On the Ball

Sports fans certainly aren't hurting for content this season, what with a plethora of great titles like Madden NFL 06 and Amped® 3 available for Xbox 360™. But the more's the merrier, I always say, especially when leading publishers like Electronic Arts keep bringing us amazing games like FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup®.

Improving upon the popular series of soccer simulations' latest Xbox® installment, the franchise gets a sweeping next-generation makeover here and benefits from the console's enhanced online connectivity. The best part: No matter how long you've been following the franchise, this is its most impressive outing yet.

As in other EA HD-branded titles, there's no long, drawn out pause before the excitement begins—you're plopped right into the action. Just pick your favorite team (hundreds are available to choose from that call classic European countries like England and Spain home, plus places as exotic as Iran or the Ivory Coast). Next, you're on the practice field, where you can perfect your passing or take a few warmup shots at the goal.

The game's menu system can be instantly called up by hitting the Start button, but it's worth taking a second to immerse yourself in the experience and observe not only the slick ball handling, but the quality of featured athlete models. Much as a quick, friendly match may be calling, there's no rush. The path to Germany, where a World Cup showdown awaits, is a long and fruitful one, sure to keep you busy for weeks on end.

Talk about using your head!

Games are as simple or complex as you like. Change team lineups, futz with player attributes, and mix and match formations to your heart's content. Alternately, just jump in and start enjoying yourself; you can even be working on your dribbling or kicking while the next match loads. Tournaments, practices, a full-fledged career mode ... no matter what flavor of excitement you prefer, rest assured there's a suitable option. Aiming to capture the real-world sport's accessibility, the designers have made this one of the most well-rounded recreations of "real" football in recent memory.

In keeping with this philosophy, the game remains as fast-paced and fluid as ever. If anything, it's even easier to get into a groove, thanks to enhanced animations that come off smoother and more lifelike. Granted, recovering from a slide tackle still takes a few seconds. But, as you observe on the field, players move a lot more naturally and transition easier into passes, kicks, and stealing attempts.

On the whole, the overall flow of each match has improved enormously, with even free throws looking more natural. It's amazing what the power of Xbox 360 brings to the table, with the most pitch-perfect excitement console owners have ever seen.

Then ballet practice really got weird ...

Characters look more believable, too. Peer carefully at their faces during close-ups (during the intro or when yellow/red cards are awarded) and notice a range of emotion from anger to elation flicker across them. Watch as they run, walk, congratulate each other, or curse poor performances—the care invested in constructing each is evident.

When even something as hard to effectively mimic as general body language appears this realistic, you know you're looking at something special. Think the stubble and moles on their grizzled mugs might be a little overkill? It certainly does wonders in terms of showing off your system's graphic capabilities.

They aren't just pretty faces—enhanced artificial intelligence results in better support from computer-controlled teammates and challenges by CPU-powered opponents that are harder to fend off. Be thankful the game's handling has improved significantly as well—otherwise, you'd regularly be going home with cleat marks on your ass. Win or lose, it's all fun to watch, especially given the complete range of added play-by-play commentary.

Every player's individually rendered.

You're looking at a bright new working of a tried and true contender that promises to dominate the league for years to come. With head-to-head multiplayer matches over Xbox Live® (ranked or unranked) and some truly first-rate gameplay upgrades, there's much worth raving about here. While you may have found yourself swooning over a FIFA or two in past seasons, get ready to fall head over Nike-clad heels in love all over again.

Article by Steve Richter