10.11.2003

EA promised that while FIFA 2004 would be easier to pick up and play than ever before, the game would also offer extra depth for players looking for a lasting challenge. With the game's new career mode going a long way to achieving this. Everything EA has promised has arrived with even more!The graphics have been improved considerably from Fifa 2003. With more players that look more realistic and with added stadiums the graphics really is a great bonus in this game. Built in to the crowd are co-ordinating team and country flags that add to the realism.With all of the club teams, accurate uniforms are imperative. There are championship stars, current sponsors,patches and captain's armbands all added to the players shirts and are easy to spot, you really feel like you are watching the game at the weekend!The soundtrack for the game has been re-vamped with lots of hits from around the world. The UK hits are easily recognizable. Again the commentary during the matches is done by Ally McCoist and John Motson. I've only had the game for a week or so and already their comments are getting boring. Their reactions to some movements on the pitch is sluggish. Other times their phrases are just out of context.These niggingly little things spoil the play after a while and you find yourself during down the volume.The major addition to the ï¿½FIFAï¿½ series this year is the inclusion of the ï¿½Off-the-Ballï¿½ system. Designed to give playerï¿½s greater freedom for player runs into space, the system works by holding onto the Left shoulder button and switching between three different players. By using the right analogue stick, players can then make this player run into space and slot a pass through to him ï¿½ well in theory. You see as with many of the new techniques introduced over the years in the ï¿½FIFAï¿½ franchise, the ï¿½Off the Ballï¿½ system merely confuses matters as itï¿½s too hard to keep a check of your player on the ball and the one off it at the same time; however with practice I have started to use the move to my advantage. It's another nice challenge that is built into the game to improve the enjoyment of the overall game.In terms of an actual game thereï¿½s a hell of a lot on offer. The game offers an extensive Career Mode for single players, which sees you taking on virtually any club in the world and becoming their Player Manager. In this role you must select the correct training to undertake each week, secure new signings and sell off players whilst also playing the game at the end of every week. Itï¿½s an excellent feature that provides more then enough challenge to ï¿½Pro Evosï¿½ Master League mode, and will certainly keep players entertained for months to come.Away from this mode are the standard features that let you compete in various competitions, whilst itï¿½s also possible to take the game online and play against others or import your team from EAï¿½s ï¿½Total Club Managerï¿½ titles. There is also that added Practice mode that allows you to perfect your set pieces, your corners or just practice using the new controls that Fifa 2004 offers.Overall I am very impressed with the game. I found it extremely hard to work with the new controls and different movements, graphics of the game as I was used to the Fifa 2003 game.I really like the added game modes, the added players, the new stadiums and the new soundtrack. At the moment I am currently the manager of Glasgow Rangers in the Career mode, I am trying to make them the best team available, it's a hard task trying to manage the players, the training and then actually playing the game at the end of the week. I think this new feature of the game will give me and countless others hours of fun for the coming months.

