2006 FIFA World Cup (EA Sports)

Re: FIFA 06 - Road to FIFA World Cup (Xbox 360)

The reason it got taken down was because there's an embargo on any reviews for FIFA 2006 360 until December 2nd.

Here's the text from the review:
(obviously this isn't my opinion of the game) :P

FIFA 2006 : AN ALL NEW HORROR SHOW

They say that the closer you get to realism, the more you notice the stuff that's missing.

So, by that token, FIFA 06: Road To FIFA World Cup must be one of the most realistic games ever made, because I have a notepad full of things I've classed as "missing".

Of course, what they really meant was that as you start to better emulate the smallest details - moving eyes, mouths, jawlines, flushing cheeks and so on - your brain does a much better job spotting the smaller blemishes, and weighs them more heavily against the overall image. In the case of FIFA 06 on Xbox 360, things like the way that everyone's been glazed in slime, the way John Terry's jaw appears to be trying to escape his face, and the way that David Beckham looks like some sort of comedy duck. Close in on someone's face in Pro Evolution Soccer and you're left in no doubt that it's unrealistic, but the makings of resemblance are easier for your brain to reconcile with than what we have here, which is the reanimated occupants of a mausoleum caught in the bask of a full moon. After a gunge-shower.

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Shot, it has to be pointed out, against a backdrop of choreographed muppets, who leap up and down in unison and clap their hands as though Mr Motivator is standing behind you with ten pounds of C4 strapped to his chest and a sign saying "Work it!" held above his head. To round out the effect, we have the effects. I have no idea what the individual technological terms are, but I can tell you that they have given us grass that appears to be six inches long for no other reason than we need to be able to marvel at the grass, and a thin layer of blurry fur that appears to be stuck to every man, woman and child (and ball and goalpost) in the stadium - presumably a side effect of the varying focus, which blurs anything it doesn't expect you to be directly looking at, resulting in a headache for this writer after extended play. There's also the lighting effect, so powerful and intense that when you pause and unpause the game, it takes about a second for it to refill the world with its faux-vibrancy.

Play well or I drag your children into the depths of HELL!
The animation system had the potential to rescue FIFA from the horror of its make-up department, but sadly fails just as spectacularly. The player models are often quite impressive (I've never seen so many shadows and ripples of muscle on a man's calf, for example), but only in very small doses. When you first see Rio Ferdinand turn to the ref and his eyes widen, before he wheels round raising his arm in a mixture of anger and bewilderment at a peculiar decision, it's rather more believable than anything else you've seen in a football game (assuming it's Rio and not, say, Zombieface Terry or Ben Grimm Rooney). But when you've seen it 25 times, from different players, it loses its impact.

The mistimed challenges that prompt the animation certainly don't lose their impact, however; one of the most entertaining things in this version of FIFA (if not the only entertaining thing) is scything down your opposition and then receiving a close-up replay of the highly detailed models - almost human from the waist down - attempting to redistribute a person's joints using their studs. Of course, the fact that your ludicrously braindead tackling prompts genuine disbelief and confusion in players and commentators alike merely serves to reinforce the fact that this game is actually far, far less believable and engaging on a pure footballing level than anything Konami's made in the last five years. The parts themselves, even if you can overlook the genuine hilarity of their overall composition, simply don't work together believably.

What's amazing is that I haven't even mentioned the awful slowdown that occurs in all the replays yet - nor the absolutely dreadful regular animation, where players appear to be frolicking along as though held up by the strings of a puppeteer, managing to lumber somewhat like zombies as well as resemble them, and then manoeuvring like dancing fleas as they pirouette inorganically three or four times in a row on the spot whilst under no pressure at all.

But, you know, if we're going that way, we might as well get into the game itself.

Marble at my muscular thighs!
You will already have spotted that this is a "Road to the World Cup" edition. The reasons for this are twofold: 1) it's the World Cup next year, and obviously we need a game which allows us to play through the group stages with a similarly slothful and depressing lack of endeavour, and 2) obviously the content creation for a far more visually intensive next-gen console game is a lot simpler when you can get away using around 15 per cent of the players you featured in the last Xbox version.

Here you can adopt the mantle of one of around 72 teams involved in the quest for qualification, and guide them through their group stage (including a few preliminary friendlies for good measure). You can also create custom tournaments, practice, and play matches (ranked or unranked) on Xbox Live. That's it. But this skeletal structure is not even the most obvious reason not to buy it.

