FIFA Soccer 06 - Review
Added October 8th, 2005 by Kisan Parikh
Introduction:
FIFA 06, the latest addition to EA’s FIFA Soccer Franchise, improves upon the previous year’s version with a number of new gameplay elements, adjustments, and an overhauled Manager Mode. The game is better than FIFA 2005, but it does have some flaws. Let’s take a look at what FIFA 06 has to offer.
Gameplay:
FIFA’s core gameplay stays true to the previous year’s, but there are some new mechanics and adjustments to speak of. One of the biggest additions is the Tactics and Mentality system. This new feature allows you to select both your team’s attacking and defensive styles. Offensive tactics include Counter Attack, Wind Play, Box Overload, and 3rd Man Release. The defensive tactics include Pressing, Offside Trap, Zone Defense, and Flat Back. Using these tactics individually or in combinations can help you obtain additional scoring chances as well as keep the ball away from your goal. While you may be familiar with the tactics described above, the helpful diagrams in FIFA 06 can simplify these strategies. This feature is a good addition that most will enjoy, but some may feel that it is unnecessary and tedious to learn.
FIFA 06, the latest addition to EA’s FIFA Soccer Franchise, improves upon the previous year’s version with a number of new gameplay elements, adjustments, and an overhauled Manager Mode. The game is better than FIFA 2005, but it does have some flaws. Let’s take a look at what FIFA 06 has to offer.
Gameplay:
FIFA’s core gameplay stays true to the previous year’s, but there are some new mechanics and adjustments to speak of. One of the biggest additions is the Tactics and Mentality system. This new feature allows you to select both your team’s attacking and defensive styles. Offensive tactics include Counter Attack, Wind Play, Box Overload, and 3rd Man Release. The defensive tactics include Pressing, Offside Trap, Zone Defense, and Flat Back. Using these tactics individually or in combinations can help you obtain additional scoring chances as well as keep the ball away from your goal. While you may be familiar with the tactics described above, the helpful diagrams in FIFA 06 can simplify these strategies. This feature is a good addition that most will enjoy, but some may feel that it is unnecessary and tedious to learn.
Another added feature is Pace Control. This new ability allows you to slow down the ball handler to avoid defenders. By activating Pace Control with the black button, you are able to change directions quickly, and this can make defenders more vulnerable to a Skill Move, controlled by the right analog stick. The main function of the Pace Control ability is to be able to stop the ball quickly to change directions and set up your Skill Stick Moves. The Skill Stick allows you to execute a number of maneuvers such as lane changes, 360 lane changes, and stopovers. Another move you can pull off is a dummy. A dummy involves letting the ball pass by you to retain possession or roll to a teammate.
One gameplay adjustment seen in FIFA 06 is the new free kick system. This year, you are forced to rely on your own devices to aim and apply spin to the ball during free kicks. You must position the camera and the player correctly to achieve the desired effect. This will take some getting used to, and I really wish they had stuck with the old system.
Another notable adjustment can be seen in the game’s AI. The AI has been worked on to be smarter and more challenging opponents. They make the right passes and pounce on defensive lapses on your part. Also, they are less apt to execute bad decisions leading to easy points.
The main single-player mode of play, Manager Mode, has been overhauled for the better in FIFA 06. You start off in Manager Mode by choosing 1 of 6 regions to view job offers in, each with a number of leagues within them. EA really takes advantage of its FIFA license here, because all totaled, you are able to manage a team from one of 26 different leagues. After choosing a team to manage, you are given a list of sponsors to choose from. Sponsors vary from region to region, and they also are very different in terms of what they offer. There is no best sponsor, because the quality of the sponsor is a direct result of your team’s abilities. Each offers a different per-game total, but they also give bonuses and loyalties. There are a range of qualifiers from sticking with their company to winning the League Cup, and this forces you to consider what your team is capable of. After choosing a sponsor, you are able to jump into the season.
The Manager Mode is now controlled mainly by a budget. Revenue is generated from sponsors and ticket sales, and there are many, many ways to spend your money. Of course, you will need to pay your players, but you will also need to spend cash to improve your club. You deplete your budget by scouting and upgrading your staff. These upgrades can involve your coaching staff, scouts, trainers, stadium managers, and negotiators. Your negotiators play a large role in your effectiveness in the Transfer Market.
