FIFA Soccer 2004

It's amazing that in this day and age that brand-new PSone games are still being made.  We're on the brink of a new generation.  Before we know it PlayStation 3 news will be all over the net (major PS3 announcements are about 12 months off, but that time will fly faster than you think).  The original PlayStation is eight years old – that's nearly the equivalent of two game console generations!  But the biggest third-party developer in the world, Electronic Arts (who would not develop for Sega's final console, the Dreamcast), still releases their top sports games for it.

People have speculated on what would be the final PSone title, but at this point it seems like someone will always release games for it.  For that reason, FIFA Soccer 2004 could be considered the latest FIFA game for the PSone, not the last.

Gamers are a unique bunch in that they don't have to love what the game is based on to love the game itself.  Soccer has never been one of my favorite sports to watch on TV (I don't watch any outside of hockey and the occasional football game).  Over the years I've tried to play each and every kind of game available, and in doing so I found that while I may not be excited to watch soccer, it can be very exciting to play.

In a world where next-gen games dominate, it's nice to see some quality development time dedicated to the PSone version of FIFA Soccer 2004.  I don't recall playing the 2003 edition on the PSone, so I can't say that the content is a leap forward beyond the guaranteed statistical updates.  But with more original PlayStation and PSone consoles distributed in North America than any other game console, there are definitely some players who do not have access to a PS2 and have not purchased the 2003 edition for PSone.  Given how much I enjoyed FIFA Soccer 2004 despite my lack of enthusiasm for the sport outside of gaming, it is clear that EA has created a real winner for PSone owners.

This was my first outing with a PSone soccer game in years, so my first instinct was to start a quick game and see how the controls handled.  It felt weird using the directional pad at first (all PS2 games put analog control first; some are analog-only), but it didn't take long for me to get back to the basics.  If you prefer analog control and have a Dual-Shock controller, FIFA Soccer 2004 lets players take advantage of the analog stick's sensitivity.  Control is much more precise and accurate in analog mode, opening up a greater variety of specific actions.  PS2 owners take this for granted, but I remember the days when gamers appreciated being able to walk, jog, or run just by altering the pressure applied to the analog stick.  Most new PSone titles have some kind of analog capability, but EA puts that capability to better use than any other game.

Controlling your team is easy.  If you know how to play a sports game, any sports game, you can play FIFA Soccer 2004.  There are some advanced details, but the basic control elements are what players should really concentrate on.  When attacking with the ball, CIRCLE is shoot; X is pass; TRIANGLE is through pass; SQUARE is lob.  The defensive controls are just as straightforward.  When defending without the ball, players can hit CIRCLE to perform a conservative tackle; hit SQUARE to perform an aggressive tackle; and press X to switch players.  Holding down the R1 button will give players a speed boost (sprint) in both cases.

The game is a little faster than other recent soccer games, including those developed for the PlayStation 2.  This should make both arcade and simulation fans happy.  FIFA Soccer 2004 is deep and has all the rules that an EA sports simulator should have, but is fast and easy to learn like an arcade game.  It makes the title more accessible (and more appealing) to the general gaming public.  This was a smart move considering that most of the PSone supporters and buyers are new or casual gamers.  Still, I have no doubt that the PS2 version of FIFA Soccer 2004 is just as easy to get the hang of.  Knowing EA it's probably the best version available.

Gameplay: 8
FIFA Soccer 2004 delivers the goods to PSone soccer fans.  Its gameplay is better than most of the PlayStation 2 competition, proving that it takes more than a superior processor to create a superior game.

FIFA 2004's strongest point is its controls.  They're so easy to comprehend that anyone will be able to get the hang of them, even those who have little or no knowledge of the sport.

At any time during play you can pause the game and check out the match facts (goals, shots on target, total shots, corners, touches, possession, clearances, tackles, fouls, bookings, and offsides).  This is good for gamers who absolutely must know each and every detail regarding the moves their opponents have made.

Graphics: 7
PSone doesn't seem powerful anymore, but the animation is a little bit choppier than I expected.  You definitely won't see detailed, motion captured faces or anything along those lines, but it almost seems unfair to judge a game that's running on eight-year-old hardware.  We're all used to looking at PS2-level graphics.  If it was still 1999, FIFA Soccer 2004's graphics would have likely earned a decent amount of praise.

Sound: 6
Snippets of songs from Radiohead and several bands I've never heard of.  I would assume they're popular bands from the UK, which would explain why they're so unfamiliar to me.  Some of the unfamiliar tracks are good, and the sound effects aren't bad for a PSone title.  Overall, however, its sound is not on par with Madden 2004.

Difficulty: Medium
It wasn't hard for me to pick up the controls, pass the ball around and score the first goal of the game.  Completing a full season was a much greater challenge, but the game's challenge doesn't jump on you all at once.  It gradually attacks, increasing the difficulty with each battle.

Concept: 8
Intuitive controls, fast gameplay, and a good amount of replay value.  Does EA know sports or what?

Multiplayer: 8
A PSone console can be purchased for $50 or less.  FIFA Soccer 2004 retails for $30, and a multi-tap is about $20.  That's multiplayer fun for $100 or less, and if you already have a PSone, you can get FIFA 2004 and a multi-tap for the price of one PS2 soccer game.

Overall: 8
FIFA Soccer 2004 will make gamers understand why soccer is called football in the UK.  Ignore the strange look of the players' faces on the box and take this one home.  There aren't that many (right now I can't think of any) new PSone games that are truly worth buying, but FIFA 2004 is a great stocking stuffer for both soccer fans and sports fans in general.  I've never watched an entire soccer game in my life.  I've never played on a school team and rarely played soccer with friends.  But this game had me hooked.