FIFA 06

Another year, another FIFA update and as always, the series makes an impressive incision down field in its ever aspiring hope of scoring a match winner against the all-conquering Pro Evolution Soccer series. The presentation is amazing, there a new modes to enjoy and, of course, it's got licenses coming out the ying yang, but does it have the skill and precision to navigate its way into the penalty box and pilot a winner into the back of net?

Well, it certainly has a mode-fest capable of supplying gazillions of hours of gameplay. Adding to the usual affairs is an all new, if slightly underwhelming management mode. Its greatest strength is the transfer market that allows you to change the face of your team both literarily (through the in-depth create-a-player mode) and tactically as you move through 15 years of competition, balancing budgets, firing staff and launching a shooting blitzkrieg against all comers. And with 21 leagues, over 10,000 players and all the 05/06 teams and statistics, your not short on choice either. Indeed, you can pretty much customise the game to whatever you want.

But EA never let us down in the options and game mode departments, it's the action which has lagged behind its main competitor in recent instalments and again, it fails here. The gameplay just can't keep up with game. You are forever wanting players to react quicker, control the ball smarter and work the plays you desire as you think about them, not a second later when the opportunity has passed. In any other sport game, this split-second delay would almost be indistinguishable, but in the face of the fluidity and precision of Pro Evolution Soccer it grates and will turn-off avid gamers. It's just poorly paced and cumbersome, the range of animations seem limiting, shot taking is too computer-assisted and occasionally things will just flip-out.

Having said that, to the untrained eye of the mainstream soccer fan, these irritable facts may not be a concern. For the most part the game plays quite well and unlike its competitor, the focus is on action and goal-scoring over midfield defensive battles and articulately worked plays - the preferred option for some. And players are blessed with a reasonable amount of moves even if the control structure isn't particularly sound. Also a solid idea, if confusing at first, is the ability to call plays - such as the offside trap - and it brings an extra and enjoyable level of strategy to the gameplay. The problem, however, is that the ever growing list of commands (adding now to first-touch and off-the-ball) takes away from the plug and play mentality which mainstream fans require. You need to practise a fair bit to not be crap in this title.

Still, if EA will never wrestle the gameplay crown from its competitor, it certainly maintains the edge in presentation. FIFA looks pretty damn amazing, blending the gorgeous looking gameplay into cinematic cut-scenes that look wonderfully natural even if the replay option and animations aren't as slick as Evos. Player likeness is also quite uncanny and with new commentary and a bagful of tunes by name artists, FIFA 06's presentation matches EA's usual high standard.

And it's this, combined with smart marketing and a plethora of licenses that will no doubt win over mainstream fans in FIFA's 15th year. But for skilled gamers looking for a more realistic and deep challenge it doesn't come within cooee of Pro Evolution Soccer's godliness. A decisive run up the midfield for sure, but robbed of the ball just before the penalty box.

Score = 8.0/10