Its got the look and sound of a next Gen game ,but what the hell happened to all the features?
User Rating: 7.8 | FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup X360
Fifa 06 for the ps2 was one of the best soccer games made to date. It had the gameplay , ball physics, great graphics , good voive over, club teams and an amazing amount of features. Now Ea decided to make a next gen version. So from what we can see from almost all their other next gen sports game they decided to screw all those amazing game features in at ass. They also got rid of the club teams( as dissapointing as it is no being able to see manchester united in Hi-def im content with the international teams). On the flip side in think they have more national teams them they ever had before. Litchenstien and Armenia!!!! You will also definantly see reconizable players on the more famous teams (though you cant say so much about the coaches). And for the most part the character modles are really good looking. Though sometimes they repeat anaimations during the cut scenes. The stadiums are amazing and you can even see the grass swaying in the wind during free kicks and replays. The blurred affect isnt horrible it gives you the illusion of distance. Though it leaves you feeling that they added it to half ass rendering the spectators. Now on to sound... the chanting of the crowed and the on field action are accurate and immersive. The commentary is extremely well done and the trivia is nice though be prepared to hear it repeat if you play the same match up several times. And while i do miss Franz Ferdinand the licenced music is great. Gameplay is also well done and rivals that of the winning eleven series. Though id like to know why my defenders like to run all the way up to the mid field line once in a while leading up to a huge breakaway by the other team. Now to my other big complaint about this otherwise great game. NO FEATURES!!! Sure you can play qualifications but that only lasts for so long. The career mode on the current gen games was amazing its just so saddening that they decided to half ass the features (by using the term half ass im being generous) and charge you the extra 10 bucks. Now to the loading screens. I like it , it takes your mind off the nice 2 minute loading screen but ill take the career ,ode over it any day. Online is playable despite the occasional lag but its back to the old EA lobbies. Again not a match for current gen features. Over all this is a fun soccer game and if you are as big as a fan of interantional soccer as me its a must buy. Its also a must by if you are into playing it in short bursts with a few friends. Otherwise you will be wondering why it cost so much. It could have been amazing but they decided to half ass it. We can hope they see their mistake in time for 07. The graphics and sound of this and the features of the current gen games would make the best fifa game to date. Until then stick to the current gen version unless you have a thing for Hi-Def Armenians running on swaying grass. 
