Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3843 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Electronic Arts
• Released on: 2006-10-27
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Platform: Xbox 360

Amazon.co.uk Review:
In a nutshell:
It’s the game football fans wait all year for and to usher in the next generation EA Sports have given FIFA its biggest revamp in years, changing not just the way it looks but the way it plays in what aims to be the ultimate marriage of realism and fun.

The lowdown:
Every new FIFA game gets its expected improvements in graphics and presentation but this year the success of Pro Evolution Soccer seems to have driven EA to concentrate just as much on the gameplay. As such the game features better passing, crossing and free kicks as well as greatly improved goalkeepers. There’s also a new "finesse" shot if you get the time and space to use it, while every kick is calculated in terms of space, composure and technique so that it’s accuracy is determined by exactly what’s happening on the pitch and not just some random factor. Add in completely new ball physics, more than 510 teams, 27 leagues, 4,000 licensed players and all new international crowd reactions and you’ve got EA’s most concerted attempt yet to make the definitive football game.

Most exciting moment:
As well as all the individual improvements to ball and player control many of the game’s best strikers have their own signatures moves and free kicks, such as Ronaldinho, Frank Lampard and Roberto Carlos. This includes the ability to, quite literally, bend it like Beckham.

Since you ask:
As befits its global reach FIFA 07 has perhaps the most multinational soundtrack ever in video games, with everything from Argentinean rock band Bersuit Vergarabat to Spain’s The Pinker Tones and German group d.o.c.h.! (As well as Britbands such as Muse and The Young Punx.)

The bottom line:
FIFA gets serious in its attempt to out-football Pro Evolution Soccer
.HARRISON DENT

Manufacturer's Description:

The release of FIFA 07 on the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system heralds the start of the next generation of football gaming.

The players in FIFA 07 now include 'football brains' never before seen in a video game – and we've given them a brand new ball to play with. For the first time ever the ball is alive with its own independent physics, resulting in truly unpredictable gameplay.

FIFA 07 on the Xbox 360 system moves away from the traditional animation-based game engine and now enables raw physics and data to drive the action, creating true-to-life movement and stunning visuals never before seen in a football game. Player characteristics are based on brand-new traits and twice the number of attributes, so you won't see two players moving in exactly the same way. Instead they look and behave like the athletes we see gracing the pitch week-in, week-out.

This vast wealth of data gives you the power to make real tactical decisions when managing your players. Track your player performance and scrutinise every event via a wealth of stats to aid your half-time decision making. Up to now you've substituted players because they've run out of gas – in FIFA 07 you’ll be able to measure their performance on the pitch before deciding whether to haul them off or give them time to prove their worth.

FIFA 07 on Xbox 360 also includes comprehensive online features that keep you up to date with the world of football. Choose your favourite club and get the latest information, including results and breaking news as it happens.

Easy to use, difficult to master – this is the season for the evolution of the world’s greatest sport for gamers everywhere.

Features:

• Fluid ball control: Improved fundamental controls plus enhanced AI enables you to truly enjoy the virtual recreation of football. The ball and players react to your slightest touch with an unprecedented level of responsiveness, for complete control.
• Real-time player analysis: Monitor how each player performed in the game by viewing passing, shooting and defending stats.
• Advanced team management: All-new detailed player styles, full list of attributes and an advanced formation editor. Make the tough decisions to influence the match – take off an underperforming player, switch formation and control your defensive line with one button press.
• Next Generation Manager Mode: Undertake a campaign to win the league armed with all of the new analysis tools at your disposal.  Develop players by earning experience points in games, than purchase attributes to create world-class talent.
• Man of the Match: The FIFA 07 game engine pulls together all the facts at the final whistle to accurately rate the best player in the park and award him the ultimate accolade – Man of the Match.
• Challenge Mode: Undertake 80+ challenges to test your skills and earn Achievement Points. Challenges range from winning a key match to using a substitute to score late in the match.
• FIFA Football 07 Lounge: Take on up to eight friends in the FIFA Lounge. Earn rewards to help you win future matches after every game.
• 4 vs. 4 Online*: Play with four friends against four other players simultaneously

*Internet connection required for online play.

Customer Reviews

FIFA 07 Review
So, another year, another FIFA vs. Pro Evolution battle. Who wins? In my opinion, it's FIFA all the way. While it didn't get 5 stars, it's better than all the other football wannabees around.

Graphics: 9/10
As soon as you see the opening clip, you know you have bought quality. The player models aren't all exactly spot-on, the ones that are look picture perfect. Gourgeous stadium models as well.

Gameplay: 9/10
If you have played FIFA 06, you will be right at home. Passing is solid, new physics mean you get a completely different shot depending on your position at the shot. Changing player has been moved from (A) to [LT] but can be reverted if needs be.

Realism: 10/10
Realism is where FIFA 07 shines. During the game, you may hear comments from the stadium like "Nigel Waterman, your girlfriend has called to say she loves you very much", or "Joe Philips, Please contact your nearest steward as we have found your bus ticket". Its things like these that make you feel in the game. Superb commentary from Clive Tildsley and Andy Gray.

