Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11470 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Electronic Arts
• Released on: 2006-04-28
• Rating: To Be Announced
• Platform: PlayStation2

Amazon.co.uk Review
In a nutshell:
The official game of the 2006 World Cup has all the stadiums, players and kits of the real thing, but the biggest surprise is that it actually improves upon the usual FIFA gameplay too. So if England does not win in real life, you can at least make sure they do in the virtual world.

The lowdown:
. In previous years, FIFA Word Cup games have meant little more than a cut down version of the existing FIFA game, however this version features not just the 32 teams from the finals but the chance to play as any of the other 95 countries from the qualifying rounds. There’s even the option to replay historic World Cups – although only a handful of older players are included. In terms of gameplay things have been noticeably speeded up and there’s even an alternative control system that exactly mimics rival Pro Evolution Soccer. PES fans will still be suspicious but this really is the best FIFA yet.

Most exciting moment:
Reliving the glory of 1966 with the current England team and then going on to do the same thing in this year’s Cup as well!

Since you ask:
Many of the England team, including Wayne Rooney, claim to be video games fans and many have mentioned playing the FIFA games between real matches.

The bottom line:
A genuine improvement on FIFA 06 with the usual top notch EA presentation.
Harrison Dent

Manufacturer's Description
EA Sports celebrates the world's largest sporting event with the only official and exclusive licensed videogame for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany.

2006 FIFA World Cup perfectly captures the emotion and passion of the world's fiercest national rivalries by giving users the opportunity to play with their heroes and the chance to win the FIFA World Cup. Play as your home nation and control your favourite players as you battle from qualification right through to a virtual re-creation of the final tournament in Germany.

EA Sports has brought to life close to 100 superstars by emulating the real-life abilities of the world's most recognizable players. Signature moves, playing styles and flair moves have all been authentically captured in this game. Gameplay advancements in passing and shooting, including improved penalty kicks, make this the most realistic and playable soccer game yet.

2006 FIFA World Cup introduces a new game mode called Global Challenge that will test even the most hardcore gamer. Global Challenge re-creates 40 classic moments in FIFA World Cup history for fans to tackle. Compare your results with history and measure yourself against the world's best.

Take control of one of 127 national teams and play against friends in up to eight-way multiplayer matches. Track your results in The Lounge to create your own rankings and earn rewards.

As the only officially licensed videogame of 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany, EA SPORTS has included a plethora of in-game unlockable content such as legendary players and exclusive apparel that will make this game a coveted collectable for soccer fans. Play with some of the game's greatest legends and outfit your squad in exclusive team apparel

Customer Reviews

Review without mentioning Pro Evo...
I bought this game on the back on a wave of World Cup optimism. Overall it's enjoyable, especially for multiplayer, but in single-player it's generally frustrating.

Good Points:

* This is without a doubt the slickest version of FIFA ever. The menus are smart, the game loading screens are montages and facts on one of the countries involved in the game, there is a virtual FIFA magazine that updates as you progress through the game, etc. Altogether, it's very polished. In-game you also get score-flashes of other games going on at the same time. When playing in the qualifiers or in the final group-stage game in the WC itself, this is a great touch.

* There are over 120 international teams you can play. They are selected via a smart-looking revolving globe. Rather than having the standard 5-stars to grade a team's strength, their FIFA ranking is used instead. It's a very nice touch.

* Gameplay options are varied. Yes, this is a game released specifically for the 2006 World Cup, and unlike other FIFAs you can't play the league and cup competitions of different countries. But EA have counterbalanced this with a number of different features. You can not only play in the WC 2006, or a randomly generated alternative, but you can also play in the qualifiers of any world region (it is quite fun trying to get Fiji into the WC!). There is the usual "Play Now" option for quick games, as well as an instant "Penalty Shootout" competition, and a "Global Challenge" section.
In the Global Challenge you must complete a series of tasks for each region. For example, one of the tasks in Europe is to get England to beat Germany in the semi-final of Italia 90... but you start 60 mins into the game, 1-0 down. There are gold, silver and bronze medals depending on how well you do. In this respect, EA are starting to introduce elements of other games such as Tiger Woods Golf into FIFA, which is welcome. Where EA have missed a trick is to include the historical squad player names. In the Italia 90 game for example, it just doesn't feel right scoring an equaliser with Michael Owen instead of Gary Lineker.

