviews are.. that said.. I dont expect fifa 2004 to be better than pes3 anyway.. so I would say what it sais on the reviews are correct.. but it depends on which build are reviewing on.. one of the beta ones.. or the reviewable code that official ps2 mag got the other day, 8.0 and 8.5 isnt bad anyway.

It is not the score that's important and that stands out, its what they say about it. And im pretty sure a magazine with GI's rep def. reviewed the final version. No way around it, seems like fifa 2003's gameplay (although the vids seem slightly different)

well.. from what I've seen on the vids the gameplay is much improved.. anyway demo will tell

Judging by the unprofessional, a bit newbie and very succinct (not in-depth) style of the review and the ultra-fanboy start of a FIFA review with the "Konami finally brought the best soccer franchise stateside - Winning Eleven", i'd be inclined to give this review no consideration AT ALL...

p.s a review of a fifa final version, consisting of 3 short paragraphs - that's gotta be a joke? wouldn't be surprised if ny4la4 wrote that himself ;)

Are you serious? Grow up... you must be a newbie because I was here for months waiting for this game. Don't kill the messenger, hey what can you do. I just wish EA work on the ball itself more than "dynamic weather" which wasnt even included in it

Originally posted by Ny8La8
Are you serious? I AM
Grow up... grow up?
you must be a newbie because I was here for months waiting for this game. I must be a newbie because you were here waiting for this game? First - i love your logic, 2nd waiting on a forum, posting useless stuff is not much different than waiting outside a forum and not posting at all...(Besides i wouldn't call a newbie some1 who's played each and every fifa game ever created)
Don't kill the messenger, hey what can you. If you read my post again, i was mainly criticising the reviewer as being unprofesional and "fanboy". Now the last part obviously ?! wasn't intended as a dig at you as much as a dig at the weak review
I just wish EA work on the ball itself more than "dynamic weather" which wasnt even included in it Well, first play the game and than talk about what MORE you want, cos right now, asking for MORE effort without having evaluated the current one is pathetic...

p.s on a side note, i got nothing against you posting any fifa reviews - keep em coming. I was simply stating why I wouldn't pay much attention to this particular one...:read:

every review of gameinformer has a section with different comments on:concept,replay value,grapics,playability etc. can u tell us please what these comments r for fifa2004?(they put them under the score)

if the game is crap and nothing is improved we will all be mad!

i have a question.. where did you get the review from? I went to the game informer website.. and it said there is 11 days until the next issue comes out.. do you have a subscription and got it early? btw.. the review is not on the website either..

edit: here is why I said I didnt think it was final code. Official PS2 Magazine, said they got the final code the last week on their preview of final code posted on their website. If Game Informer got that in print, I seriously doubt is from final code.

Originally posted by valioso
i have a question.. where did you get the review from? I went to the game informer website.. and it said there is 11 days until the next issue comes out.. do you have a subscription and got it early? btw.. the review is not on the website either..

edit: here is why I said I didnt think it was final code. Official PS2 Magazine, said they got the final code the last week on their preview of final code posted on their website. If Game Informer got that in print, I seriously doubt is from final code.

I agree with you. I don't think there are any reviews except that on playstation.co.uk website. Besides, he's the guy who is writing the reviews for FIFA in the print version which I assume should be on sale mid-october for the November version...

Now, that being said, I don't think there are any other mags or websites that have played the last build, the final version and wrote reviews for them.

However, if any of you guys find them anywhere (make sure they are a review of the last build), please post them here.

