EA takes one step forward, but two steps back.Poor old EA. They get moaned at for churning out cheap current-gen ports and then when they try to make something designed from the ground up for next-gen systems, they get moaned at again. FIFA 07 on the Xbox 360 may be the third time the franchise has hit the system, but it's the first time that EA has tried to take real advantage of the console's power. It's an admirable move, but not one that has paid off.
Physics have been a big deal in video games for quite a while now, with terms like ragdoll becoming almost commonplace in the vocabulary of video game journalists. Football games have obviously displayed decent physics in the past, but with FIFA 07 on the Xbox 360 EA has really gone to town. The ball now moves more realistically than before, no longer seemingly tethered to a player's foot, and players have a physicality about them that simply hasn't been seen in games before.
AdvertisementHow this translates to the gameplay is both brilliant and downright annoying. The ball physics are superb, with incredibly realistic goal mouth scrambles, deflections, post rebounds and more. There has never been a football game that has come so close to modelling the way a ball moves, and for this EA deserves a big slap on the back. Player movement, too, has a real natural feel to it, at least in terms of how they run, with strong attackers easily moving past weak defenders.
It's the way players interact when they come into contact with each other that becomes annoying. Collisions often result in both players simply standing still and they appear to simply bounce off each other. It's also a little easy to barge people off the ball using this technique, and you're very rarely penalised. You'll find that games will become congested in the middle of the park, with players continuously running into each other, removing all momentum from the game.
FIFA 07 on current-gen systems featured some of the tightest controls in the series' history, and FIFA 07 on the 360 really feels like a step back.
FIFA 07 on current-gen systems featured some of the tightest controls in the series' history, and FIFA 07 on the 360 really feels like a step back. Players turn rather rigidly, making close control a real nightmare. You're constantly fighting to stay in control of the ball, and it results in a game that isn't much fun to play. Off the ball your team-mates aren't as smart either, and although you can trigger runs they still don't link up with you as cleverly as they do in the current-gen version.
Passing suffers from the receiver being totally unwilling to move towards the ball, which results in far too many interceptions, and shooting is both spectacular and frustrating at the same time. If you're in control of a skilled player you can unleash some truly awesome long range efforts, but when you're through on goal scoring is ridiculously hard. The lack of control you have over your players means that taking the ball onto the player's strongest foot often causes you to run well wide of goal, fall slightly off-balance and sky the ball over the crossbar.
Over a prolonged period you can learn to play with some fluidity, but I never got to the stage where I felt fully in control. Great ball physics aside, and while this isn't really the way next-gen development should be, EA would have been better off sprucing up the previously released current-gen version. Going back to the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions simply hammered home the fact that EA's next-gen effort feels clumsy and simply isn't as much fun to play.
Online play is FIFA 07's best featureGame modes aren't exactly plentiful, but you do get Manager Mode, the multiplayer friendly Lounge Mode, and over 80 challenges in the Challenge Mode. Challenge Mode will take an awful lot of time to work through, giving you numerous objectives in each game, but the lack of league and cup modes is a little disappointing. It's also worth noting that the game options don't allow you to play with controls that match those of PES, something that current-gen FIFA 07 allows for.
So, PES 6, even the crippled Xbox 360 version, has FIFA 07 beaten in all areas, but there's one important mode that I haven't covered yet: online play. Pro Evolution Soccer 6 on the Xbox 360 is a shambles online, but FIFA 07 really excels. Games are generally lag-free and only suffer from a tiny amount of button lag. You can also play online with up to eight players, and co-op online play really improves the whole experience. Specific to the 360 version are a number of Achievement points, but these are among the hardest to earn of any game released to date.
If you're after the best looking football game available, FIFA 07 on the Xbox 360 is definitely for you. If you play as one of the really big teams you'll see some striking player likenesses, but they're still not quite to the level I'd hope to see in a next-gen title. The quality also varies wildly, so if you support a lesser team (even clubs like Tottenham suffer from barely recognisable players) you'll have to make do with vague resemblances - that's if your team is in the game at all, as there are far less than in the current-gen versions.
Despite looking washed out, it's visually impressive.It also seems that the developers at EA love bleach, as everything has a horrid washed out look to it. At the start of a new season (in real life) it's great to see all the pitches looking fresh and vibrant, often soaked in what remains of the summer sun, but vibrant is the last word you'd use to describe FIFA 07. Why the game looks so washed out and lifeless I don't know, but it really hurts the otherwise impressive visuals. Crowd noise is good, and you'll hear stadium announcers in the background, but the commentary is some of the worst you'll ever hear, and is often miles behind what's happening on the pitch.
