Price: £34.99

Players: 1

System Requirements : (recom.)

• Windows 95/98
• Pentium 133 MHz (200Mhz)
• 32Mb RAM
• 4xCD-ROM Drive (8x)
• 2MB PCI or AGP videocard (3Dfx card)
• 80Mb free HD space (150Mb)
• DirectX 6.1
• Sound card with DirectSound support
• Optional: Gravis Gamepad Pro or Microsoft Sidewinder Gamepad (most other Gamepads and Joysticks also supported)

The Best Footie Sim in the world......Ever?

In the face of stiff competition, EA Sports' Fifa franchise continues to stay ahead of the rest when it comes to Football simulations on the PC. Having perfectly captured the feel and excitement of France98 with Fifa World Cup 98, they were guilty of resting on their laurels somewhat for its successor, the surprisingly dull Fifa 99.

Clearly, to their credit, EA Sports realised this and made wholesale changes and improvements to every aspect of the gaming experience. Fifa 2000 is most certainly not just a prettied-up retread of former instalments.

At the heart of these overhauls is the basic game engine, which now plays a whole lot smoother and sexier, enabling almost effortless passing moves and player movement for even the least experienced Fifa gamer. Gone are the clumsy, pixelled graphics and unrealistic action - replaced with slick skills, vicious Dennis Wise tackles, physical aerial battles and shoulder charges.

The In-game controls are now far simpler and more directly affect what happens on the pitch. Potential passes to teammates are coded green (OK), yellow (risky) and red (not a good idea) for an immediate and helpful guide to making the right decisions.

While players' ball-control was always fairly good in past Fifa editions, it now looks almost seamless and comes with an increased "after touch" effect that can bend the ball just like David Beckham. The training section of the game also enables endless hours practising those set pieces until you too are able to curl the ball into the top corner from free-kicks ("yesssssss!").

The detail in both players' facial expressions and the team kits is another bonus, and one which only enhances the overall experience.

Commentary this time comes from John "I think that's worth another look" Motson and Mark "I have to say that was an AWFUL tackle" Lawrenson, with match introductions from old jug-ears himself, Gary Lineker. Less rigid or repetitive than in previous Fifas, this time your team selections and current form are referred to in Lawrenson's opening remarks, which is another excellent feature and creates a nicely interactive element.

Fifa 2000 is not an event-specific title, and therefore contains both international and national club sides from around the globe. Each of these teams have also been specially programmed to actually play like their real-life counterparts. There is more tactical scope than ever before, with just about every option covered and ready for implementation.

Despite the hundreds of teams to choose from, the only English club sides available at the start of the game are the 20 who began the 1999/2000 season in the top flight. If you decide to play "Season" mode and take part in the Premiership, 3 teams are *relegated* at the end of the first campaign, and replaced by the three who went down in 1998/99 (Blackburn Rovers, Nottingham Forest and Charlton). Obviously due to Robbie Williams being featured on the main music track for the game, his team Port Vale are also tucked away among the "Rest Of the World" sides.

An array of "Tournament" possibilities are included, with all the teams featured who actually competed in the respective European club competitions, making Fifa 2000 also a valid Chmapions League game in the process. meanwhile, 46 current international sides and 16 classic ones from the history books, provide as comprehensive a range as anyone could wish for. You can literally pitch any two teams against each other. Fancy the World Cup-winning England 1966 side vs. the all-conquering Liverpool team of the late 70s and early 80s? Here the dream becomes (virtual) reality.

With EA's latest football title Euro 2000 such a terrible, ill-conceived disappointment, Fifa 2000 remains - for the time being at least - the best and most relevant footie game for the PC.

GRAPHICS SOUND EFFECTS AND MUSIC PLAYABILITY ORIGINALITY ENJOYMENT
OVERALL

Review copyright © Jason Maloney, 2000.