FIFA 2005

Xbox owning soccer fans don’t really have a choice other than to play the latest FIFA title since Konami has yet to release a Winning Eleven game for the Xbox here in the US. That isn’t such a bad thing, though, since the FIFA series has gotten steadily better each year and FIFA 2005 is no exception. Great gameplay with tons of real world teams and players and stadiums result in a game with an amazing presentation and a wealth of features that should keep any and every soccer fan very happy.

Solid Controls

FIFA 2005 gives you more control over what happens on the pitch than any other soccer game to date. In addition to some very sharp and accurate passes, shots, and lobs that you expect to find in any soccer title, FIFA 2005 goes above and beyond to give you complete control. You have the ability to control a second player with the right thumbstick so you can move them into position and then deliver a perfect through pass. New this year is the on-the-ball mode where you can determine what your player does with his first touch of the ball. When you accept a pass, you can use the right thumbstick to perform a move that will fake defenders out of their cleats. The moves you can do depend on the player’s skill level, but popping the ball over your head or doing a quick turn or juke to fake out an opponent is very satisfying and very well implemented. When running downfield with the ball, you can force a teammate to make a run into open space towards the goal by pressing the left trigger. This gives you a chance at those spectacular quick strike goals that make soccer so fun and unpredictable.

Improved in Every Way

Other areas of the gameplay have been improved as well. Goalkeepers, for example, tend to be hesitant to come out and challenge the ball. You have the ability to manually force them to come out and that is often the difference between giving up a goal and making a fantastic stop. It is one of those things that could have happened automatically, but when you initiate it and your keeper makes a great stop, it is really satisfying and actually adds quite a bit to the overall experience. Another area that has been improved is throw ins. You can now use the off the ball control to move a receiving player into an open position. This makes throw-ins just that little bit more strategic since you have more control over them.

Why it Works

FIFA 2005 just works really, really well. No other soccer game gives you this much control over every aspect of the game. More complicated doesn’t always mean more fun, not by any means, but it works great in FIFA 2005. The best part is that you don’t even have to use all of the extra features and controls if you don’t want to. It is possible to win without them, which is great for casual fans, but hardcore fans are really going to appreciate the amount of control they have. Everything is so enjoyable and realistic. This is the best soccer game on Xbox. Period.