The problem appears to be this: a couple of years ago, EA sat down and thought, "Why is Pro Evolution Soccer so popular?" Its answer was, "Because there are no goals!" It didn't quite understand this, but somebody hit 'New' on the flow-chart application anyway and what we've got at this point is game which feels slow, cumbersome, awkward and unexciting. Where it's virtually impossible to get into the final third without relying on cheeky lofted through-balls that are cut out more often than not anyway; where the ball switches possession more often than Wayne Rooney uses a purple word; where players don't so much embark on runs as they do map cul-de-sacs whilst dragging a ball and chain; and where the differences between individual players are best catalogued using their facial deformities and the commentators' habit of paying undue attention to whichever's been in the papers lately, as their actual skills are almost indistinguishable from one another.

I am Zinedine Zidane! And not, for example, Skeletor.
The ball moves seemingly on rails, at weird velocities with unjust momentum, robbing any lofted ball of the feeling of weight. Precision is at an absolute premium. Players move glacially, even the nippiest ones, so that they can be scythed down in time to prevent them reaching anywhere dangerous. The ball bobbles along like it's made of wool and someone's snagged an end on one of the salmon in the stands. There are virtually no breakaways, and defenders just drop off and drop off and drop off; goals are often scored simply because you've comically dispossessed somebody on their six-yard line, or the ball's scuffed in off someone's shin.

Dropping deep is something the AI does in PES, of course, but while it defends deep there it also gives you the means to defend. With its unbelievable ball behaviour, erratic AI and inconsistent or unmanageable tackling mechanics, oft-inexplicable player selection, and that prevailing sense that if you point the stick the right way and hold the pressing button you'll solve the defensive problem before it becomes an issue anyway, FIFA is ultimately hugely tedious, and utterly misses the point. Worse, in the context of the series, is that the goals don't even look spectacular any more.

Really, to describe what EA has produced here as dreadful would be to do a terrible disservice to things that merely inspire dread. It's a game that not only fails to live up to the potential inherent to the new graphics and processing hardware at its disposal, but arguably in its failure manages to raise valid questions and concerns about everybody else's attempts to wield said technical advances as tools of realism, because it exposes so expertly the potential flaws in this approach. In a sense, it's not only awful, but it's also sabotaging everybody else's efforts at the same time. As a game, it's not much better. I like football, I like football games; I find it hard to recognise this in either category.

2/10
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Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

PES fanboyism at its finest in that review.

Got 8.0 in the new x-360 magazine.

Said it was only let down by the bare bones options but said it was solid enough first attempt

WESTWOOD IS A BELL END!!!!!
 
Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

As I said studeep it doesnt look Next Gen, but then again there are a few 360 titles that dont really look Next Gen, the other thing is a lot of them do..... if you have a HD TV :( now I shelled out over a £1000 last year on a 42" widescreen Rear Proj TV, I aint plannin on buying another TV for years to come.

DJ
 
Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

cowden_harley said:
PES fanboyism at its finest in that review.

Got 8.0 in the new x-360 magazine.

Said it was only let down by the bare bones options but said it was solid enough first attempt

WESTWOOD IS A BELL END!!!!!
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Most of the reviews state that its a stepdown (in terms of animation and gameplay) from the Xbox/PS2 releases of FIFA 06.
 
Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

cowden_harley said:
PES fanboyism at its finest in that review.

Got 8.0 in the new x-360 magazine.

Said it was only let down by the bare bones options but said it was solid enough first attempt

WESTWOOD IS A BELL END!!!!!
Click to expand...

So the EuroGamer (which is fairly impartial) review is fanboyism at its best, whereas the XBOX360 Magazine review is fair and just despite it being a magazine dedicated to the 360.

Uh, yeah, ok. While I dont believe 2/10 sounds particularly fair, I'd probably take their review over the 360 mag review.
 
Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

cowden_harley said:
PES fanboyism at its finest in that review.

Got 8.0 in the new x-360 magazine.

Said it was only let down by the bare bones options but said it was solid enough first attempt

WESTWOOD IS A BELL END!!!!!
Click to expand...

This game is never a 8/10, NEVER EVER MATE! Official Mags are pish, everyone knows they give biased reviews, as for it being let down for it's bare bones options, BARE BONES!!!! It's pure bleached white powder dry bones mate, there is nothing in this game, you qualify for the World Cup and that's it, then you wait for FIFA World Cup 2006 game. As for solid first attempt, that's a complete disgrace of a comment, EA have been working for 2 YEARS on this game 2 YEARS, and they give you a game with 72 teams and very poor amount of options.