17.1.2004

I've played some of the previous FIFA Football games, and some of the Pro Evoloution ones but never thought that one was worth buying, until I played FIFA 2004.As far as football games go, this is by far the best. This is the most realistic football experience currently available, with a great atmosphere and a suprising amount of detail in the stadiums. For the first time in the series you can choose from some of the lower divisions (English Division 1 etc.) adding to the hundreds of possible teams you can play as. But realisticly, its likely that you won't play as more than 10 or so teams.International teams are available, but there is no tournament available for them which is probably to give people reason to buy Euro 2004.There aren't many game modes,Friendly matches, league tournaments, practice and the ability to import a team from Total Club Manager 2004, and then play the match in FIFA 2004. Personally I have never done this so I don't know what the benefits are.The highlight of the game however is the Career Mode, which has undergone a lot of much needed work. There is much more of an emphasis on actually managing your team, rather then just playing game after game. Instead of just buying and selling players, you have to bid for them, and there's no guarantee that the other team will accept your bid. As well as your yearly transfer budget (which accurately varies from team to team) you have Prestige Points, which is basically a weekly budget which you can spend on bidding, training your team as a whole or individually training players in seperate areas(passing, shooting etc.) The last option I particularly like, as it means that you don't necessarily have to buy new players to improve your team. When you begin the Career Mode you also have a list of Objectives which you must fulfill to earn a new contract for the next season. Some of them are more difficult, such as Win the League, Win the European Championship Cup or Win at least 20 matches (league), wheras some are more easier such as 8 consecutiove league home wins or having a positive goal difference in away games. You also receive bonuses for winning the leage and various tournaments. The more objectives you complete, the more prestige points you get to spend in the next season, the ultimate goal being to aquire as many points as you can over a 5 year period. FInally, probably the best although most frustrating new element is that your players can aquire fatigue from playing seperate games, meaning that you will need a full squad of players to replace fatigued ones, instead of just in previous games where you could have eleven good players and never need to use reserves or subs.As far as actually playing the game goes, big imporvements have been made. There is now much more of a tactical side, especially with Set Pieces. Also, the new Off-the-ball control allows you greater freedom to control your players who are off the ball, allowing you to make runs that split the defence in two, pinpoint crosses and call extra assistance in defence. However, it is extremely fiddly to get to grips with and may put off the occasional player, but the good news is that learning the off-the-ball control is buy no means necessary to win games, even on the higher difficulty levels.Overall, I'd say that if you were looking to buy a footbal game, make this one it. Even if you own one of the previous FIFAs, its worth buying this game just for the Career Mode. However, it can obviously become repetetive, and isn't hugely absorbing.

18.10.2003

For true football fans that demand the finest gameplay and comprehensive game modes, FIFA Football 2004 is the most complete and authentic football experience. All new Off The Ball™ Control lets you control the man on the ball and the men off it. Timing runs, anticipating moves, positioning players and jostling for space adds a new dimension to football gaming. A new Career Mode gives you the chance to take a team from the lower divisions, battle through ranks, sign new players, and turn them into champions. The action is deeper than ever with advanced levels of player detail and responsiveness. With immersive atmospheres, benchmark presentation, the world's premier clubs, and industry-leading gameplay,the world's best selling football simulation returns as the true authority in football gaming.Groundbreaking Gameplay: FIFA Football 2004 offers a fine-tuned game engine and a new animation engine dramatically enhancing the smoothness in player movement through organic motion.Off The Ball™ Control: FIFA Football 2004's unique and exclusive Off The Ball™ Control system lets you take command of players not in possession of the ball. Call in tackles, jostle for space, lose your marker and send players on runs at the touch of a button.Formation Technology: New formation technology now models the behaviour of eleven individuals playing as one team. FIFA Football 2004 now carefully architects the interaction of two teams plus also individual positional awareness, as well as 2, 3 and 4 man sub-units who work together to manage space and create opportunitiesExpanded Database and Controls: Enjoy richer depth to team AI, attributes, tactics, playing styles, and individual player personalities. New depth to control keeps FIFA Football 2004 easy to pick up and play but gives greater depth for the master.Player Manager: Be your own player manager with FIFA Football 2004's deep Career Mode. Build your team and guide your club to the Championship by making calculated decisions. Manage your team's budget and promote or relegate your players to sustain team objectives on the pitch. When one season ends and another begins new challenges will present themselves. The most successful player managers should also be ready for promotions, as some of the world's top clubs may have new job offers.In-game Management: You think it's easy being the coach? Prove your tactical genius on the fly. Don't second-guess yourself after the final whistle-make adjustments mid-game and call plays in real time via the d-pad.Immersive Environments: More than 300 new crowd chants at an ever growing list of officially licensed stadiums help put you in the best seat in the house. From stadiums small and large, no football gaming experience offers a more complete library of the game's authentic environments.Play With The Best: Now includes 17 leagues, 350 teams and 10,000 players. New additions for 2004 include the Dutch and Portuguese leagues as well as the lower leagues from across Europe's greatest footballing nations.A Game With No Boundaries: Take on opponents from across the world via EA SPORTS online (PlayStation 2 and PC only). The online lobby area allows gamers gamers to meet, greet, chat and play FIFA Football 2004 head to head.

