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Apr 28 2005
FIFA Soccer Review
PSP Game Review | Sports
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| Summary: Not perfect, but so worth it
83
This is the one game that I have been waiting for the most. Since I originally heard that fifa soccer would be coming out on the PSP I was overjoyed. I am a huge fan of the console version; which lives in my GameCube.
Every time I read that EA had delayed fifa by a few weeks I think I died a little inside. That is how much I have been waiting for this game. And then I died even more when I read people's first impressions of the game, with the main complaints being that the game is slow and there are lots of pauses. I was reluctant to spend $50 on the game, but portable football is something I really want, and this morning I decided to buy it.
Let me just say that the game is not perfect, but once you start playing you start to forget about all the small problems and you start to enjoy the game for what it is, a really fun portable football game.
People's main complaint has been that there are short pauses. Yes, there are short pauses, about 1 second when the ball goes out of bounds. I assume these are to load up the animation of the player walking away or the instant replay. Unfortunately I can not seem to find an option in the game to turn off the auto-replays. At first the pauses detract from the game, but then you get used to them and they are ok. This can be said about many parts of the game -- a few things are annoying at first but then they are ok when you get used to them. I think this complaint exists because of the fact that it so closely resembles the console counterpart, and thus we automatically expect it to be the console version. Regardless of whether the PSP can handle a perfect port of the console version or not, this is the version we have, and we have to deal with it. When you forget about the console versions and play the PSP version for what it is, you enjoy it as a fun game of football, with loads of teams, season modes, adhoc multiplayer, good graphics, and full commentary.
Yeah, I am a little dissapointed that I did not get a perfect console port. But hey, the ability to be sitting in a car playing FIFA makes it worthwhile for me.
The graphics in the game are good, the player models look nice from the camera distance and due tot he PSP's widescreen you can see a lot of the field which is very helpful.
The controls work to a certain extent. You use the analog stick to control your player, x to pass, square to cross, circle to shoot, triangle for a through ball, and r to sprint. the one part that does not work is the first touch, well I can not seem to get used to it. To use first touch you need to use the d-pad. This is a bit strange since if you are running at a defender and want to sidestep him you have to let go of the analog stick and press the d-pad and then back to the analog. In the few games I have played I have not been able to pull it off fluidly. Hopefully with practice it will be easier, otherwise I'll get used to not using it.
The commentary is excellent, a little behind at times, but amazing. Having full play by play commentary on a handheld is great.
After two exhibition games, I started a season and I am two games into it. With each game the pauses seem less and the game seems better, and I am enjoying it even more.
EA has packed a lot into this game. The front menu has:
• play now (exhibition)
• challenges
- come back (20) - choose a team and make a comeback to win by a certain amount
- route (20) - choose a team and win by x number of goals
- custom
• season
- new start mid-season
- new full season
- new custom season
• tournament
- new tournament
- new custom tournament
• head to head (adhoc)
• EA sports pocket trax
• EA sports extras
The season and tournament modes are pretty self explanatory. Choose a team, work your way through the mode, and do your best to win. EA Sports Pocket Trax has all of the music from the game and you can play the songs, and sort the playlist order, with select music videos, and visuals. EA Sports Extras has a video of Need For Speed Underground Rivals and a FIFA Soccer FAQ. The FAQ is helpful since it shows you the controls, and gives you information about the games.
If you are a fifa fan I really suggest you give this game a go. Forget about the console version, and play the PSP version for what it is, and I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I am.
REVIEW IT
PRODUCT INFO
BUY IT
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Comments
good review, think i'll get it.
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Very nice review dude.
I bought world tour soccer, because I got tired of waiting for Fifa.
I was sure that Fifa would blow thid game away, however, I started to enjoy WTS and I might stick to this one, maybe until the next fifa comes out (without the problems of this version) or until winning eleven hits the shelfs
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Thank you for the review, I gonna get this on payday.
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can you go online and play? or just local psp - to- psp?
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no online play just psp to psp, but im guessing you can use one of the xlink type programs to play online.
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i want to make a few additions after playing a lot more games.
* first touch
when a pass is directed to your player you can press a direction on the d-pad for him to tap it in that direction as he gets it. very useful to beat defenders. this move works well since you do not need to be holding the analog stick in a direction. works well, easy to do.
* fancy footwork
while running pressing the d-pad in a direction will cause your player to either tap it forward (when holding r) or perform fancy footwork (when not holding r). this is not as easy to do since you need two left thumbs. i have found a way to do the tapping move easily. run in the direction you want with the analog holding r. let go of the analog and the runner still runs in the same direction since you are still holding r. now your thumb is free to tap the d-pad in a direction, thus edging out defenders who are right next to you.
i have not found an easy way to perform the fancy footwork, since you can't be holding r, and if you let go the analog stick the player stops running, and thus defeats the purpose of fancy footwork is you are standing still.
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hey mdc, aren't you supposed to hold L instead of the R? R is the sprint button.
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when you hold r (sprinting) and tap the d-pad you will push the ball forward in front of you. this is found difficult until i figured out that you can keep holding r and let go of the analog stick and that will cause your player to keep running. then tap the d-pad.
can't figure out how to do the fancy footwork though since you stop running, defeating the purpose of fancy footwork.
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I bought fifa yesterday, after a looong wait. It took a little while for me to get used to the game since i'm coming from winning eleven. but I'm enjoying the game more and more as I play along. the pauses doesnt bother me that much.
Just cusious. if it is possible to remap the buttons configuration? like swtiching from using the analog stick to d-pad to control the players and analog for firsttouch instead. the position of the analog stick really make me hand tired after a 30 mins game. anyway i'd give the game 8.5 out of 10. good one.
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cant you just tap the dpad with your fore finger since its not really doin anything during the game
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How do you compare this one against World Soccer?
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I have both WTS and Fifa and WTS was and still is a fun game but does not have the depth of Fifa. Out of the two games Fifa definitely wins this hands down.
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QUESTION for all of you who have this game. Am am sure that most of you who have this game for the PSP also own it for another console. My question is "Does your game run slow in comparison to the console version. It seems that my game runs really slow and even the replays and cut scenes are slow." Is it a problems with my game or even my PSP? Help I need to know if you all have this problem also. Thanks
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Yep.. it's slow for me too. it's probably the game.
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It's slow?.....then it's not for me. I'll just buy nba street showdown instead.
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