The Transfer Market is where you buy and borrow talent from around the world. You are forced to both pay a fee to the club as well as pay the player a fitting salary when buying a player. This is a way to acquire talent from around the world, and a large portion of your money will be used in doing so. In addition to just buying other players, you can sell your talent as well. In doing so, you get to receive the transfer fee, and this can be used to improve your club.
In addition to all of this, you get a few more elements to deal with in terms of dealing with your players. You must keep in mind the element of Team Chemistry. Team Chemistry is based upon things such as morale and experience, and it is a stat that shows how well your team functions together. Various factors can be influenced by off the field incidents brought upon by the media. You are faced with incidents and problems such as heckling, charity events, and bad press throughout the season. By choosing an appropriate response, you can add to or lower morale, job security, and even fan support ratings.
As far as the actual games in Manager Mode, FIFA 06 offers 3 ways to handle them. Visual Simulation allows you to monitor the game on a play-by-play basis. You can increase or decrease the speed of the simulation, and you can intervene if things get out of hand. Alternatively, you can simply play or simulate a match normally.
Overall, the Manager Mode is vastly improved, and it has much to offer any soccer fan. The gameplay changes and additions are a step in the right direction, although the Tactics and Mentality feature may be seen as unnecessary. Another issue with gameplay is the way free kicks are handled. These issues aside, the gameplay of FIFA 06 is solid.
Graphics:
The visuals in FIFA 06 aren’t too different from 2005. The player models are superbly done, but the crowd is still two-dimensional. The visuals of FIFA 06 shine when in cut-scene mode as well as during some replays. The game applies a dramatic effect by somewhat blurring the background, thus highlighting the players. The animations flowed well for the most part, and this made the dribble-moves fun to watch. There is a bit of slowdown at certain points in the game, but nothing that detracts heavily from gameplay.
One gameplay adjustment seen in FIFA 06 is the new free kick system. This year, you are forced to rely on your own devices to aim and apply spin to the ball during free kicks. You must position the camera and the player correctly to achieve the desired effect. This will take some getting used to, and I really wish they had stuck with the old system.
Another notable adjustment can be seen in the game’s AI. The AI has been worked on to be smarter and more challenging opponents. They make the right passes and pounce on defensive lapses on your part. Also, they are less apt to execute bad decisions leading to easy points.
The main single-player mode of play, Manager Mode, has been overhauled for the better in FIFA 06. You start off in Manager Mode by choosing 1 of 6 regions to view job offers in, each with a number of leagues within them. EA really takes advantage of its FIFA license here, because all totaled, you are able to manage a team from one of 26 different leagues. After choosing a team to manage, you are given a list of sponsors to choose from. Sponsors vary from region to region, and they also are very different in terms of what they offer. There is no best sponsor, because the quality of the sponsor is a direct result of your team’s abilities. Each offers a different per-game total, but they also give bonuses and loyalties. There are a range of qualifiers from sticking with their company to winning the League Cup, and this forces you to consider what your team is capable of. After choosing a sponsor, you are able to jump into the season.
The Manager Mode is now controlled mainly by a budget. Revenue is generated from sponsors and ticket sales, and there are many, many ways to spend your money. Of course, you will need to pay your players, but you will also need to spend cash to improve your club. You deplete your budget by scouting and upgrading your staff. These upgrades can involve your coaching staff, scouts, trainers, stadium managers, and negotiators. Your negotiators play a large role in your effectiveness in the Transfer Market.
The Transfer Market is where you buy and borrow talent from around the world. You are forced to both pay a fee to the club as well as pay the player a fitting salary when buying a player. This is a way to acquire talent from around the world, and a large portion of your money will be used in doing so. In addition to just buying other players, you can sell your talent as well. In doing so, you get to receive the transfer fee, and this can be used to improve your club.
In addition to all of this, you get a few more elements to deal with in terms of dealing with your players. You must keep in mind the element of Team Chemistry. Team Chemistry is based upon things such as morale and experience, and it is a stat that shows how well your team functions together. Various factors can be influenced by off the field incidents brought upon by the media. You are faced with incidents and problems such as heckling, charity events, and bad press throughout the season. By choosing an appropriate response, you can add to or lower morale, job security, and even fan support ratings.
As far as the actual games in Manager Mode, FIFA 06 offers 3 ways to handle them. Visual Simulation allows you to monitor the game on a play-by-play basis. You can increase or decrease the speed of the simulation, and you can intervene if things get out of hand. Alternatively, you can simply play or simulate a match normally.
