5-Nov-2002 Insert an abusive-but-not-really-justified football chant here Insert an abusive-but-not-really-justified football chant here
Ask yourself: why are you even reading this? You know FIFA Football's not as good as Pro Evo 2. That scores a ten, and this doesn't. It doesn't because it's nowhere near as rewarding a game, and nowhere near as true to the sport of football. So that's that then. Point and laugh if you must, but buy Pro Evo 2.
That's the bottom line, but there's a lot in FIFA 2003 that makes you realise that even Pro Evo is massively deficient in some areas. Take real player names, kits, team badges... stuff like that. Prolonged Pro Evo play makes you think these things aren't important. Revisiting this year's FIFA might change your mind. Pro Evo might feel like football, but you can't deny the meaningless kits and team names hammer the authenticity.
Authenticity is FIFA's strong suit. Play Man U versus Arsenal at Old Trafford, and you get a real sense of atmosphere. The important players are exactly like the real people. Kits are bang on. The stadium's amazing. Pro Evo feels like you're playing football, but this makes you think you're taking part in a specific match. It creates a different kind of buzz to Pro Evo, but a buzz nonetheless.
NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING (at all) Don't kid yourself these things are not important, because they are. Consider this: where's the virtue in having all the drawing power of the next-gen consoles but still having players that are as vague as the tiny footballer sprites of ten years ago?
The perfect footie game would combine Pro Evo and FIFA, and this evidently isn't lost on EA: for the first time in the series' history, there's a real Evolution influence. Gone is the farcical hammering of triangle to run. Now you simply squeeze a certain shoulder button. You can even select 'Action' or 'Simulation' gameplay. And the cheap skill moves on the other shoulder buttons? Gone too.
But before you get all excited, the ball still moves like it's got ball bearings rattling around inside. Cross-field passes wobble in the air, ground passes seem almost randomly paced and shots can go so quickly they've come back off the keeper before you're fully aware you've shot. The dribbling's a bit off too, but FIFA responds with - no word of a lie - a PASSING game.
BALLS OF IRON You can flick the ball around nicely, and the dotted-line passing that was a bad centrepiece in the previous two versions is a more comfortable fit. Tap L1 and players break off you and make runs forward. There's no button for that in Pro Evo 2. You can be powering upfield with Keano or Viera with Giggs and Ljungberg just watching you. You will them to break. They don't.
All of which adds up to the first decent FIFA game in years, and one you might not instantly vomit over at the prospect of playing with your mate. Him being more taken with seeing Ryan Giggs on the box rather than some meaningless torso. If FIFA carries on copying and Pro Evo keeps ignoring reality, this contest could get closer next season.
Dean Scott
// Overview
Verdict
Brilliant likenesses and authentic presentation. Gameplay doesn't live up to these standards, but it's still the best FIFA since the cartridge versions.
The biggest problem in any footie game is David bloody Beckham. You do a great job reproducing England's most famous footballer, then he goes and changes his haircut and makes you look a chump. Remember Mohawk Becks in Pro Evo? Bad. Here, EA's risked the blond look staying a while...
Beckham in FIFA 2003. Impressive
(at the time of writing, mind)
There’s a small problem with the Heskey likeness: he scored
Monsieur Thierry Henry. A popular chap in Eindhoven
// Down On The Subs Bench
This being a FIFA game, just about every games console under the sun gets a look-in. The PS2, GameCube, PC and Xbox versions are all fundamentally the same. There will be a GBA version in the near future, and even Psone gets a look in. Aw, bless.
PSone version. Players looks like they’re made out of porridge
Xbox version. More colourful than PS2, but graphics are less sharp
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