FIFA 06

Here we go again you’ll think to yourself, another year and another EA Sports soccer game.  Year after year the franchise went from good to excellent to pretty spectacular but this year is something different.  This year FIFA Soccer 06 feels like a whole new ball game.  In fact, this is a new direction for the franchise and that is a great thing.

Pop in the disc and select your favorite team in a really long lineup of teams from the various divisions and you’ll immediately be tossed into a game … against a Classic XI team no less.  We’re talking a team that has Zico, Cantona and Hagi among the lineup.  If you manage to survive this “friendly” match you’ll earn points (good for some excellent extras to unlock) and also an idea what changes the franchise introduces this year.

If you’re familiar with the Winning Eleven franchise you’ll know its less simulator and more arcade-style.  This is exactly what we get with FIFA Soccer 06, less simulation and more arcade action that makes for a fast-paced game with more accessible gameplay features.  It’s easier to make defensive calls and now you can mark certain players.  Imagine you’re playing the Classic XI team again and you want to keep Mexico’s legendary Hugo Sanchez from scoring way too many times so you issue a command and you’ll have one of your players keep Sanchez at bay just like a real soccer game.  Even free kicks feel tighter.

The game modes hold a small variety of modes like Tournament, Create Tournament (where you create a tournament that suits your tastes), Practice mode and a little something called FIFA 06 Lounge (where up to eight players can compete against each other in a quick pickup game with less strict rules).  What stands out, though, is Manager Mode.  It is in this mode that you’ll be creating a Manager, starting out as merely a bit player in your favorite team’s crew you work your way up to manager and thusly controlling your franchise’s every decision.  You’ll be keeping in mind even the little things such as your team’s morale and how a new player mixes in with the team.  Not only is this mode deep but it’s also downright fun to play if you’re looking for a challenging franchise mode.

There’s more gameplay additions that work well and it’s the Tactics and Mentality feature.  With the touch of the directional control pad you can make quick adjustments to your team’s defense or attack.  For example if you want to order a player to make a wing play all you have to do is press right on the pad and your player will carry out said move.  It’s that easy and it works well.  Unfortunately EA Sports cut a few corners for the GameCube, dismissing a few extra features. 

On the graphical front, though, the game looks amazing.  The player models are wonderfully detailed and there are more animations when it comes to the celebrations or frustrations.   Aside from the better detail on uniforms the stadiums look amazing and the television-style presentation is better than ever.  Even the game’s interface is a lot more pleasant to look at.

The sound is also a strongpoint since the stadium sounds just as alive as it looks.  Fans chant and sing their team country’s songs.  The best adjustment, though, comes in the form of Clive Tydsely and Andy Gray.  While the past play-by-play and color commentators were good there’s more emotion and better coverage this year with the new guys.  There’s also a better assortment of tunes that range from The Doves, Oasis, The Gypsys and Linea 77. 

EA Sports has done it again; FIFA Soccer 06 is the real Must Have soccer game you must own this year.  The game plays a tad different from past games in the franchise but the changes are definitely very welcome. There’s some minor bumps and bruises in the gameplay that you don’t find in the other consoles versions but otherwise this game plays like a dream.  Do not miss this one, sports fans.   

Gameplay: 9.0
This one feels like a new game but thanks to some GameCube goofs this one doesn’t play as great as the PS2 and Xbox.  Still there’s better control and Manager Mode is so deep you’ll be playing it for months to come.

Graphics: 9.0
Slightly better than last year, FIFA Soccer 06 looks good in action and with a nice amount of player animations and detailed facial features this is one great-looking GameCube game.  Even the stadiums look amazing.

Sound: 9.2
The game does stadium sounds just as great as last year but now there’s a new commentary crew and they’re spectacular.  There’s also a great soundtrack with various world tunes from the likes of Yerba Buena to Jamiroquai and it’s really good.

Difficulty: Medium
Thanks to player marking your best player will be watched and the defense is pretty tight.  The goalkeepers in this game can get way too lazy for their own good.  Even USA’s Casey Keller doesn’t tire out that easily.  The ref still hands out yellow cards like it was Valentine’s Day in a kindergarten classroom.

Concept: 9.0
Marking star players, better gameplay, FIFA 06 Lounge and loads of soccer fanatic extras make this the best edition ever.  There’s some great stuff to unlock like a World XI team.  As a soccer fan I can’t stop drooling.

Multiplayer: 8.5
Ok, I’m starting to sound like a broken record here but us GameCube owners are seriously missing out on great online multiplayer.  Still there’s tons of fun to be had either way with the FIFA Lounge games you can share with friends. No online multiplayer, though.

Overall: 9.0
There’s no doubt about, FIFA Soccer 06 is the best soccer game you’ll play on your GameCube this year.  It exceeds even last year’s excellent game in almost every way.  The GameCube sacrifices little details that make the PS2 and Xbox versions shine but this is still one seriously fun game.  Buy this one right away, sports fans.