FIFA Soccer 2003
Score: 85% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: EA Sports Developer: EA Sports Media: GCD/1 Players: 1 - 4 Genre: Sports
Graphics & Sound: By now everyone should be at least aware of the FIFA series - even if you have no interest in soccer. It's been around on just about every system (sorry Dreamcast) and has been around for longer that I knew soccer existed. A good majority of gamers should also be familiar with EA's long standing practice of releasing the same version of a sports game every year with a few upgrades and a roster update. Of course, when you look at it there's really no place left to take the games since they have always been of the highest quality and consistently score high. In fact, I could probably just re-post last year's review and you wouldn't know the difference. Whether or not this is a good thing all depends on how you look at it. On one hand, the company is cashing out by simply rehashing the same game. On the other, the company is trying to give gamers more of what they want and think the upgrades are good enough to warrant the second purchase. When it comes to presentation FIFA Soccer 2003 is no slouch, and features the same great presentation thrown into every EA sports game. As is the new EA tradition, scrolling through the menus is easy and allows you to set up games within seconds, which leads to a problem since you also have the game's fantastic soundtrack beckoning you to stay, or at least take your time. In-game graphics are as good as they have been in past years. This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who has played previous FIFA games since they always seem to push their respective system to the limits. Although I couldn't tell you who any of these players are, models look incredibly life-like, even from the game's panned back camera system. I was especially impressed with the range of emotions each player was able to display. The grass on the fields and stadium architecture look so incredible they you'll even forgive the flat crowd. But enough with the graphics and back to the game's soundtrack. This is quite possibly one of the best line-ups EA has put together yet for a game, and I'm not just saying that because Avril Lavine is included. The commentary provided by John Motson and Ally McCoist does a great job keeping you in the game as well as the ambient soccer game noises.
Gameplay: After the unusually long load times, FIFA 2003 gives players the same EA brand of sports they give in other games. Not quite a simulation, but not quite an arcade experience (although you are given the choice of an Arcade mode if you desire it), FIFA is a fast paced game of soccer. All of the rules of soccer apply, only some of the laws of 'real' gameplay have been altered in order to give gamers a more exciting experience. One of the more impressive features is the amount of options the game gives you. Exhibition, Season and World Cup finalizing rounds - if it's not here, you probably don't need it. As great as the game modes are, they can get a little confusing, or rather they confused me because of my lack of soccer knowledge. Unlike other sports games, FIFA 2003 doesn't feel like it was meant for the average gamer and skews towards soccer fans. Fans will notice the lack of a World Cup tournament in the game due to the fact that EA puts out a separate World Cup game. Instead, you can only make it as far as qualifying. I was also confused at the lack of a Create-a-Player mode, especially since it was present last year. But when you look at it, these options are small when compared to the size of rosters and number of teams the game presents. With over 10,000 players and 16 leagues - it shouldn't be hard to find a team you like. There's even an option to get analyses of teams and see complete stats for each of the players. All of these options come at a price since game saves eat up a good chunk of memory (54 megs) - but this is an issue most GC owners should be aware of by now.
Difficulty: FIFA Soccer 2003 gives you the standard EA difficulty options - so there's really nothing new to report here. The AI is incredibly competitive, but not very smart at times. It's not uncommon to see squad mates standing around on the field or blow big plays. Regardless, it's still playable and doesn't feel nearly as cheap as it does in other EA games.
Game Mechanics: FIFA 2003 features the same freestyle control system as NBA Live. For the uninitiated, Freestyle control gives players a completely natural control over players as opposed to frantically pressing buttons in order to make your player do what you want. Flicking the C-stick to the left or right maneuvers your player's feet around the ball and allows for a more reactionary game. By experimenting with various circles and half-circles (a good way to put those Street Fighter II skills to work), players will unlock a nearly limitless number of ways to outmaneuver and humiliate your opponent. For those looking for a more traditional setup, FIFA 2003 plays just as well as it has in previous versions. The controls are very responsive and give you total control over the game. The only area players don't have control is goaltending, but given how much thought it put into playing every other position, its a sacrifice I'm willing to make. When it comes down to it, FIFA 2003 is good enough to warrant a purchase even for those who won last year's version, but the upgrades don't make it a necessity. Overall the game is a strong entry into the GC's library, but is likely to appeal more to fans than other players.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
Disney Sports Skateboarding Hitman 2: Silent Assassin