Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16329 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Electronic Arts
• Released on: 2002-11-01
• Platform: Xbox

Amazon.co.uk Review
FIFA Football 2003 may well be approached with scepticism: will the gameplay changes and revamp really be something new and dynamic, or just another yearly upgrade? Well, this edition is a surprise--not only are the animation and presentation top notch as usual, but it is really playable and the ball and player physics seem 100 times better than before.

EA have done their homework. The 10th year of FIFA doesn't just see the player names updated and few tweaks here and there--it's more of a mini revolution. There are two new modes of play, simulation and arcade play--one for the more tactical player who likes the fancy approach to play and the other for those more frenetic matches.

As usual, vast numbers of teams and players are included (still no Oxford Utd, though--Oxford Ed); all the big name players are instantly recognisable, Edgar Davids being one fantastic example. The tons of extra features include a new European tournament and loads of DVD clips. --Laurent S Hall

Customer Reviews

Fifa is back!!!
Here it is everyone, the king of all football games. It does seem quick as we were lucky to get fifa world cup several months ago. Fifa is established as an elite football title which many may find as an essential buy. We all know Fifa will be released at the end of each year, yet many still look forward to seeing whether its an improvement of the previous game.

In all due respect to EA sports, i've found previous Fifa's to simply be an updated footy game with new transfers and kits, and a few tweaks here and there. There often isn't much improvement, maybe the graphics are little better but not much. Anyway, im pleased to say this has been given a complete overhaul from Fifa world cup [as far as gameplay goes]. First of all Fifa has provided us once again, over 10'000 real players, 350 official teams in 16 of the worlds top leagues.

So, whats new this time round?
Dribbling is now more advanced, as the ball will be knocked in front of a players feet instead of being stuck to them.
One touch passing is easily pulled off, with great results.
Signiture skills from the likes of Davids, Carlos and Giggs.
Now includes real stadiums from several of the elite clubs, such as the Nou Camp. With real team chants and songs from the stands.
An all new EA SPORTS ball control system enabling you to skip through defences with style.
Then, one of my favourites, the new free-kick scheme. This enables you to pick a spot in the goal [such as the top corner], pick where you want to strike the ball, for backspin. Then the power meter is one similar to golf games. You need to get the marker in the green to strike with fury.

All these features add to a great gaming experience. It has a great pick up and play feel to it. This is no doubt there best effort so far. Great graphics, improved AI and controls make this an essential purchase. Well done EA SPORTS !!

Fifa is back, but it's actually very good!
It's that time of year again when the nights draw in, the weather gets worse and EA release yet another shoody attempt at a football game that parents buy for their kids because of the famous face on the box! Well you are all in for a shock as soon as you put this game into your machine because regardless of any star player endorsments, this years FIFA is fantastic. Yes you read it right..FANTASTIC! I have owned every fifa game since the very 1st in 1994 (more fool me!) and I can honestly say that this is so close to real football that you can almost taste the half time oranges. Since the dire world cup 2002 game, EA have pulled out all of the stops to produce a serious rival to the purists choice of Konami's Pro Evo series.
I own Pro Evo 2 on the ps2 which is great in it's own way but I feel it has fallen into the " fifa trap " as in it really doesn't improve drastically over the original pro evo.
Fifa 2003 has improved in every single way. The ball is no longer attatched to your players boot as though an invisible wire is keeping it there, you can no longer make your goalie run the length of the pitch to hammer a 30 yard screamer through the other keepers midrift!( well you can try but you will be tackled). The ball is a star performer in this game as it has been programmed as a seperate entity to the players as it will react to being hit at another player instead of going through them, or a opposition player will try and stick their foot out to intercept the ball. There doesn't seem to be any of the famous " hotspots " either. The presentation has never been questioned and it doesn't disappoint this time around as it is near TV quality. I really don't have enough room to tell you as much as I want to, so one piece of advice is rent it, dont just take my word for it, but I guarantee that when you have played it, you will never look back. Well done EA, watch out Konami, there is a new boss around town!!

A surprise package
Having never been a fan of the FIFA series and an avid follower of Pro Evolution Soccer on PS2 I played this with some reservations. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the game, the graphics are superb with excellent animation and detail, clever commentry and atmospheric sound effects. The game itself plays like a real game of football and to me, is a superior experience to that of the original Pro Evolution. I found none of the niggles that I read in early reviews (such as poor long balls and headers - which I have subsequently scored from!) and it's as if EA quickly tweaked up any bugs just before release as the game also features 4 player action as opposed to the 2 player initially reported. The AI is also good and the game can become very challenging if the higher levels are selected. Loads of teams and leagues make this THE football game for the Xbox and makes ISS2 look pretty poor by comparison. Recommended.