Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

10 to 20 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Solid"

Last year's FIFA 2004 refined the gameplay of the series, placing more focus on advanced moves and encouraging play that more resembles real life football. FIFA 2005 further tweaks the gameplay with some new moves, to make the game feel fresh. It also fixes the technical issues in the PC version of last year's game, albeit introducing a new major one. Otherwise, everything else about the game is pretty much the same as last year's version, and is overall another solid entry in the FIFA series.

FIFA 2005 features a good number of leagues from around the world. In the game's career mode, you take control of one of the less prestigious clubs in a league of your choosing, and attempt to guide them through 15 seasons. The tournament mode is where you'll find league play, as well as tournaments such as the English League Cup or the Americas Club Championship. Unfortunately, the game treats league play and tournaments alike, and for some strange reason doesn't allow you to view fixtures. So if you're interested in playing a league, it doesn't feel like you're playing through a season.

If none of the included tournaments suit your fancy, you have the option of creating your own custom tournament. There is also a useful practice mode, where in addition to free practice, you can practice corners and free kicks. In addition to club teams, international teams are also available, but you can only play as them in the exhibition or custom tournament modes.

The gameplay is very much like last year's game, but you'll no longer be able to score on distant shots like in FIFA 2004. All the advanced moves are back, such as off the ball control, and freestyle with the right thumbstick using a dual analog gamepad. FIFA 2005 introduces new moves available with the addition of modifier buttons. For example, you can now perform fake shots, chip shots, aerial through balls, and low crosses.

The new gameplay mechanic EA Sports features this year is what it calls first touch. When you move the right thumbstick before your player receives the ball, he will create a bit of extra separation from his defender when he touches the ball. This is useful when you are near the opposition's goal, since typically your defender will stick to you like bees to honey. First touch serves as an additional move to set up quality scoring chances, which are hard to come by in this game. More so than previous games in the series, FIFA 2005 seems to encourage play more resembling real life football, and simply rushing down the pitch doesn't work. Like in FIFA 2004, through balls in the box always seem to get picked off, so you'll need to work harder to score goals.

This year, the game doesn't look as good as before. The player models are cruder, and if you look closely, you can see texture seams on some of the pitches. The crowd graphics aren't particularly dazzling, either. Disappointingly, there's a bug that limits the resolution to 1024x768 regardless of what your monitor or graphics card can support. Perhaps the best looking part of the game are the stadiums. Sponsor banners adorn the outside of the pitch, and the game has a distinct look depending on the time of day and the weather. Precipitation is back, and when it's raining, you can see players kick up puddles as they sprint down the pitch.

There's nothing much to say about the sound effects, but the swish of the net when a goal is scored is pretty exciting. As always, John Motson and Ally McCoist have plenty to say, and are as good as ever. Their commentary is never dull, and they provide very interesting insight on the game. This being an EA title, a soundtrack consisting of licensed music is expected, but FIFA 2005 contains an even more eclectic selection of world music than usual.

Like in previous games in the series, FIFA 2005 allows you to save replays of your particularly exciting moments. The FIFA 2005 store contains the game's unlockables, such as night versions of the stadiums, alternate kits, and balls.

The new moves in FIFA 2005 do have positive effects on the gameplay, and the resolution bug notwithstanding, the rest of the package and presentation is what we've come to expect from an entry in the FIFA franchise.