FIFA Soccer 06: Road to FIFA World Cup - Review
Added December 1st, 2005 by Kisan Parikh
Introduction:
With soccer fans becoming more and more enthused about the upcoming World Cup of 2006, it’s the perfect time for FIFA 06: Road to the World Cup to hit store shelves as the first soccer game on the Xbox 360. The game may shift focus to the World Cup, but it stays true to the successful gameplay found in Xbox’s FIFA 06. Unfortunately, Road to the World Cup disappoints due to a small number of game modes and a lack of improvement from the Xbox version.
Gameplay:
Road to the World Cup starts off with the innovative new menu style found in NBA Live 06 for the Xbox 360. You are in a practice setting that allows you to kick the ball around with a few teammates against a goalie. The mini-game carries over to the loading screen, which gives you something to do while the real game loads.
With soccer fans becoming more and more enthused about the upcoming World Cup of 2006, it’s the perfect time for FIFA 06: Road to the World Cup to hit store shelves as the first soccer game on the Xbox 360. The game may shift focus to the World Cup, but it stays true to the successful gameplay found in Xbox’s FIFA 06. Unfortunately, Road to the World Cup disappoints due to a small number of game modes and a lack of improvement from the Xbox version.
Gameplay:
Road to the World Cup starts off with the innovative new menu style found in NBA Live 06 for the Xbox 360. You are in a practice setting that allows you to kick the ball around with a few teammates against a goalie. The mini-game carries over to the loading screen, which gives you something to do while the real game loads.
As far as actual in-game play, RTWC is almost exactly like FIFA 06 for the Xbox. The new pace control move is featured in the game and is more accessible due to the 360’s controller. The new free-kick system that forces you to aim the ball without guides and the aiming devices remains as well. What results is gameplay that really won’t be new to those who have already played FIFA on the Xbox, which isn’t a bad thing. Road to the World Cup is fun with 06’s AI making it tougher to score.
One change from the Xbox version is a new management system that allows you to use the D-Pad to make changes on the fly. You can make substitutions, change kick takers, and tinker with coaching tactics. These tactics are the same ones from the Xbox version and include: Counter Attack, Wing Play, Box Overload, 3rd Man Release, Pressing, Offside Trap, Zone Defense, and Flat Back
The major mode of play, unsurprisingly, is Road to the World Cup Mode. You start out by choosing your team and selecting a team to face in a friendly match. After becoming acquainted with your team, you are then able to compete in the qualifying matches. Once your team qualifies, you are then able to compete in the actual World Cup tournament and hopefully get to the World Cup itself. The mode is really only fun to play a few times through, as it can get repetitive fast.
The major disappointment with Road to the World Cup is that it excludes all the features that were in the Xbox version. Where is the great Manager Mode that allows you to complete with club teams? In fact, where are the club teams all together? FIFA 06 for the Xbox features club teams from 26 leagues, and it also supports international teams outside of Franchise Mode. In comparison, Road to the World Cup is quite skimpy in terms of teams and players, because club teams are not even included in the Friendly Match mode of play. The Manager mode will really be missed. I really wish that the World Cup mode was included in addition to the other modes of play. The simple tournament structure of this mode pales in comparison to the Franchise Mode which involved sponsorships, coaching staffs, team chemistry, and an extensive transfer market.
Another missed feature is the FIFA Lounge, the mode of play that allowed you to organize matches with friends on the same box. This mode of play was great, because the mode simplified playing against friends with its leaderboard-based system. The little extras such as sabotages made the mode even more fun. In place of the FIFA Lounge, EA has included a Tournament Mode that is pretty straightforward. It allows you to create tournaments against both CPU and user controlled teams.
The only other offline game mode is the Practice Mode that allows you to work on your game if you feel it’s not up to par. You are able to play in matches with a set number of players, take corners, or practice free-kicks. This is a good idea for those who can’t seem to put the ball in, but the best way to improve is still to play more games.