EA release FIFA 06: RTWC, then in May/June you'll have the WC 06 game, then in Sept you'll get FIFA 07, which will have all the club sides and lots of options, BUT PROBABLY similar graphics, then FIFA 08, which will have all the options, all the teams in the world ever, a whole new engine, new graphics etc. I soooooo wanted this game to be worth picking up, JUST TO TRY NEXT GEN FOOTIE, but it's a poor attempt for a first attempt mate, FIFA has been here since 1993, it's not there first attempt at a footie game ever, it's the first on a new system that has as much power as they could ever want for now. Stick with your FIFA 06 mate and save your cash.
 
Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

cowden_harley said:
PES fanboyism at its finest in that review.

Got 8.0 in the new x-360 magazine.

Said it was only let down by the bare bones options but said it was solid enough first attempt

WESTWOOD IS A BELL END!!!!!
Click to expand...
Eurogamer probably do the best reviews on the net, they're certainly not fanboys. If something's really shite they won't knock it down to a 4 or 5 and say this isn't up to much, they'll come out and say hey this is cat's piss don't buy it.

And first-attempt my arse, the reason it's so bare-bones is because it was rushed out the door in time for launch like the other EA Sports games and so that when they come to the next version they can state more teams as a 'new feature'.
 
Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

4 quotes, 4 similar answers.

What we are trying to say is;

Dog shit smeared over your face and in your mouth > Fifa 06 RTWC.

EA have had years and years to produce a good game, they get given hardware that should mean its easier than ever before yet they actually produce a game miles behind the current gen versions in almost every area.
 
Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

Yes but PES5 is bullshit too I hope PES6 doesnt end up being a tarted up version of 5, 5 is too frustrating and the CPU talks too much bullshit.

DJ
 
Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

djdavedoc said:
Yes but PES5 is bullshit too I hope PES6 doesnt end up being a tarted up version of 5, 5 is too frustrating and the CPU talks too much bullshit.
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Mate your clearly ill, please go to your local doctors and get your head seen too. PES5 is balanced much better than 3 and 4. As for animations etc, at least in PES5 certain players have individual moves instead of the same carbon copy moves for everyone in FIFA. Now back on topic.

PEOPLE SAVE YOUR CASH, DONT ACCEPT POOR LAUNCH TITLES, AVOID THIS GAME.

I mean look at Westwood there, he's pleading with ya to avoid this game ;)

Westwood said:
Do your self a favour boooooyyyyyyyyyy, avoid this title like Girls Aloud's new single..... HHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAA............. now DROP THE BOMB
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Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

Ok so explain why during times your players play like complete retards? every touch is a foul when trying to win the ball back but the CPU gets away with Blue Murder lol! I dont need to go to the doctors I just think overall PES4 was more enjoyable than PES5 and less awkward to play and control and the CPU talked a lot less bullshit than it does on PES5 at 6* level.

I will also say give FIFA 06 RTWC a playtest/rent first before buying.

DJ
 
Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

cowden_harley said:
PES fanboyism at its finest in that review.

Got 8.0 in the new x-360 magazine.

Said it was only let down by the bare bones options but said it was solid enough first attempt

WESTWOOD IS A BELL END!!!!!
Click to expand...


yeah he has too much tea in his tinker. i'd like to bell him myself with a few sugar cubes.
 
Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

DJ, don't play the AI, it's a bad idea. The big Seabass dude has said himself in interviews that a next-gen aim is to make the computer opposition less 'cheap', he's come out and said it's unbalanced in favour of them. PES5 is only worse than 3 and 4 in this respect because it's a harder game which requires a more patient and skilled approach, so naturally the AI benefit more from this than they did in older versions.

Play multiplayer.
 
Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

ClassicD now that is what I call a worthwhile reply with some good advice given :)
 
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Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

ClassicD said:
DJ, don't play the AI, it's a bad idea. The big Seabass dude has said himself in interviews that a next-gen aim is to make the computer opposition less 'cheap', he's come out and said it's unbalanced in favour of them. PES5 is only worse than 3 and 4 in this respect because it's a harder game which requires a more patient and skilled approach, so naturally the AI benefit more from this than they did in older versions.

