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FIFA 07 Review
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A massive image of Ronaldinho fills the screen. His long hair bounces around wildly as he shifts his weight slightly to intercept the ball before it sails past. The view on the screen is incredible: even for a small screen, you can see Ronaldinho's shirt twist with his movement as he watches the others on the pitch expressionlessly. He leans backwards, leg flying out, just before producer Hugues Ricour pauses the game to explain what's going on. Though the meticulously detailed images onscreen might trick a few into believing that this is live television, at least for a little while, this is the newest iteration of the immensely popular FIFA series by Electronic Arts.
FIFA 2007 has already been released for most consoles and has gained immense popularity. It's become the fastest-selling game of all time on the Playstation 2. The game previewed here is the new version for the X-Box 360. The demo version of the game will appear on the online Marketplace on 7 October, while the full version hits shelves 27 October. This is the only one of the FIFA 07 games that uses the next generation engine, which explains the delays and later release. The new engine will be an X-Box exclusive for some time, until next year's FIFA or until one of the other games using the same engine arrive.
After only a few minutes, the controls are familiar and comfortable. Taking the game to the 360 has changed some of the controls around, but the basic handling of the ball is simple and straightforward. Ricour says that the design philosophy of the game was such that the first game is as important as the 200th. Though the gameplay is fluid and easy to pick up, this is hardly new. The FIFA series has always had these attributes, which is why they have been some of the most successful games in the world.
The new engine's most obvious feature is, of course, the graphics. This is in some ways a double-edged sword. The game is usually viewed from over the pitch looking down. To allow several players to be visible at any given time, the "camera" is some distance away. The fact that motion-captured movements give Wayne Rooney the same powerful style in the game as he has in real life is a bit meaningless if all the players are so small on-screen.
Part of the reason why the graphics are so good, and a rationale for the new engine above and beyond the visuals, is the physics engine packaged into the rest. Whereas with every previous soccer game the ball is treated as a subordinate entity from the players, so that when a player is in possession of the ball it operates as though it was attached to that player's leg with elastic. In this version, Ricour says, "The ball is a separate entity, and spin, curve and friction are calculated independently." The result is that headers and kicks themselves have become more difficult and touchy, but also more fun.
The FIFA series has been lauded for its plethora of options; this version is no different. Customisation is almost limitless: 22 formations come with the game, but the player may create ten more. Besides this, each player has 50 customisable attributes that define his playing style and appearance. The usual quick game/season/manager play modes are present, along with a four-versus-four match that allows two consoles to be connected and two teams to face off.
Multiplayer is certainly important, but the key to a good single-player experience is all about the "other player", the artificial intelligence that controls the opposing team. In this regard FIFA 07 does not disappoint. "I think we are just touching what we can do with AI," says Ricour. Most games' AI makes judgments based upon the context of only the moment of the decision. In FIFA, however, the history of the game is reviewed and evaluated, so that if a player is always using the same side of the field to move the ball up the pitch, the AI will begin putting pressure on that side. Ricour likens it to a chess game: "When you play a CPU chess game, he calculates, you know, ten moves ahead. We can't do the same, with ten or 20 shots ahead, but at least three or four."
This depth is not without cost, however. The game at time of release will only include six leagues of approximately 20 teams each. Those hoping to play as their favourite regional team may be a bit disappointed, but each team is lovingly polished and handpicked to always play with their strongest options.
For fans of the series this is a must-buy title. Its scale, though perhaps less than some others, is still more than ample, while the polish that its visuals have received is remarkable. Watch out for FIFA 07 at the end of the month, when it will almost certainly fly off the shelves immediately. Get there early or be left without.
- Nicholas Carter