Online play for FIFA 06 is generally what is expected. You will see EA’s Lobby system again to help you find opponents. The options are fairly simple and basically range from ranked matches to unranked matches. Unranked matches can be customized to use the settings that you prefer. As expected, there are leaderboards to help you see how you rank against other players. Really, there isn’t anything new about the Xbox Live Play, but it is fun to play and provides a bit of replay value.
In terms of gameplay, FIFA 06: Road to the World Cup actually offers less than FIFA 06 for the Xbox. The gameplay is entertaining but almost identical to the Xbox version’s, and the modes of play are less abundant and less satisfying.
Graphics:
The graphics of RTWC are a mixed bag. On one side, a marked improvement can be seen on the Xbox 360, and there are more animations and details. Unfortunately, soccer games don’t always showcase graphics like other games do, and the visuals are truly seen during cut-scenes and replays. Unfortunately, when the graphics are seen, they can appear a bit too stylized at times. Players can give off a strange glowing effect, and others seem to have plastic skin. Additionally, many players fail to show expression during these cut-scenes. The visuals are solid, but really don’t match up to the other titles seen on the Xbox 360.
One change from the Xbox version is a new management system that allows you to use the D-Pad to make changes on the fly. You can make substitutions, change kick takers, and tinker with coaching tactics. These tactics are the same ones from the Xbox version and include: Counter Attack, Wing Play, Box Overload, 3rd Man Release, Pressing, Offside Trap, Zone Defense, and Flat Back
The major mode of play, unsurprisingly, is Road to the World Cup Mode. You start out by choosing your team and selecting a team to face in a friendly match. After becoming acquainted with your team, you are then able to compete in the qualifying matches. Once your team qualifies, you are then able to compete in the actual World Cup tournament and hopefully get to the World Cup itself. The mode is really only fun to play a few times through, as it can get repetitive fast.
The major disappointment with Road to the World Cup is that it excludes all the features that were in the Xbox version. Where is the great Manager Mode that allows you to complete with club teams? In fact, where are the club teams all together? FIFA 06 for the Xbox features club teams from 26 leagues, and it also supports international teams outside of Franchise Mode. In comparison, Road to the World Cup is quite skimpy in terms of teams and players, because club teams are not even included in the Friendly Match mode of play. The Manager mode will really be missed. I really wish that the World Cup mode was included in addition to the other modes of play. The simple tournament structure of this mode pales in comparison to the Franchise Mode which involved sponsorships, coaching staffs, team chemistry, and an extensive transfer market.
Another missed feature is the FIFA Lounge, the mode of play that allowed you to organize matches with friends on the same box. This mode of play was great, because the mode simplified playing against friends with its leaderboard-based system. The little extras such as sabotages made the mode even more fun. In place of the FIFA Lounge, EA has included a Tournament Mode that is pretty straightforward. It allows you to create tournaments against both CPU and user controlled teams.
The only other offline game mode is the Practice Mode that allows you to work on your game if you feel it’s not up to par. You are able to play in matches with a set number of players, take corners, or practice free-kicks. This is a good idea for those who can’t seem to put the ball in, but the best way to improve is still to play more games.
Online play for FIFA 06 is generally what is expected. You will see EA’s Lobby system again to help you find opponents. The options are fairly simple and basically range from ranked matches to unranked matches. Unranked matches can be customized to use the settings that you prefer. As expected, there are leaderboards to help you see how you rank against other players. Really, there isn’t anything new about the Xbox Live Play, but it is fun to play and provides a bit of replay value.
In terms of gameplay, FIFA 06: Road to the World Cup actually offers less than FIFA 06 for the Xbox. The gameplay is entertaining but almost identical to the Xbox version’s, and the modes of play are less abundant and less satisfying.