Play multiplayer.
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but thing is, you can't help but wonder why this approach and time spent can't be put to making the AI play exceptionally well to win games and not make your players less responsive to achieve the same aim :roll: (reality).
Alright you might say "we'll all still moan when the com AI executes every pass, tackle and shot to 99% accuracy" but surely this aspect of the games can also be worked on.
I know as much as we all want to have full control of the players we control and we want thier full performance to be at our finger tips so as to put it to full use, there must be a forfeit (to perfectly replicate reality) but i just hope it'll not be the same they've implemented in this sequel (PES5).
BTW dont get me wrong, PES5 & the warriors are the only games i play ATM as they are both way, way above average games with minor glitches ;) but i just thoght "get it off my chest innit" :)
 
Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

My guess is they can only do so much with the AI at this time, before they have to start finding other ways of making the game harder (i.e. unbalancing it). If they didn't do that then you'd run all over the top of the current AI and thump them in every match, hardly an alternative. What is an alternative, is to play on a lower difficulty, that's what they're there for.
 
Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

IF the game plays JUST like Fifa 06 for PS2 then it's OK gameplay not horrible. horrible gameplay is fifa 2004.
 
Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

Sorry but judging from the videos, WC 2006 gameplay+animations seems worse. I dont know why, but it looks so unnatural and weird.
 
Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

ClassicD said:
My guess is they can only do so much with the AI at this time, before they have to start finding other ways of making the game harder (i.e. unbalancing it). If they didn't do that then you'd run all over the top of the current AI and thump them in every match, hardly an alternative.
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suppose so :)..... now i feel they've got all the time in the world to make a difference with the next installment, and i really wish i can be extra certain they'll use a whole new engine as pes5 engine was very good enough for PS2 but obviously not for PES6 on PS3 (or whatever it'll be called) as people are expecting something way way "out of this world".;)
 
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Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

well imo 2/10 is a bit harsh. After playing/watching it for a few hours i'd give it around 6/7 out of 10.
 
Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

cowden_harley said:
Fair enough everybody is entitled to their own opinion on it.

For the record WESTWOOD IS STILL A BELL END!!!
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I never argued with that point mate ;)

I have played FIFA 06, and enjoyed it, then PES5 came along and FIFA looked very basic to it, visuals and all. I had thought of getting RTWC, but after reading the variety of reviews on it, I've decided to pass on it. For a launch title it really is taking the pish, and if people buy it, EA will continue to pass of poor quality launch titles everytime. Dont accept it people, we want more for our moolah. What you say Westwood? ;)

Westwood said:
Yo man, dont accpet this kinda trash, this is what the BeeGees are to HIP HOP, yeah thats right NOTHING. Come on my people, dont take it from EA, let me hear ya HHHHHOOOOOOLLLLLLLLEEEERRRRRRR NOW DROP THE BOMB
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Re: FIFA 06 - RTWC (2/10 eurogamer.com)

I would give it an average rating of about 7/10 its not bad at all but hardly evolution from FIFA 06 Current Gen, graphically though its a lot better than FIFA Xbox,PS2.

DJ
 
Re: FIFA 06 - Road to World Cup (Xbox 360) - 2/10 (www.eurogamer.com)

Just remember that Winning Eleven 10 will be on the xbox and ps2 and maybe ps3 but those who arent blind to history and fanboyism will know that the games on the next gen will be the same as the ps2 one with better graphics just like Pro evo 1 was on the ps2 and ps1 and not very good.
All the new Pes and Fifas are always shit on new systems compare the first ones on the ps2 to what you play now.

Ea or Konami are not to blame you cant do shit with a alpha or beta system kit.
Until software designers get to grips with the systems and thid partys make proper designing software theres only so much can be done.
Look at Call of duty on the Xbox 360 all it has is graphics no Next Gen gameplay.
 
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Re: FIFA 06 - Road to World Cup (Xbox 360) - 2/10 (www.eurogamer.com)

They're hardly shit mate, I remember PES/WE5 on PS2 and I was blown away by it, mainly from a graphical viewpoint. What you say is true in that they're usually nothing more than ports of the previous gen's last title with shinier graphics, but for WE/PES that will more than do me until they tap into the power of the new machines. It won't do for FIFA, because it's pishflaps.
 
Re: FIFA 06 - Road to World Cup (Xbox 360) - 2/10 (www.eurogamer.com)

Yeh shit is too strong a word but i remember stuff like when you crossed the ball you knew straight away if it was going to be a goal or not before your player headed it etc.
 
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