Thanks,

Originally posted by yoyo_911
if the game is crap and nothing is improved we will all be mad!

the game is improved. u can tell by the vids and also the new features they have included.

first off, i would like to say that I dont have the game informer magazine. I was scrolling down the ign boards when on the xbox, gc and ps2 boards, the new game informer reviews were posted. They had several reviews such as the new castlevania, ssx3,espn basketball etc etc. And im 99.9% sure it was accurate because every one on the boards were saying he is reliable. So then i sent him a message and asked him(the person who posted the reviews) if he can summarize the review. He then replied saying that he typed the whole review for me since it was reasonably short. I thanked him, read the review and then posted it here happy that this would be my first review I posted on these boards. So take the review for what its worth, but all in all, its not that serious.....


p.s. i MYSELF hope the review is not true.....

alright.. thanks, Thanks for posting anyway. Hopefully someone will write a review that doesnt seem written by a 15 yr old

Originally posted by breamster
you change ur mind about the game like the wind mate...

the last thread i read - you said that u wouldnt be buying the game coz it looks crap!


Please show me where I typed this, I can't remember lol. :crazyboy:

Maybe I was drunk? :confused:

Nick.

Just finished watching the Ferrari's "show" on F1, and decided to check on with my footie m8s.

I'm really anxious to read the full mag review by OPS2 for the final game. Whenever you guys get it, please post it here.

Thanks

Dec. 2003 EGM score

FIFA 2004- 7.5, 9.0, 8.0 *SILVER*

Originally posted by asesino
Dec. 2003 EGM score

FIFA 2004- 7.5, 9.0, 8.0 *SILVER*

TYPE





IT





OUT



lol :)

Originally posted by asesino
Dec. 2003 EGM score

FIFA 2004- 7.5, 9.0, 8.0 *SILVER*

where did u get that from? It's not on their web site, and if you have the review would you put it here, not just the score?

I will type it up when i get back from work? Didnt have time last night

Dec. 2003 PSM score

PSM gave Fifa 2004 an 8 - Very Good it got, PSM MUST-BUY Bronze

dont have time to type both reviews, EGM's and PSM, but i might scan them

Originally posted by asesino
Dec. 2003 PSM score

PSM gave Fifa 2004 an 8 - Very Good it got, PSM MUST-BUY Bronze

dont have time to type both reviews, EGM's and PSM, but i might scan them

please scan the reviews as soon as you have a chance...

thanks appreciate it...

EGM review:
http://www.geocities.com/twiggyfm6/fifa2004egm.jpg

PSM review:
http://www.geocities.com/twiggyfm6/fifa2004psm.jpg

copy and paste to your browser


this should be a sticky thread, i can just see everybody posting their reviews in a new thread

Originally posted by asesino
EGM review:
http://www.geocities.com/twiggyfm6/fifa2004egm.jpg

PSM review:
http://www.geocities.com/twiggyfm6/fifa2004psm.jpg

copy and paste to your browser


this should be a sticky thread, i can just see everybody posting their reviews in a new thread

thank u very much for the reviews!
the first review is very intresting:"There is a certain tension to the game that makes it exciting,though.When final scores are 1-0 more often than not,you know every move counts out on the field.And that's where EA's game succeeds.You'll find yourself sweating profusely over every intercepted pass and scoring chance you give up" :rockman: also from the same review but from a different person comes the following:"Next year,give me a Create-a-player and enhanced practice mode ,and i could be saying: Winning Eleven who?"

Originally posted by The Don
nah don't get carried away mate. i won't be better than PES in terms of actual gameplay on the pitch, I can almost state that as a fact. but lets not develop this into FIFA v PES. remember, there's already a forum for that.

Hahaha, could you be any more wrong, Fifa 2004 tops PES in every single way, and thats a fact now.

^^ pretty funny guy

Originally posted by Matt Holme
But what about the weather Nick? ;) JK mate.

hehe Don't remind us man, it was the most upseting thing for me. I mean imagin player ball control gets effected from rain, that was going to be awsome, any how.... I love it soo far, can't wait for the full release.

Originally posted by SkylineGTR
Hahaha, could you be any more wrong, Fifa 2004 tops PES in every single way, and thats a fact now.

er, no. I mainly play Fifa, being PC based, but even PES 1 has better gameplay than Fifa 04.

One of the largest newspapers in Norway has reviewed the x-box version of FIFA 2004. Gave it 5 out of 6. You can read the review here: http://fredag.dagbladet.no/fredag/2003/10/17/381194.html (In Norwegian)

Cheers!

