It is said that football is the beautiful game. If you are willing to ignore the Oscar-winning performances of some players who look like they attended the Jurgen Klinsmann School of Diving, it is a fascinating sport to watch.
With anything successful, whether it is a sport or a movie, there have to be spin-offs. On the PC gaming side it has always been a given that there must be a myriad of titles trying to cash in on the success of these money-spinners. Football is no different, with PC titles divided into two sub-genres, management and action.
Most management titles allow the player to micro-manage just about everything from when a player should train to the colour underwear he wears on match day (well, almost). You rarely get the chance to play matches as the computer is responsible for simulating results based on your managerial skills.
On the opposite end of the scale are the action titles. These games give the player the option to play in matches and get first-hand experience of what top-class football players are faced with every week of their careers. The EA Sports FIFA franchise falls squarely into this category.
Ever since its launch a decade ago, the FIFA titles have tried to offer the gamer more than just an accurate portrayal of the teams and players of the moment. With varying degrees of success, the company has brought across the raw emotion and intensity of football. Of course, releasing a new title every year (in World Cup you can choose from two titles) has seen some of that intensity being lost in flooding the market with what could essentially be add-on packs.
While these titles remain successful, I believe that EA would be better served by bringing out a full title every two years with add-on packs available on alternate years that feature the current squads.
Having said that, FIFA Football 2003 breathes new air into the staid environment of PC football titles. The first thing devotees of the franchise will notice is the television-style presentation of the game. Cynics might argue that EA has simply adopted a console-like style of play. While this probably isn`t that far from the truth, being able to play the game in the same way you watch it on television with highlights packages and superimposed team decals can only be good for the franchise.
Don`t worry too much if you don`t enjoy playing football like this since there are plenty of options available for user customisation. In truth, the game options can be truly dizzying. Just choosing a camera angle can be daunting for a newcomer (there are 10 to choose from). Of course, players don`t need to change anything and can opt to play either with the already defined simulation or action settings.
Two things that grab the attention are the soundtrack and the graphics. Following in the footsteps of some of its other new titles like Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2, EA has really outdone itself with an excellent soundtrack that succeeds in getting the pulse racing. I can`t wait when EA finally decides to release a CD featuring all the songs of its games.
The developers haven`t skimped on the graphics either with the player animations and facial features done to such an extent that you can recognise many of the well-known players in a match. Another eye-pleaser is the crowd animations that have been spruced up so you actually get the feeling that you are playing in a packed stadium. What`s more, some real team songs and chants have been included in the new title.
The game still plays as fast and furious as you would expect. EA has introduced the freestyle control that allows the player to produce knock-ons and lay-offs using different keys. However, if you do not have some sort of game controller you might struggle due to the sheer number of keys available. Again, this might deter newcomers but once they get used to the basic commands, the others will start to come more naturally.
While FIFA Football 2003 focuses on club teams and competitions there are a few international squads to choose from. A negative for me is the lack of a wide selection of stadiums to choose from.
Overall, this new football offering is a worthy addition to any fan`s collection. Even if you brought both FIFA titles on offer last year, this title manages to introduce many new features that should keep even the most hardened gaming cynic quiet.
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