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Preview  FIFA 2002 Major League Soccer
- By Neal Gittens
Ahhhhhh… soccer. My favorite sport. Now, many may say this sarcastically in the U.S., due to the less than widespread support in this country for the world’s game, but I can honestly tell you that I do indeed love soccer as much as any sport. I played it from the time I was 8 through my high school graduation. I have enjoyed many soccer video games over the course of my lifetime, from the FIFA series, to Mega Man Soccer, to the International Superstar Soccer franchise. Each has its own unique set of features that make it appealing and its own shortfalls, but that is the same as every game ever released. As a whole though, I love nothing more than to play a game of soccer, and if it has to be on a TV instead of an actual field, so be it.
EA’s first installation of the FIFA license on the GameCube looks to truly take the series into the next generation of video soccer. EA has packed the game full of futbol related goodies, which look to please any fan of the most popular game in the world. Gone are the days of pressing the pass button and the ball automatically going to the player you have highlighted. The new system is said to center around passing to areas, even open areas, and controlling your player movement to flow along with the passes. This sounds very appealing to me, because nothing was more frustrating to me in most soccer games than making a pass to a player and watching him stand there waiting for the ball. Meanwhile, a defender sweeps in and grabs the ball, leaving you with a desperate need to get back on defense instead of pressing the attack on the opponent’s goal. This is just one featured improvement that FIFA will incorporate. Among them are:
Character, team, and league creation – Make your own team of your friends, throw them in a league and see what they can do. I know I will.
A “rewards” system – Seems to be similar to the Madden “cards” system. Collect “rewards” for accomplishing various feats, such as winning tournaments, to unlock various aspects of the game.
Improved graphics – Speaks for itself. This should be one of the prettiest soccer games ever. Every facet of the game is said to have been tweaked to make it that much nicer looking.
FIFA licensing – Features over 500 teams and 16 leagues. FIFA players’ associations’ members also included with actual names and even individual faces.
World Cup qualification mode – Take you favorite country and get them into the big dance. I intend on rolling through with Holland and Patrick Kluivert. Love those orange uniforms.
As a big time soccer fan, this game sits at the very top of my list to play, and on the 18th of November, when it is released, that is just what I intend to do. The FIFA series looks to have taken everything that made the other games in its series great and expanded on it. So lace up your cleats, strap on the shin guards and long socks, pull up the short shorts (well, maybe the uniforms aren’t PERFECT) and get ready to pass, shoot, and head your way onto the GameCube this November. He shoots! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAL!!!!!!
- 11.8.2001 |
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FIFA returns for the next generation systems
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INFO |
Developer: EA Sports
Publisher: EA Sports
Number of Players: 4
ESRB Rating: E
Release Date:
TBA
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