Originally posted by calla1983
One of the largest newspapers in Norway has reviewed the x-box version of FIFA 2004. Gave it 5 out of 6. You can read the review here: http://fredag.dagbladet.no/fredag/2003/10/17/381194.html (In Norwegian)

Cheers!

could someone translate it?

Originally posted by rhizome17
er, no. I mainly play Fifa, being PC based, but even PES 1 has better gameplay than Fifa 04.

You are nothing but a poor blind little boy, who couldnt tell s.hit from chocolate.

I think fifa 2004 will do very well, my mate has pre-ordered his ps2 copy. :D

Originally posted by rhizome17
er, no. I mainly play Fifa, being PC based, but even PES 1 has better gameplay than Fifa 04.


I disagree.

Originally posted by nickclubman
I think fifa 2004 will do very well, my mate has pre-ordered his ps2 copy. :D

Im just gonna pick up my copy at the local Best Buy, they have a special sale $29.99, this is going to be my 1st soccer game I ever bought.

best buy no way when are they getting it so i can pre order it?

best buy PS2 version is still $50.00

About the reviews, I was expecting those poor american reviews from the american magazines, since all they know is to use hands on their sports, they can't have fun with a ball on their feet. So, I wasn't expecting them to say anything good about this game.

At first I tought I was going to be offended reading EGM's review, when he said it's a friggin boring sport to watch... but I got over it.

GOOD GRACIOUS, this guy's on crack. If he tells me american football or baseball is more fun, I'm going to pass out... Seriously, I think those two sports are the complete absolute boringness of sport-watching ever invented... Even though I can't get away from Am. Football that much, it's little by little growing on me, but not baseball...

Anyway, what I meant to say is that I wasn't going to consider their review, but they made some good comments about the game, and who knows what version they played and when... I WANT AN EUROPEAN/LATIN AMERICAN REVIEW, from people who know real FOOTBALL.

Well, to tell you the truth I really don't care what other people say, I have to like it for myself... although it's nice to hear other comments once in a while...

Thanks for the scans...

Golf is the worst sport in history, lmao. :kader: :crazyboy:

Originally posted by bbranco10
best buy no way when are they getting it so i can pre order it?


No need to preorder, ill just go when its out and buy the PC version for $29.99.

Originally posted by SkylineGTR
You are nothing but a poor blind little boy, who couldnt tell s.hit from chocolate.

I can officially start taking bets as to how long you have left in these forums if you keep coming out with rubbish like that. Lets see shall we?

Instead of posting such nonsense, you might want to familiarise yourself with the rules around here. And looking at some of the other threads you have posted in, I can see that you have repeated this sort of abuse over and over.

Take it from me, if you keep going this way, then you can wave good bye to the forums for good.

Originally posted by nickclubman
I disagree.

Thats cool. Just let me know when I can lob a ball to another player and have him collect it by nodding it to his feet. And when you can slide and scoop the ball back into play before it crosses the sideline.

Sorry, but the player is just so much more 'free' in PES.

But now I am heading off topic.

Originally posted by rhizome17
Thats cool. Just let me know when I can lob a ball to another player and have him collect it by nodding it to his feet. And when you can slide and scoop the ball back into play before it crosses the sideline.

Sorry, but the player is just so much more 'free' in PES.

But now I am heading off topic.

Yes, the players’ will head the ball down to their feet. I know PES3 is the better game over FIFA 2004…but what is your point, to simply say that?

I’ve said it before, I had a big sick thread about why FIFA has already lost against PES, but I missed the point completely, and I know this, now that I’ve played FIFA 2004, because although for sure PES3 is better, FIFA 2004 is just so far ahead of 2003 in my opinion. You couldn’t even header the ball on your own in 2003! :eek:

And to be honest I think 2004 even has some gameplay advantages over PES3, but that's just my personal opinion and tastes.

So I am honest. :)