Overall, the Manager Mode is vastly improved, and it has much to offer any soccer fan. The gameplay changes and additions are a step in the right direction, although the Tactics and Mentality feature may be seen as unnecessary. Another issue with gameplay is the way free kicks are handled. These issues aside, the gameplay of FIFA 06 is solid.
Graphics:
The visuals in FIFA 06 aren’t too different from 2005. The player models are superbly done, but the crowd is still two-dimensional. The visuals of FIFA 06 shine when in cut-scene mode as well as during some replays. The game applies a dramatic effect by somewhat blurring the background, thus highlighting the players. The animations flowed well for the most part, and this made the dribble-moves fun to watch. There is a bit of slowdown at certain points in the game, but nothing that detracts heavily from gameplay.
Audio:
FIFA 06 features a great soundtrack with a large number of artists. You can even go into the playlist to select which songs play. A click of the right thumbstick allows you to change songs on the fly. The in-game sounds stay true to the expected. The crowd roars appropriately after goals and shouts disapproval after hard tackles. The sound of punts, kicks, and tacking are the same as they have been for years, and this is just fine. In addition, the commentary is solid with Andy Gray and Tydsley. Overall, the in-game sound is as solid as can be, and the soundtrack is a great extra for those who will play Manager Mode.
Controls:
The control scheme of FIFA 06 is fairly simple, but it will take practice to master every move. The video tutorials will help you become acquainted with the moves, and after some practice, you will get the hang of it. The tactics are perfectly implemented with the D-pad and left trigger. As with many other EA Sports titles, the right analog stick is used to control the ball. The Skill Stick featured in FIFA 06 gives you a good feel of the moves you make, and it works perfectly within the game.
Replay:
Manager Mode is a game mode that will provide hours of gameplay, but FIFA 06 offers even more. A new addition is the EA Lounge, an offline way to organize matches with your friends. The Lounge allows you to participate in friendly matches with up to seven friends in order to earn a good spot on the leaderboard. You are offered ways to sabotage your opponents if you are playing well. These ‘cheap shots’ allow you to do things such as improve your superstar’s ratings or decrease the ratings of opposing players. The online mode of Xbox Live is very standard. There are, of course, regular matches and small tournaments, but nothing extra like leagues. Leaderboards and roster updates are also available on Xbox Live.
FIFA 06 features a great soundtrack with a large number of artists. You can even go into the playlist to select which songs play. A click of the right thumbstick allows you to change songs on the fly. The in-game sounds stay true to the expected. The crowd roars appropriately after goals and shouts disapproval after hard tackles. The sound of punts, kicks, and tacking are the same as they have been for years, and this is just fine. In addition, the commentary is solid with Andy Gray and Tydsley. Overall, the in-game sound is as solid as can be, and the soundtrack is a great extra for those who will play Manager Mode.
Controls:
The control scheme of FIFA 06 is fairly simple, but it will take practice to master every move. The video tutorials will help you become acquainted with the moves, and after some practice, you will get the hang of it. The tactics are perfectly implemented with the D-pad and left trigger. As with many other EA Sports titles, the right analog stick is used to control the ball. The Skill Stick featured in FIFA 06 gives you a good feel of the moves you make, and it works perfectly within the game.
Replay:
Manager Mode is a game mode that will provide hours of gameplay, but FIFA 06 offers even more. A new addition is the EA Lounge, an offline way to organize matches with your friends. The Lounge allows you to participate in friendly matches with up to seven friends in order to earn a good spot on the leaderboard. You are offered ways to sabotage your opponents if you are playing well. These ‘cheap shots’ allow you to do things such as improve your superstar’s ratings or decrease the ratings of opposing players. The online mode of Xbox Live is very standard. There are, of course, regular matches and small tournaments, but nothing extra like leagues. Leaderboards and roster updates are also available on Xbox Live.
Summary:
Even though it has a few flaws, FIFA 06 is a great pickup for soccer fans. It features a revamped Manager Mode that will provide many hours of fun, and it is the only game to offer the FIFA leagues and teams. If you are a soccer fan, you will at least want to give this one a trial run.
Even though it has a few flaws, FIFA 06 is a great pickup for soccer fans. It features a revamped Manager Mode that will provide many hours of fun, and it is the only game to offer the FIFA leagues and teams. If you are a soccer fan, you will at least want to give this one a trial run.
