This game is by far the best yet in the FIFA series and will be until FIFA 2003 is released, unless EA decide to get rid of all the photographic faces, just like they removed the Creation Centre in this game. So is it worth your cash? Read on and find out.

Game Play

What is the use of a football game if it looks the part, but plays like rubbish? Well, FIFA isn't exactly a bucket of realism, but this version is certainly fun, which is the most important aspect of a game.

If the game is fun and challenges the player both mentally and physically (tapping the run button, ouch!), then surely the player will want to play more. Unless of course if they're realism nutters that only a game like Pro Evolution Soccer can stop their cravings for the ball not sticking to the player's feet… which leads me onto another thing.

2002 FIFA World Cup still has the super player that can make the ball stick to his feet, without having to touch the ball… pretty damn amazing if you ask me. If only players could do this in real life!

However, this is more of a graphical glitch to the game, rather than gameplay. This is how the game has been built and it's how the game will most likely stay, as you can instantly tell it's a FIFA game you're playing as soon as that ball magically comes back to the players' foot when taking a shot.

Don't get me wrong, I am NOT saying I like it, oh no, it only makes the game weird and sends a message to EA.

New Airplay System

The new Airplay system is great, very exciting, challenging and overall fun. Taking shots from volleys and heading, chesting the ball, kneeing it up, then whacking it one in the back of the net is so cool; then again I haven't whacked it in the back of the net yet… too hard for a beginner like me to this system.

Now if you've played FIFA 2002 then you'll find this game easier, but the difficulty and realism has improved and only a very skilled player will succeed in taking on the defence in World Class mode.

The tackling is fun. Players now push and shove each other away from the ball and if you try tackling from stupid angles, then no longer will the weaker player get the ball.

He will lose balance and topple over, though many may refer to it as a 'drunken tackle', I actually think it's a nice touch to the game and makes it that bit harder to master. No longer can you run the full pitch on World Class mode, and no, that skill button won't come in handy all the time.

The goalkeepers have been improved tremendously, though at times they give away easy goals. Reminds me of poor old Barthez, tumbling with the ball in every Man-U match he plays.

I think that the overall gameplay is arcade style, though realism has been incorporated here, it could have really done with a jumping, oh wait, EA have included it this year. Everyone celebrate, we have a jumping wall!

This is the best jumping wall ever, as we can actually control the timing to the jump, by pressing the run button when a player is controlled in the wall. It is really cool and gets both players into the action when a free kick is given. It's hard to stop a free kick with a jumping wall, it takes practice, which is a good thing.

The Star players are brilliant! It's great to have players that stand out from the crowd and players like Beckham, Figo, Owen and Veron really show off their talent.

If it's a free kick, a power shot, running speeds, or something else I don't know about, these players can pull it off and it's only a matter of time, until you find yourself with 3 tired star players, as you'll want to use them all the time, it really does get exciting.

It's a shame Goalkeepers can't be star players, that would be cool if a particular goalkeeper was seriously difficult to beat, it would be very fun and scoring would be a great feeling. Maybe in 2003 EA?

Graphics

By far this is one of the most stunning football games you're ever going to play or see in a shop window. Tthe atmosphere is intense, electrifying and emotional.

All 20 stadiums are in there, complete with crowds, laser shows and big evil floating things, sometimes in the form of people that dangle around with the air been pumped into them and sometimes big giant Mascots that float around…sometimes annoyingly.

The player faces can only be summed up with one word: "WOW"

No matter how hard you try, you just have to look around the monitor trying to find other players that look quite as brilliant as David Beckham in this game. They are that close, it's uncanny.

Realistic Player Faces

It's not just faces this year, but EA have also took the time to make individual hair styles for the players… and boy do they show. They have also made individual facial accessories. Veron has his earring, Fowler has his nose piece, it's all in there and it looks magnificent.

The motion capture and animations have been improved greatly, especially when players fall over, you can really feel the tumble. Sometimes it is funny when you catch a player on the ankle, and to your surprise, unlike FIFA 2002, he won't fly across the screen and land like a Stunt man, but he'll trip up, loose balance and fall to his knees, until he has his faces in the grass. Well it's funny until you get booked!

The kits are good, EA have once again taken control over the licences in the FIFA series, something we all come to expect from FIFA now. The kits are accurate and now have more detail, like numbers on front of the player's shirt. However, there is still no name on the back.

Sound

The sound in this game, like most of the FIFA games is great. The atmosphere is really brought to life when you can hear all the crowd chants and players calling to each other on the pitch. It's something that if it weren't there the game just wouldn't be the same; it wouldn't capture the emotion as well.

The commentary is OK, but nothing special. Little things like "Ohhh that's just over the cross bar" are still present and have been taken from FIFA 2002, which I wouldn't be surprised was also taken from FIFA 2001.

Andy Gray talks his facts in World Cup mode. He tells us about the stadiums and how well they're built, how they're constructed to prevent damage occurring in case of an Earthquake.

You might also gain control over David Beckham and he'll tell you about how he was sent off against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup. It's really good stuff, but does get repetitive, as you'll find that Andy's knowledge bank is not as deep as you first expected after a few games.

It's not that bad, it's just that they could have included more chatty commentary, where both John Motson and Andy Grey have a good chat and rant about who they think is going to win.

Perhaps like UEFA Champions League 2001/2002… now that was commentary! Although once I got 3 players sent off and he said "Right, they're down to only 10 men". How stupid was that? Anyway, that rubbish doesn't happen in 2002 FIFA World Cup, it's solid, correct commentary.

The music is a bit like Star Wars… but I like it. I am not one for Dance music, more rock, that's why I still think FIFA: RTWC98 music was the best. The music will play at the start and end of matches, as well as key moments like a cinematic when a foul is called, or a player is substituted. It's cool I guess, you get used to it and again, I like it.

Options

Well, pretty much the same options as FIFA 2002, except you don't get the Creation Centre and all the other extras that you'd expect from EA's game. We do get the new beginner mode, which is good as it aims the game at an even larger audience. I think that the options are average, I never used all the options from FIFA RTWC98, though that's just me. EA need to add more options in the future.

I think EA need to takes some more notes down on what people want, though they have obviously tried a bit harder with this version.

Overall

If it is laser shows and great graphics you want, then buy this, no doubt, but if it's realism and nothing less, then no, don't. But again, but, if you want fun, then get it, because this is the most fun football game I've played to date. I don't know if it'll last, but so far this game is shaping up quite nicely. I am sure this game will sell well to gamers and World Cup fanatics.

With only 2 modes of play and obviously the Multiplayer option, we can only expect to get so much out of the game, until one day we just won't want to play it. The game and EA deserve some praise, as it totally kills FIFA 2002's gameplay off and buries it 6-feet under.

Overall, buy it if you like a fun, great looking football game, with the official World Cup licence and other little goodies.