Euro 2004
- June 03, 2004 09:19 AM PST
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Those who want a gameplay upgrade to the last FIFA ought to wait till FIFA 2005.
While European footie fans crowd sports bars to watch friendly matches in anticipation for Euro 2004, over in the states, the tournament hardly warrants a whisper -- and like the real thing, most will hardly notice EA's Euro 2004 when it hits retailers in the U.S.
Beckham's Got a Different Hairdo, Same Style
There isn't anything particularly wrong about EA Sports' latest soccer endeavor. However, with the game mechanics largely resembling FIFA 2004, it lacks a sense of newness. As in FIFA, players still occasionally stop in their tracks to trap a pass, and matches retain a pace that Winning Eleven fans will find too slow and rigid. Diving headers and bicycle kicks are a welcome addition, but due to the difficulty in timing them, they're more of a novelty to gaze at in replays than a match-breaker. Player morale is a compelling feature that could greatly enhance future soccer titles, but it doesn't make a noticeable impact this time around.
Zidane Ain't Ziggin'
Euro 2004 provides a great variety of teams with 51 to choose from -- though Holland has a conspicuously fake team roster with player names such as "Ned 20." In addition to the standard single match, practice, and tournament modes, the game includes a Fantasy mode, where players make their own all-star roster, and a Situation mode, enabling players to alter the score, time remaining, and number of penalty cards handed out.
Online play is limited only to the PC version, so you?d better bring your buddies over when you get bored of playing against the computer. The graphics aren?t much different from those in FIFA with players still having that stiff, android feel.
With a smattering of new features, diehard EA Sports soccer fans will undoubtedly pick up the game and find joy in the subtle tweaks that have streamlined gameplay -- fair-weather fans, however, will want to wait for FIFA 2005.
