Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15208 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Sony Computer Entertainment UK
• Released on: 2002-10-04
• Rating: To Be Announced
• Platform: PlayStation2

Amazon.co.uk Review
Another football season, another slew of titles all promising to be the definitive recreation of the beautiful game. This Is Football 2003 (the fourth version in all, the second on PS2) will probably bag third place in the premiership of footy games: this time round, the drastically revamped FIFA Football 2003 and perennial hardcore favourite Pro Evolution Soccer 2 are likely to be battling for the top slot come Christmas.

The game boasts over 13,000 players from leagues all over the world [including the English second division, so finally Cardiff City can be promoted to their rightful place in the Premiership--Bluebirds Ed] and the option to create and customise even more teams. You can even start by managing a school side and work your way up to league level, though this is a fairly tedious and unrewarding option.

The gameplay hasn't changed dramatically from last year, though the learning curve is steeper and your opponents' AI is substantially improved. The goal-scoring sweet spots are still there, but you have to work harder to find them. This is not a Pro Evolution-style simulation: the action moves continuously from end to end. However, high scoring matches, at least in single player mode, are rare.

Graphically TIF shines, and both Pro Evolution and FIFA will have to go some to match the player likenesses (at least in the higher echelons; further down the leagues the players become more generic) and the lovingly realised stadia.

This Is Football doesn't have FIFA's brand identification or Pro Evolution's loyal following, but it's a slick, comprehensive and enjoyable game that deserves to qualify for the Champions League of football video games, if only by achieving a runner-up spot. --Michael Bartley

Manufacturer's Description
This Is Football 2003 takes the series one step further, featuring a number of enhancements in gameplay, tactics and graphics. With improved artificial intelligence, players automatically move to cover gaps in defence, run into space to receive a pass and even track back to cover opponents' runs. The graphics have been upgraded and enhanced throughout; the photo-realistic in-game stadia and the mapped-on faces of the stars now look even more lifelike. There are a number of new TV-style cut-scenes highlighting in-game dramas, such as bookings and sendings-off. And players now show the benefit of completely re-worked models, boasting improved animations and even more realistic movement, which in turn leads to better skills and more fancy moves. The big-match atmosphere is captured, as the crowd chant and get more raucous as events go their way or the excitement builds, or fall quiet when the game is poor. Surround sound audio ensures that you feel like you're in the middle of the action.

You'll find more leagues and players--over 13,500 players in all, from European, North and South American and Asian leagues--and detailed statistics are kept, so you'll see right away exactly who's under-performing. A new Career mode lets you start by controlling a team as low as a school side if you're really up for the long haul, fighting your way up to the professional leagues. A fully-fledged transfer system lets you improve your squad as you go (finances permitting). And the Custom Teams facility lets you move a player between teams to reflect a real-life mid-season signing, change a kit design or even create custom-built players from scratch.

Customer Reviews

This is Football 2003
First things first then - this is a review of a new PS2 Football game and it isn't Pro Evolution2. This is Football 2003 is Sony's own foray into the ever popular Football genre, developed by their very own London Studio.

The developers have managed to obtain the FIFPro licence for this game - FIFPro is the organisation that represents the interests of professional footballers and this has enabled them to use the real player names for over 13000 different players. The player models have been completely revamped since TIF 2002 with a noticeable improvement in the "photo - realistic" likenesses of many of the star players. Though when I was playing as "my" team - the good old tractor boys - I think they must have used mug shots of the local pub side!

The player animations are very impressive, when a player back heels the ball - it looks like he is back heeling the ball, when a player rises gracefully to meet a cross and head in to the net the timing and motion of the player looks spot on - there are no jerky, awkward movements anymore.

The AI has also been re-worked and is now very impressive, the players have been developed so that they act in a much more intelligent fashion - reacting to what how the opposition (you) are playing. They will play in the correct formation but when you manage to pull one of them out of position, another team member will endeavour to plug the gap, they will even run into space to receive passes and (unlike Finidi George) players will even track back.

