Ok i have been slagging the game off quite a bit, but now having had the game for 3 weeks nearly, heres my detailed and honest review.
Gameplay:
CPU AI-on first play i thought the gameplay had improved significantly, but after playing for a few days it is clear the CPU AI attacks only through the middle, rarely using the wings and never shooting from range. This can be frustrating, especially when u conceed the same goals over and over.
GOALKEEPERS-having played the PC demo, i noticed that the keepers stood in the wrong positions and let long rangers go past them far too frequently, and this is true in the final PS2 game aswell. Also when u bring them out they regularly charge out leaving a gap for strikers to finish into the middle of the net. Their position also affects the CPU's finishing, as they sometimes shoot wide from 2 or 3 yards as the keepers standing in the wrong position, its a dominoes affect.
CORNERS AND FREE KICKS-corners were awful in 2003, but are much improved in 2004. i like the player jostling, but it can be a bit limited and also a bit easy to score. Also dissapointing you can no longer take short corners. free kicks are also improved, i like the options for the indirect free kicks. direct ones a bit easy to score, but still entertaining.
SHOOTING-shooting system is good, with curling shots and straight shots included, much more realistic. if only the keepers could stop long rangers going in...
DRIBBLING-near on impossible to dribble past defenders. a real let down. player attributes do not affect the game as faster players cant break away from slow defenders. freestyle skills only available when you use 'walk' mode also a bad point.
OFF THE BALL-3 weeks and i still cant do it... its a good idea, but is very hard to pick up, thats good tho i guess. could add a whole new dimension to the game if i get good at it.
Game modes:
CAREER:at first it seems to be a really good inclusion, but it lacks depth after a while, and gets repetitive and dull. EA havent put much effort into it either, resulting in bugs such as 3 teams from 1 country in champs league groups, which is just a lack of care on EA's front. Next yr i would like to go back to a simple domestic season, as the career mode is a poor managerial alternative to the king CM.
TOURNAMENTS: cant believe theres no international tournaments, or custom tournaments. thats poor. the cups are domestic cups, eg the FA cup, and EA hasnt even bothered to follow the different rules of these cups, eg there is golden goal on FA cup, when it goes to replays, and in the repklay to extra time and the pens, NO GOLDEN GOAL.
TRAINING-nod bad, nothing special, good to practise OTB with.
Graphics and licenses:
All the licenses you could ever want to see really, although Holland and Wales arent in there, but i can live with that. Graphics are on the whole good, the kits and detailed players look exellent, but on PS2 there are a few graphics glitches(being able to see thru players). WHY IS THERE NO DYNAMIC WEATHER THOUGH????
Sound:
CROWD-i was dissapointe with the crowd this yr, a step back from 2004. the crowd doesnt soudn as passionate really, despite having more chants(better than PES tho of course)
COMMENTARY-not bad, same as last year really. theres a few delays, but again its much better than PES.
MUSIC-music is actually good, i like most of the tracks they used.
OVERALL: i was dissapointed with the game to be honest. it is not far away from being better than PES, its close in fact, but a general lack of care from EA prevents it from doing so. CPU AI is a major problem, that prevents the game from being realistic. teams attack in different ways, not just passing thru the middle. most teams arent even good enough to do that. goalkeepers need to be improved, theyve gone several steps back since 03, when they were decent enough. My general view is the game is an average football simulation, but it could be so much better. Those with PCs could end up with the best footie game ever after they add a few pattches etc, but for PS2 users, the game is a bit of a let down.
SCORE: 5.5/10
Im not a PES fan, but having played PES, i would give that 7.5/10
WITH A BIT MORE EFFORT, FIFA IS ON THE WAY TO BEING A TOP NOTCH GAME, BUT MAJOR FAULTS LET 04 DOWN.
Gameplay:
CPU AI-on first play i thought the gameplay had improved significantly, but after playing for a few days it is clear the CPU AI attacks only through the middle, rarely using the wings and never shooting from range. This can be frustrating, especially when u conceed the same goals over and over.
GOALKEEPERS-having played the PC demo, i noticed that the keepers stood in the wrong positions and let long rangers go past them far too frequently, and this is true in the final PS2 game aswell. Also when u bring them out they regularly charge out leaving a gap for strikers to finish into the middle of the net. Their position also affects the CPU's finishing, as they sometimes shoot wide from 2 or 3 yards as the keepers standing in the wrong position, its a dominoes affect.
CORNERS AND FREE KICKS-corners were awful in 2003, but are much improved in 2004. i like the player jostling, but it can be a bit limited and also a bit easy to score. Also dissapointing you can no longer take short corners. free kicks are also improved, i like the options for the indirect free kicks. direct ones a bit easy to score, but still entertaining.
SHOOTING-shooting system is good, with curling shots and straight shots included, much more realistic. if only the keepers could stop long rangers going in...
DRIBBLING-near on impossible to dribble past defenders. a real let down. player attributes do not affect the game as faster players cant break away from slow defenders. freestyle skills only available when you use 'walk' mode also a bad point.
OFF THE BALL-3 weeks and i still cant do it... its a good idea, but is very hard to pick up, thats good tho i guess. could add a whole new dimension to the game if i get good at it.
Game modes:
CAREER:at first it seems to be a really good inclusion, but it lacks depth after a while, and gets repetitive and dull. EA havent put much effort into it either, resulting in bugs such as 3 teams from 1 country in champs league groups, which is just a lack of care on EA's front. Next yr i would like to go back to a simple domestic season, as the career mode is a poor managerial alternative to the king CM.
TOURNAMENTS: cant believe theres no international tournaments, or custom tournaments. thats poor. the cups are domestic cups, eg the FA cup, and EA hasnt even bothered to follow the different rules of these cups, eg there is golden goal on FA cup, when it goes to replays, and in the repklay to extra time and the pens, NO GOLDEN GOAL.
TRAINING-nod bad, nothing special, good to practise OTB with.
Graphics and licenses:
All the licenses you could ever want to see really, although Holland and Wales arent in there, but i can live with that. Graphics are on the whole good, the kits and detailed players look exellent, but on PS2 there are a few graphics glitches(being able to see thru players). WHY IS THERE NO DYNAMIC WEATHER THOUGH????
Sound:
CROWD-i was dissapointe with the crowd this yr, a step back from 2004. the crowd doesnt soudn as passionate really, despite having more chants(better than PES tho of course)
COMMENTARY-not bad, same as last year really. theres a few delays, but again its much better than PES.
MUSIC-music is actually good, i like most of the tracks they used.
OVERALL: i was dissapointed with the game to be honest. it is not far away from being better than PES, its close in fact, but a general lack of care from EA prevents it from doing so. CPU AI is a major problem, that prevents the game from being realistic. teams attack in different ways, not just passing thru the middle. most teams arent even good enough to do that. goalkeepers need to be improved, theyve gone several steps back since 03, when they were decent enough. My general view is the game is an average football simulation, but it could be so much better. Those with PCs could end up with the best footie game ever after they add a few pattches etc, but for PS2 users, the game is a bit of a let down.
SCORE: 5.5/10
Im not a PES fan, but having played PES, i would give that 7.5/10
WITH A BIT MORE EFFORT, FIFA IS ON THE WAY TO BEING A TOP NOTCH GAME, BUT MAJOR FAULTS LET 04 DOWN.
Some button cannot response quickly and u must click twise.
)...even the FIFA team make comparisons with other games.