* The comparison with Tiger Woods continues with the introduction of objectives. Any game you play gives you the chance to achieve a number of objectives and points. There are hundreds available. Objectives include scoring a hat-trick in a game, scoring with 3 different players, etc. It's very much like the "Trophy Ball" set up in Tiger Woods.



Bad Points

* First and foremost, this game is far, far, FAR too easy. Note that I consider myself a 'casual' gamer. I normally buy games like this to play with mates and kill a few hours - so I am not one of these people who normally dominates a game within hours of buying it.
There are the usual 3 skill-levels: Amateur, Semi-Pro and World-Class. Amateur is so ridiculously easy that I am confident that someone who has never even picked up a console controller before can be beating Brazil within a few goes. Don't even bother. By default the game starts in semi-pro, and while it's a meaty step up from amateur, it's still frustratingly easy. Here's why:
- Computer AI. Computer controlled player are REALLY stupid. At first, you are quite impressed with the opposition. Even little teams like Fiji have an amazing ability to hold possession. The players retain the ball like their little lives depend on it, doing an amazing myriad of step-overs, pirouettes and Cryuff-turns. It's suprisngly hard to get the ball of them, and even more annoyingly, it's impossible to emulate this masterclass of close-ball-control with your own players. Unfortunately they do nothing with it. In fact, at times, if you put the controller down, you can sit and watch an opposition player repeatedly pirouette round in circles for a few minutes. When they do eventually move, they have a strange desire to run back toward their own goal. Players through on goal, rather than shoot, seem to stop, pirouette, then turn back to look for a pass, and failing that, they run back toward their own goal. After a few games, even on world-class mode, you will be screaming at the opposition to sort themselves out. It really spoils the game.
- Goal variety. EA have improved the variety of goals you can score. This is welcome. It adds a new dimension of realism and enjoyment, especially in multiplayer mode. Unfortunately, it just means it is easier to score from all over the park against the inept computer-controlled opposition.
- Through-Balls. The old triangle-button, through-ball in previous versions of FIFA was an annoyingly easy way to score. In this version... it's even worse. Your players tend to get caught offside more, but once you have 'mastered' (10 minutes should do it) when to press the button, you've done 99% of the effort required to score a goal.

* Considering the slickness of the menus, the in-game graphics are generally poor, and in my opinion, a step-back from previous FIFAs. The World Cup stadiums lack the realism of some of the club grounds from FIFA 2005 or 2006. There is far too much ticker-tape and streamers, it just looks stupid. The lighting tends to flicker as well.

* While the Tiger Woods style objectives and points system is welcome, it's wasted. In TW, you can buy hundreds of items of equipment and clothing for your golfer, most of which has an impact on the game. In FIFA, your options are very limited. You can buy match-balls or football boots - all of which look the same when viewed from the high camera-angle of the main game, and none of which have an impact on the game itself. You can buy classic players to add to "Play Now" squads; but the selection of players is poor, and their impact is negligible. Finally you can buy "game modes" such as Turbo-speed. These are interesting, but nothing more than a novelty.

Superb
I have to admit i was worrid when i bought this game because of how poor the fifa games have been lately, but i am pleased to say that world cup 2006 is a masterpiece. The gameplay is sound, the "star players" are a fantastic addition and when you play the game it actually feels like you are playing in the world cup with all the presure and exictment.
This really is a good game so order it of amazon now....

world cup come on england
Even though i had felt the dissapointmant of previous fifa's i still went out and bought this thing of amazon.And i have to say it's okay. Even though the celebrations seem cartoony and and streamers fall down every single goal you score this fifa scores in a different way to. The passing and in game controls have improved somewhat and the season well world cup modes are very enjoyable where you can qualify fully or jump straight into the fifa world cup with any national team of your choosing including first timers trinidad and also togo. Overall it has improved considerably since fifa 06 and even pro evo players should at least give this a try. Your only world cup game for this years world cup with some great commentary as well so go on feel the atmosphere in germany, get your crowd behind you and score that beatiful goal.Fifa world cup 2006 is a 8.7/10 deffo