After being pleasantly surprised by FIFA 07 on current-gen systems I was hugely disappointed with EA's next-gen offering. The game suffers from far too many core gameplay problems for it to be a worthy contender to PES 6, and it's only really the online play that is worth investing any time in. You can have a decent few hours playing online or perhaps with friends that don't know any better, but EA needs to change things considerably next year.
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Callum wrote at 08:33 on 02 November 2006
is fifa07 on the 360 any good.ive been told theres only 6 leagues but apart from that whats the gameplay like.i recently bought pes6 which is CRAP !!!!! is it worth trading it in for fifa 07 ?
absinthe wrote at 20:05 on 02 November 2006
Don't Agree
For once Eurogamer seem to be about the only online site I agree with. Most of the negatives Tom brings to the table are not things I have a problem with when playing.
The environments are not washed out. Perhaps he always chooses the same stadium and time of day. Look at Camp Nou at dusk, very vibrant.
The player collisions can be overly harsh, but they are more often than not a realistic way to win the ball back. Using physical presence is realistic. Also no mention is made of the right stick ball flick which is a method of avoiding these encounters.
Overall, it's hard for any new football game to come along. As was noted by Eurogamer it's like drinking orange juice after brushing your teeth. But take some time not to play PES and you'll find this game is a worthy contender.
Brownie wrote at 14:12 on 03 November 2006
wots fifa like online on the 360?
patso wrote at 14:57 on 03 November 2006
really not worth it
iam a fan fan of fifa 07 but this one has let me down, im really dissapointed, i have both consoles, the 360 and the origonal xbox, i bought the game for the original one and it is fabulous averything is user firendly and the money is real, but!!.....................for the 360 it is really crap, i bought it and i thought it was ok, the game play is wicked, the cameras are limited, the whole management is crap as well, no real money and the wording is a bit hard to read quite small, the whole thing looks like a IT NETWORKING exam, i would rather play fifa 07 on the original xbox its a bit more realistic in terms of money, its all abour the doe!!!!
patso wrote at 15:17 on 03 November 2006
advertising
the only good thing they did with all this is the advertising and the blah blah blah bulldust, but to be honest its bark is better than its bite, looking forward to getting splinter cell double agent that might put the 360 to good use, its a shame fifa has yet again dissapointed all, hope it will do better next season on the 360 ( f***** c**** )
Brownie wrote at 21:08 on 03 November 2006
i think fifa is ok this year and is better than 06 but it still doesnt really really tempt me 2 go out and buy it. :(
Car wrote at 00:59 on 04 November 2006
Fifa 07 360
I basically invested my money on the 360 for Fifa 07 waiting for it to come, and I have to say I am dissapointed..
Even the PS2 version is better... Not even Macca sports is reviewing the game yet, it's kind of suspicious that people that go and review the games in depth are not posting immediatelly for all of us to know the game is dissapointing..
Oh well at least my 5 year old kid liked it.
Brownie wrote at 10:55 on 04 November 2006
yerp i played it on ps2 yesterday and its better than last yr but they still hvant chnaged it much :(
dean wrote at 22:20 on 07 November 2006
dean
and whats happened to the weather dont they no we dont have summer all through the seaon no rain ive seen what about snow wind gales
mr tim jones wrote at 19:15 on 09 November 2006
mr cool
good game but needs bit better grapics on players better pro football 6
gromy wrote at 22:53 on 09 November 2006
this game is crap.if u only want graphics then buy it.if u want gameplay or anything else then dont!im off 2 play pes6
Brownie wrote at 23:12 on 09 November 2006
lmao bye
mr tim jones wrote at 18:15 on 10 November 2006
mr cool
this game is better then pro football fifa 07 is because its made buy best sports deloper not made japness rubbish if was going a football i buy fifa 07
Brownie wrote at 22:47 on 10 November 2006
kk kool :). still cnt decide though.
dannyronaldo7 wrote at 16:45 on 11 November 2006
a reli want a 360 for crimbo but fifa 07 looks mint. i heard that theres only a couple of top leagues the game itself like graphics and gameplay looks top. I've never bought a pes becasuse it hardly has that much licence and it just puts me off.
dannyronaldo7 wrote at 16:53 on 11 November 2006
av just bin watchin these fifa videos on google video and that player genetics feature looks really realistic. he really runs like ronaldinho and his shooting relistic.
slade246 wrote at 17:52 on 12 November 2006
Fifa 07
who is everyones fav. player in fifa 2007
Lingwood wrote at 23:08 on 12 November 2006
I sold my 360 due to the utter uselessness of fifa 07, it is a truly terrible shambles of a game on the 360. Waited with huge anticipation only to be let down again. Have got the gamecube out and am getting the old gen version of fifa 07!!!
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