Graphics:
The graphics of RTWC are a mixed bag. On one side, a marked improvement can be seen on the Xbox 360, and there are more animations and details. Unfortunately, soccer games don’t always showcase graphics like other games do, and the visuals are truly seen during cut-scenes and replays. Unfortunately, when the graphics are seen, they can appear a bit too stylized at times. Players can give off a strange glowing effect, and others seem to have plastic skin. Additionally, many players fail to show expression during these cut-scenes. The visuals are solid, but really don’t match up to the other titles seen on the Xbox 360.
Audio:
Road to the World Cup does fare well in the audio category. The announcers are great and actually have insightful comments about the occurrences of the game. In addition, the crowd roars as the action unfolds on the field. Everything sounds right while playing the game. RTWC also features an excellent soundtrack showcasing artists from around the world. You can choose which songs play by going into EA Trax, but none of this is too important due to the Xbox 360’s custom soundtrack capabilities.
Controls:
The controls of FIFA 06: Road to the World Cup are generally identical to the ones found in the Xbox’s version. The functionalities found in the black and white buttons have been moved to the left and right shoulder buttons. This means that the pace control element is much more accessible and easier to use. The other control change involves the D-Pad, and now you are able to access much more than just your tactics. Now you can manage kick takers, substitutions, and coaching elements through the D-Pad. One small but fairly noticeable tweak involves the shoot button. It seems that you must shorten down your button press time on shots to avoid hitting the ball way over the goal.
The control scheme for Road to the World Cup gets the job done with little changes from past games. This game is fairly easy to pick up and play, and this makes it more accessible to all types of gamers.
Replay:
FIFA 06: Road to the World Cup is yet another Xbox 360 title from EA Sports that lacks depth and replay value. The new World Cup mode is fun, but you can’t really play it more than a few times. The Tournament Mode can be fun, but it is not as fun and playable as the FIFA Lounge. The lack of the Manager Mode and Club teams really hurt this game. The true only source of replay value is multiplayer through Xbox Live or Friendly Matches with friends.
Road to the World Cup does fare well in the audio category. The announcers are great and actually have insightful comments about the occurrences of the game. In addition, the crowd roars as the action unfolds on the field. Everything sounds right while playing the game. RTWC also features an excellent soundtrack showcasing artists from around the world. You can choose which songs play by going into EA Trax, but none of this is too important due to the Xbox 360’s custom soundtrack capabilities.
Controls:
The controls of FIFA 06: Road to the World Cup are generally identical to the ones found in the Xbox’s version. The functionalities found in the black and white buttons have been moved to the left and right shoulder buttons. This means that the pace control element is much more accessible and easier to use. The other control change involves the D-Pad, and now you are able to access much more than just your tactics. Now you can manage kick takers, substitutions, and coaching elements through the D-Pad. One small but fairly noticeable tweak involves the shoot button. It seems that you must shorten down your button press time on shots to avoid hitting the ball way over the goal.
The control scheme for Road to the World Cup gets the job done with little changes from past games. This game is fairly easy to pick up and play, and this makes it more accessible to all types of gamers.
Replay:
FIFA 06: Road to the World Cup is yet another Xbox 360 title from EA Sports that lacks depth and replay value. The new World Cup mode is fun, but you can’t really play it more than a few times. The Tournament Mode can be fun, but it is not as fun and playable as the FIFA Lounge. The lack of the Manager Mode and Club teams really hurt this game. The true only source of replay value is multiplayer through Xbox Live or Friendly Matches with friends.
Summary:
FIFA 06: Road to the World Cup can be fun, but it really doesn’t offer as much as the Xbox counterpart. There isn’t as much offered in terms of game modes, and the gameplay is almost identical. I really don’t see anything that can make it worth $10 more than FIFA 06. People who own Xbox should avoid this one, and those who feel compelled to play Road to the World Cup should rent it first.
FIFA 06: Road to the World Cup can be fun, but it really doesn’t offer as much as the Xbox counterpart. There isn’t as much offered in terms of game modes, and the gameplay is almost identical. I really don’t see anything that can make it worth $10 more than FIFA 06. People who own Xbox should avoid this one, and those who feel compelled to play Road to the World Cup should rent it first.