22.12.2003

Gameplay -For the last three years FIFA has beat the Pro Evo series in the charts but has lacked the near perfect gameplay, And the real gamers choice had to be Pro Evo, But this year EA have closed the gap quite considerably. The gameplay and controls are now nearly as fluid as PES3. The only new feature to the gameplay is the "Off The Ball" mode, which quite frankly doesn't work to good. The idea is that as you have the ball you also control another player to try and position them for a good pass but this is very hard and most of the time works in the other teams favor. FIFA's big weapon as always is their licences which greatly out numbers Pro Evo.

6.7.2004

If there was an imaginary football tournament between PS2 Football games, Fifa 2004 and Pro Evolution Soccer 3 would surely be the finalists. Where Fifa has the edge over PES is the impressive amount of detail that has gone into the presentation of the game. The four English divisions are included with licensed teams and player names as well as nearly all the European leagues and players. Commentary comes from John Motson and Ally McCoist which for the most part is good and certainly superior to the PES equivalent. Certain stadia has also been created and relevant crowd chants (such as 'You'll never walk alone' at Liverpool).The game does play well too.

14.11.2003

Fifa 2004 is a true gem.Fifa 2004 Includes 18 Leagues, 350 Teams and 10,000 Players.With great new features the people of ea sports have added this makes fifa 2004 one of the best ever Football sims for ps2.One of the new features is the incredible Multi-year career mode, u can start as a third division three team and work your way to the top, u can even get offered other manager jobs! , also u can take a dip into the transfer market this includes the transfer window too! this means u can only transfer players between January and July - August, You organize individuial Training and Team physical team training, using your prestige points which you earn and can spent on helping u presuade players to join ur club and for training.Another great feature is there new,

25.10.2003

Well, let's just say one thing before I even start this review that it wasn't very hard to think about giving this game 5 straight stars because as I put the game into my PS2, I knew what it was going to be like, and what did surprise me, was that it was even better than what I had expected. The gameplay is out of this world, and the graphics are highly rated as it makes the game so much realistic as FIFA 2003. When I got FIFA 2003 for Christmas last year, I had waited 10 months to see the newest realease and what I precall something that was really worth the wait.The only nag is there is STILL NO HOLLAND! England are there which is good to see but Holland are my second favourite international team,

9.11.2003

Well what can I say. The graphics are amazing. Gameplay is brilliant. FIFA and EA have outdone themselves again. You now have the oppotunity to play in Div. 1 2 or 3. I only expected divisions 1 and 2 . They gave you 3 aswell and they also give you division 1 for SPANISH LEAGUE, ITALIAN LEAGUE,FRENCH LEAGUE, GERMAN LEAGUE AND ALSO FRENCH LEAGUE. To be perfectly honest Pro Evolution 3 looks like a load of rubbish. Yeah so maybe the gameplay is slighty better. You wouldn't really notice it. The don't evn use the actual clubs names they use clubs like West End Blues(CHELSEA). The great thing about these games is all the stadiums. The graphics on them are amazing.

