Fifa 2004 fights back

By Darren Waters
BBC News Online

Another year, another incarnation of Electronic Arts' Fifa football game.

The game has the usual Fifa polish

But this year, things are different with the game undergoing a major overhaul with plenty of new features.

The first thing to note is that EA has managed, for once, to make Fifa feel like a decent simulation of the beautiful game.

The play dynamics are much improved so players cannot simply charge up the middle, pirouetting their way to the penalty box before smashing a shot goalwards.

For the first time, players actually have to pass the ball and carve out an opening, leading to some very attractive midfield tussles.

It certainly is not in the same league as Pro Evolution Soccer 3 as a hard and fast simulation but it is definitely moving in the right direction.

The much vaunted off-the-ball mode - which allows you to fire a pass off to one of three selected runners - is quite useful but it does represent an unfair advantage to the attacking side as the intended recipient is almost guaranteed to receive the ball.

The usual EA spit and polish is present, and as a sports package it is unrivalled.

Weakness

The biggest weakness remains shooting. For too much of the time it still feels like a lottery with little control over the ball and this needs to be addressed, although I've been saying the same thing for the last six or seven years.

The greatest addition to the game, and the most exciting, is online play.

For the first time you can pit your skills against players around the world, and chat while you are playing.

This feature is a console exclusive for PlayStation 2 owners and its absence is a big blow to Microsoft's Xbox Live service.

Unfortunately, Sony's fractured approach to online gaming means the connection, log in and the range of options is pretty limited compared to the all-encompassing Xbox Live service.

EA should be commended for getting to the market first with such a solid online product.

There is not universal availability of voice communication and I can only invite gamers to play who are logged on to the EA Sports service.

It also means technical problems - which I experienced - result in a round of phone calls to Sony, EA and BT Broadband with no-one willing to take responsibility and help me with my problem.

Technical problems aside, it was a sheer joy to play football online and chat to your opponent as you play.

The game was lag free, smooth and a fascinating tussle between two players.

Fifa's dubious AI no longer impedes a game when you are playing a human opponent.

With prize tournaments on offer, the chance to set up your own league online and monitor results via a PC, the future of football online looks great.

EA should be commended for getting to the market first with such a solid online product.

Microsoft will be kicking themselves that they have missed out, while Sony executives will be hard pressed to keep the grin of their faces.