FIFA 2001: Major League Soccer

A real beauty both to watch and to play, FIFA 2001 features some of the most highly detailed, smoothly animated player graphics around, and intuitive controls that are exceptionally easy to learn for a sports genre video game. The controls make this a great two-player pickup game, and even more can play provided you hook some controllers up to the separately sold Multitap accessory.

Gameplay favors arcade fun over the sober realism of some sports simulations, meaning there are bicycle-kick shots aplenty, and you can view instant replays using a 360-degree "free cam" to get a Hollywood-budget second look.

While FIFA 2001 is not without its flaws (poorly drawn spectators and untextured turf), and certainly has room for improvement ("barely there" training mode) and additions (what, no women's teams?), these gripes are relatively minor and easily overlooked in light of the major fun to be had. --Joe Hon

Pros:

• Great fun for both soccer enthusiasts and nonfans alike
• Easy-to-learn, intuitive controls
• Highly detailed, smoothly animated player graphics
• Ability to customize players, teams, leagues, and playoffs

• No women's teams

I have played every FIFA game from the WC 98 version on, and like all of them this barely makes any effort to represent this amazing sport the way it should be. Just like 4 years ago we have the same pinball like passing, silly shimmy trick and header shots at about 200 mph. There is still no suprise in gameplay, no weird goal, no breakaway, no through pass, no strategy, no change in gamespeed, no rest/attack, no planning of advance, among many other things this is lacking. It's still the same old stick: outrun defense on the wings, cross in the middle and 1 out of three times you'll score with one of those "spectacular" bicycle kicks, and your teammates will celebrate like there was no tomorrow, even if they are ahead 21 to nil.

Every pass you play in this game will either reach one of your teammates or will be blocked by the defense. The idea of using open space to carefully plan and setup your attack -- which is absolutely pivotal to soccer -- has never reached the programmers of this one. It seems sometimes folks at EA think soccer is like ice hockey on a lawn and that they used the NHL engine and plugged it into this game (which would explain the "Saved Today" statistics for your goalie during halftime, which makes any European laugh out loud)

It's a joke, and has NOTHING to do with real life soccer. Go buy MLS Extratime for the only decent console soccer experience in the US, or wait for "This is Soccer" to come out later this year. Don't buy the hype.


great game but not realistic   August 3, 2001
 0 out of 1 found this review helpful

i love this game, lots of action, and the game moves quickly. but the problem is that real soccer does not have as much scoring as is in this game. most aspects are very realistic except for the crossing pass. it is way to accurate and the bicycle or scissor kick that is easily made is a bit ridiculous. still a great game to play with friends and run smack at them though. watch out of the computer opposition when the settings are on world class and the game speed is turned up.