Value: 10/10
Also, there is an in-depth manager mode that lets you make the backstage decisions. An improved challenge mode lets you re-live famous matches from the past and XBox Live features Lobbies, Leagues and Rankings, so you can track your progress.

Overall, I give this game a 9.2 out of a possible 10. Dont settle for Pro Evolution Soccer, Get FIFA 07!
-Tom-

Finally, a decent FIFA.
I have always been a Pro Evo fan, but friends kept telling me how good FIFA 07 was, so i rented it. I was surprised by just how good this new Fifa is. It feels like Pro Evo, but better. It really works on the 360, with the graphics fantastic and gameplay just amazing. AI runs are realistic, learning curve is good and there is no more 'arcade style' play characteristic or early Fifa games - Fifa 07 is realistic, yet very fun. There are things unique to the 360 version of the game, such as the arena (you play in an 'arena', practising one-on-ones against a goalkeeper with you favourite player instead of watching a load screen) and challenge mode. This has come at the expense of some other things, such as the amount of leagues available in the PS2 version. However being an Aston Villa fan i rarely use leagues other than the Premiership and international on football games anyway, other than possibly Spanish or Italian teams for friendlies. Leagues available are Premiership, Bundesliga (German), Serie A (Italy), Ligue Un (France), Mexican League, and Primera Liga (Spain). There are also international teams and a 'Classic' league including only Juventus. Lower divisions and possibly the Scottish league would have been nice, but how much would you play on teams from the Swiss, Danish or Portuguese leagues anyway? Overall this is by far the best Fifa ever, and a contender for the best football game ever. I haven't tried the game on Xbox Live yet. Buy this game, you won't regret it.

A fair reflection
After recently purchasing the new fifa, i find myself constantly torn between how much i like the game, and whether or not i should have gone for the new pro evo instead.
I logged on here, wondering what other players reviews were, and to be honest they sum it up, but i thought i'd like to give my reflection on the game.

Please bear in mind i am talking about the xbox 360 version here! (if you wasnt aware lol!!)

Ok, for starters if your a fifa fan (and lets be honest the football-gaming world is, and will always be split in two here between fifa and pro evo) you won't be all that dissapointed in what your getting.. but that depends on what you like about the game.
If your one of the players that like to take on a low division team and take them to the top, you won't be able to here. With only 6 leagues available your choice in career team is somewhat limited.
I've copied this list here from a previous review:

England Premiership
French Ligue 1
Germany 1. Bundesliga
Italy Serie A (+Juventus from serie B)
Mexico Primera Division
Spain Primera Division

To me this is the biggest setback in the game.. and a big one it is at that.
so before buying this game bear in mind the limited choice of teams you'll have, but you still have most of the famous teams to pick from.

the game also is a little unresponsive at times, not half as bad as mentioned in some other reviews.. but noticable when all you want your player to do is stick his foot out and shoot before that charging keeper gets there!

And while im on the bad stuff, the controls (to any fifa player) are awkward when defending. Im told you can change them, but i cant figure our how! But using the left trigger as change player, A as tackle and B as 2nd defender takes some time getting used to.


But i havent just come here to say whats bad about the game. If you've read through all that, and still are prepared to give it the benefit of the doubt and read on, then this game wont be quite so bad as it seems.

The players look more lifelike than ever before, and all of them (at least as far as i can see) have a picture by the name when your looking for a player - just a nice touch :)
After each game, players are rewarded with experience, and its up to you how you spend it. Should Rooney get better at shot accuracy, pace, tackling, crossing? etc. Its up to you and how you want to play him.
The formations have had a massive improvement. You can select one from a vast list, and then toggle player positions on it to make every single possible variation of formation you can think of. You can set players directions of runs (though slightly dissapointingly, not length of runs) and change the role any player has in the team (eg cm -> cdm or cam)
The game also looks good, the crowd noises are far more realistic than ever, and playing in a stadium full of fans singing your own teams songs just gives you that desire to impress.
A much more indepth analysis at half time, full time and any time you press start of each player is also quite interesting. You can see what dribbles certain players made, exactly where the goals and assists came from and where on the pich have been the most tackles. You can use this to change your tactics in getting the ball to the areas most needed, or indeed moving players to where the need to be to keep the other time at bay.

The gameplay is quite different to the previous fifa games. The computer is a lot more intelligent and will bring on 3 strikers towards the end of the game if they'r losing. They will stop you from doing the through balls that led you to that 10-0 victory on many occaisons in the last fifa.. But thats of course a good thing.
The game is also a lot more physical, brushing players off the ball, shoving them in the back so you can head the ball clear, or backing your striker into the defender behind you to create space. All this gives that 'battle approach to any game', and the computer wont sit back and let you beat them easily!

If You keep in mind the bad points of the game - mainly the league shortage, and decide that you can have a good career with the higher teams from the 6 leagues.. and you can, then this isnt at all a bad game.

If however your a pro evo fan, and your wondering whether to switch to fifa or not i would probably stick with what you know.

As an extra and final note, i think pro evo also has a shortage of leagues for the 360.. but dont hold me to this!