Bend it like Thierry
Being a 3rd generation Arsenal supporter I couldn't wait to get my hands on this game to have my own showdowns against Man Utd in my living room! The last of this series I played was FIFA 95 back in the 90's and though it was like Pac Man compared to this installment it was sooooo much fun.
I'm not going to detail the specs of the game and the features because there are dozens of reviews which already cover that. I will however attest to the playability and the fun factor. Before buying this game I kept reading reviews with complaints about how the game franchise was going down and getting worse and that the controls were virtually unplayable. I nearly didn't buy this game but decided to buy it anyway and give it a try with the knowledge I could return it within 24 hrs if it was a bust.
Well I bought it yesterday and played it for nearly 8 hours straight! Without even reading the manual I just played a few practice games to get a hang of what the controls are doing and bingo it was game on! While I will agree that some of the controls are not as ergonomoically well placed, I actually recall the FIFA 95 controls being a bit strange as well, until you get used to them. It didn't take me long to figure out how to start playing and winning and while the goals are harder to come by, they are not impossible to score and it is a definate bonus that the game is made tougher and more realistic.
As somebody said before with the goals being harder to come by it brings a sense of realism to the experience whereby when you do score it's a real celebration! I haven't even begun to explore 1/10th of all the features of this game yet and I'm happy to give it 4 stars. I think a poor choice from EA was to ommit a World Cup Tournament!!
What you need to know is whether this game rocks or not and whether you should buy it?
Answer = YES!
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A Great Soccer Experience
At first I was deterred by some of the negative comments that dragged down the average rating but as a soccer fan and a player of the previous FIFA release, I decided to give it a try. I did not live to regret it, quite the opposite.
FIFA 2004 is an incredible game, the closest one can get to the real thing. The AI is simply astounding. The game developers have gone at great length in creating a realistic experience, which I think they have achieved. The gameplay is very difficult to master, just like the real thing, scoring is not a simple lob and shoot anymore. Many new commands are introduced, which can be confusing compared to the relatively simple layout of FIFA 2003. However, that's what makes this game so much more appealing. In gameplay, a broad range of new movements are available both for offensive and defensive play. Tackling is a whole different ball game in FIFA 2004. If one misjudges the timing of tacklings, that may result in a lost opportunity for defense and a free attacker heading for the goal. Similarly, when successfully tackling, it takes a little while to get up or to change direction to retrieve the ball, time during which a nearby opponent might have already seized the opportunity and retrieved the free ball. Also, passing can go wrong easier than in FIFA 2003, defenders get in the way more often, and crosses are not that simple to place anymore. The Goalie AI has also been improved although goalies can still go out at the edge of the box and try to block a shot originating behind them. When that happens, it looks pretty comical though.
The corner and free kick strategies have been revamped altogether to reflect the difficulty of scoring from 30 yards with a defender wall in front of the ball. Likewise for the corner kicks. Just like in real life, the vast majority of corner kicks are likely to fail.
The graphics are excellent, one can discern players' features and expressions. The sound is just awesome with many new songs, witty commentaries from John Motson: "Oh, that was a tall, wide, and handsome one", plus the short tidbit sounds that are so characteristic to soccer such as the ball hitting the post, or the back of the net before settling down behind the keeper. Even the soundtrack is noteworthy.
Finally, there are more options when selecting the types of tournaments plus there's a career mode, complete with training sessions, transfer lists, and the like. Now, the main menu, is confusing, I'll admit to that but that's something for FIFA 2005 to address.
If you love soccer but don't get much of the real thing, or can't get enough of it, this game is a very enjoyable experience. Five stars.
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