29.11.2003

Fifa 2004 isn't an annual update from ea, it has exiting new features such as, off the ball running, career mode ( where you control a team for 5 years earning prestige points) and many more. Off the ball controls allow the person on the ball to have three options of players who you also control (aswell as the man on the ball) and as they make runs you can play a lofted ball or a through ball to the selected player. Another feature of the game is football fusion, this is where if you buy total club manager 2004 (out 12th december) you can manage a team in total club and play on the same saved game in fifa 2004, although this is time consuming it is an innotive way of playing,

26.12.2003

I have previously written in 1 of my reviews that PE3 was better than Fifa, how mistaken was I. This game is brilliant in every way - graphics, sound, gameplay etc. One of the things that is partically good with this game is the off the ball play. You can get your players into excellent positions for attacking and can then pick out the perfect ball. The set pieces have also been improved, as you tell your set piece taker your instruction, such as, Swing in at near post, your set piece taker will deliver a great ball while you move your players to get to the ball. You also have better game options, such as career and practise mode.

6.11.2003

I couldn't wait to get the game into my console and i had heard so many good (and bad things) about it i wanted to try it out for myself. when i got it i immediately went to my sofa and played! it's your usual fifa action, the game plays relitavely well, although some would say its a tad slow, well, thats the way football is in REAL LIFE, the game flows naturally, but if you are looking for a REAL rush of FAST AND FURIOUS soccer then fifa isnt the game for you. it gives great realism to the grounds and players, the cut scenes are ace, real player like "sprites" faces that always "ring a bell" ( becks has had his real madrid haircut updated, with twin ponytails and all) kits that are just like the real thing.

25.10.2003

So i already have Pro Evo 3 and it is truly brilliant, its the greatest game ive every played but i also got Fifa 2004 today, from amazon of course.I believe i have a good understanding of the differences, between these two games so i will try to help you choose or hopefully buy both.Fifa 2004 has many new features including the complicated off the ball system and the brilliant Career mode, which lets you go any team in many leagues for 5 years.All the kits, and looks are there but what about the questionable gameplay?There has been a slight inprovement but there is still annoying parts.The finishing has improved but you still dont feel totally under control when faced with a one on one.Passing is smooth(ish)

10.1.2004

fifa 2004 is lots better that any orther fifa 1.because of the networt apator wi6tch is really good if u want 2 play people from differnt places 2.because of the of the carre mode and which let u do anything that u can do as a manager and still play the games 3.because of the new and improved game play that there is like the corners and free-kicks there are the best its easy to score but can be hard. there always the big qustoin as in which wot is the the best footie game between fifa and pro-evalutioin soccer i think that fifa waz never as good as pro untill this game came out i brought game 2 see how it would compare wid the pro 3 so i got it then played it, i didnt know about the corners and free-kicks,

8.11.2003

WELL IN MY OPINION I WOULD HAVE TO SAY BOTH GAMES HAVE DIFFERENT QUALITIES, SUCH AS IF YOU ARE A FAN OF TOP GAMEPLAY PICK PRO HOWEVER FIFA HAVE NOTCHED IT UP A GEAR AND HAVE INCLUDED MORE SPEED FOR PLAYERS FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND WHILST PRO IS CHILLING IN SIXTH. FIFA HAS GOT THAT QUALITY THAT IT CAN GIVE YOU HOURS YES HOURS OF BOREDOM WHILST PRO GIVES YOU HOURS OF SKILL FUN AND PLEASURE. GRAPHICS WISE PRO HAS THE POINTS AGAIN BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS MINIMAL, THE KITS ARE A LOT MORE REALISTIC ON FIFA AND PARADE VARIOUS SPONSORS, BUT WHO CARES ITS THE GROOVY GAMEPLAY THAT YOU WANT ISNT IT? PRO COULD DO WITH A LITTLE IMPROVEMENT SUCH AS PLAYER NAMES AND CLUB NAMES, BUT THESE CAN EASILY BE CHANGED ON EDIT MODE,

29.10.2003

DIS GAME IS SO DA BEST AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT IT WAS ACTUALY FIFA IT WAS AMAZIN COZ OF THE CAREAR MODE THE GRAPHICS THE GAMEEPLAY AND ECT IF I WAS U I WOULD BUY IT KNOW GO ON PLZ U WILL AV LOADS OF FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

FIFA Football 2004 (PS2) - Reviews

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