The gameplay includes some great elements which will really make you appreciate the thought that the developers have put into the game. Opposition players being booked for diving, players signalling for you to pass the ball into space, stepovers, knock ons, one-two's, deflections - it's all in there for your delectation.

The view of the action gives an overhead TV type perspective. It means you can see enough of the pitch to be able to judge your passes without making the players look to small - the overall feel is just about right and you get the impression that there are 22 players on the pitch at all times - this being one of my own personal criticisms of Pro Evolution (Oh no - I mentioned it again!).

Ok then - game modes, when you first start the game you have the perennial favourite of all football games - exhibition mode - together with numerous other options, these include, career mode, challenge mode, season, cup and league. Exhibition mode allows you to pick your favourite team and play against any of the other 700 teams in the game ! So if you want to play Wycombe Wanderers against Brazil then you can. The other modes are really self explanatory except challenge mode - this gives you a game against - Sony's own words - "rock hard opponents". After the game you are given a password which relates to your performance, this is then entered on the TIF website and you can see how you rate against other TIF player's world wide.

What else has the game got ? You can now enter the transfer market and buy and sell players in order to create your own "Dream Team" - Harchester Rovers to win the Champions League anybody ? You can create your own player from scratch so if you fancy making a player in your own likeness and turning out for your favourite team - you can. Players can be moved around, strips can be customised - all so you can keep the game up to date with real world transfers as they happen. You can even start out as a schoolboy team and try to progress into the national leagues.

The developers have increased the variety of leagues playable considerably - that impressive tally of 700 teams now includes leagues and teams from Brazil, Argentina, Korea, Japan, North America and others. Any international or national competition that you can think of and the game has a mode to cope with. 15 Leagues, 24 Divisions, 49 trophies, the stats go on and on.

This isn't Pro Evolution - This is Football - and you'd better believe it.

Great FUN football......
Buy it! Save money on the "trekky" EA sports franchise and overly technical PES2. This game has a real league system using your favourite team and players, allowing you to buy and sell as in the real world (well no wages but i'm not that nerdy!)and players age, retire and are replaced with raw trainees!

Make yourself into a player, build a schoolboy team and take it to the premier league, win the champions league with Blackburn rovers (or wolves or whoever!!!!!!!!)

Gameplay is really up to you. If you play FIFA style, simple moves and "goal sweetspots" you can win on levels am and pro. Suddenly on world and masterclass you need PES tactics. Wonderful game, great fun and challenging at the higher levels.

Graphics are good, commentary is excellent though Drury has a tendency to say "unbelievable error" when your amazing diagonal header goes over to the point where you want to strangle him!

Only other criticism (and hope it will be fixed for 2004) is the offside, there is virtually zero concept of "not interfering with play" and it can get annoying.

Save some money, have more fun but if you really want the best of both worlds then buy this and an old copy of PES!

SWOS has an heir to my all time football fave.
YES YES YES. It has been a long time in the waiting. Football games such as fifa and iss pro are good. But they lack in content. We want the things Sensible World of Soccer had that no game since has had. Transfer markets, full career with promotion, relegation, play offs, all the divisions, with league and FA cup, champions league etc. TIF 2003 has all that and more. You can embark on a 20 year career from school boy level then to semi pro then to a full div 2 with league and fa cup with 2 automatic spots and play offs. The spam head who found it easy must of played at amateur level but once you get good just up the game play level and that stops you getting easy goals. But the game does encourage good build up play. I have scored goals from crosses vollyes, 1 too's, dummys and all sorts. You can even dive in the box to win a penalty or you may get booked for foul play. There are snazzy touches to like breath from player in cold air. also when players are getting ready to go out you can hear the players banging there boots ready to run out the tunnel. The game has full operational transfer market though just like SWOS. I have played FIFA games before and they never touched SWOS. FIFA lacks a transfer market and all 4 divisions and 20 year careers. FIFA games bore me. ISS Pro tries to be to clever. TIF has balance. The graphics are good but not great. But they are better than previous fifa's.