Customer Reviews

FIFA 2002

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

FIFA 2002 doesn't disappoint, fantastic game. I've played every version of the FIFA series since FIFA 97, and 2002 is prob the most significant overhaul of the game that I've seen. If you enjoy FIFA, you must get the newest version. Visually, all the pitches are beautifully detailed and the player models are more realistic. Also, FIFA 2002 is the most complete soccer game ever, in terms of the number of teams, leagues, and competitions you can play. The new intro sequence & game cover (see pic) feature Thierry Henry (Arsenal, France).

The biggest change has been to gameplay. Now all touches on the ball can be controlled for both direction & power (i.e. when you pass, it doesn't automatically go towards your player, you must direct it onto his path). It's tricky to get used to, but provides a great deal more control, you can even instruct players to begin an off-the-ball run, see their path, and pass the ball onto them. As a result of the changes, gameplay feels a little slower than past versions of FIFA but I believe 2002 is more realistic (2001 felt a little too fast, imo).

All around, an awesome game. Soccer die-hards will love the realism and control, for new players it may be a little challenging at first but tons of fun.

First, let me start by telling you that I have played quite a few versions of this game. Fifa 98 RTWC (PC), Fifa 99 (PC), Fifa 2000 (PC), Fifa 2001 (PS2), and Fifa 2002 (PS2) to be exact. The best of the bunch is the latest version and the worst is last years title; ... Basically RTWC is as good as any other previous version of Fifa. Now on to Fifa 2002 which is the most realistic and enjoyable of the series so far. As always the graphics are excellent and improved from 2001. For examlple, player animations are more fluid; however, player details (faces, bodies) don't really look that much better than last year's title. The stadium, crowd and pitch look much improved and add a needed touch of realism to the game. This is a fun game to watch. The atmosphere is also right on and it gives you the feeling of really being in the stadium. The crowd chants, game effects and music are all very well done and help immerse you in the experience. The commentary is decent (English commentators, thank god) but I expect it will grow monotonous quickly, as in previous editions, and have to be disabled. EA sports has as usual garnered a plehtora of official licences so there is a wide variety of domestic and international teams and players to choose from. There is also an excellent choose of team management options and players and teams can be edited in almost every conceivable way. Think of your local Sunday park team replete with authentic kit and decent facial copies of you and your friends playing for the world cup. Your teams attributes may be slighlty exagerrated(basically you can make yourself the Fifa world player of the year and your teamates a close second).
Now on to the guts of the game the gameplay an area where the boys from EA usually drop the ball. The new passing system is very good with analog controls to aim and power both lobbed and ground passes. You can actually swerve the ball in this version and it works. An other excellent addition is the one-two pass which when used effectively can split a defense wide open. The players also make runs to open space and this runs are shown prior to their inception by a trail. In addition, the gameplay has been slowed down-about time-and the game becomes more strategic in nature and not just a button mashing fest as in previous additions. You have to be very careful when aiming your passes as slight variations in controller movemnent will lead to errant passes. You also have to worry about the weight or pace of the pass. Players will sometimes miss trap a ball just like in real and the traps are more varied and realistic. Tackling is another area that has been totally revamped from 2001. The slide tackle has to be aimed very precisely or you'll either end up sliding for first base or cropping the opposing player. Actually, this tackle is far less effective than in 2001 so much so in fact that I rarely use it even in multiplayer games(unlike 2001 where the players spent have the game with their ... on the turf). The referees are much better and will call any slide that is illegal and may even throw out a card. Shooting is also more difficult and in this game you have more control over the keeper than in any of the previous versions. All these improvements add up to a vastly superior product when compared to last year's offering. However as with all EA sport's products there are some glaring faults and the more you play the game the more painful they become. The different views do not allow a decent view of the whole field making long passes very difficult. Yeah sure you can now hit a long ball with Beckham down the wing or through the middle but it's rather difficult when you can't see the players your attempting to pass to. Another difficulty I have with the new passing system is directing a pass in a direction different from the way you are running with the ball (it can be done but it's a pain). Also, there is still too much dribbling as its harder to dispossess your opponent. Shielding the ball(L2 or stop with the ball) and a little dash of the speed burst and you'll being running through defenses with abandon particularly in multiplayer. The shooting aspect of the game is not all that great. Because the game needs to be played zoomed out on either panoramic or tower mode shooting is not really intuitive or a great deal of fun.

I have just bought this game and I play it every chance I get. It is a hard game to get used to. It is kind of hard to get the ball up the field but hey thats the fun of it. That's what soccer is. I think you should get this game even if you aren't a big fan of soccer. You will enjoy it.

I got this game for exactly one reason: being able to have eight simultaneous players on one team on one PS2 console. To that end, it has amazed and impressed me beyond my hopes. Having 8 players on one screen is a tricky challenge and for most games it's impractical. That may be why EA Sports seems to be the only game producer out there willing to try. And not surprisingly, EA Sports is able to go beyond trying and achieve a great success.

Game graphics are formidable. All of the players look very well done and the 3d model game engine lets you zoom in and out with great detail. Passing looks great as players will tap the ball behind them or wind up for a long lob across the field. You even notice the players shuffling the ball around with their feet when trying to avoid getting it stolen from them. The celebrations and tantrums thrown by the players after goals and penalties is humorous and enjoyable. Short players are in fact noticeably shorter than larger ones adding to the overall since of reality.

The passing system is nicely done. You aim the direction you want to go, pick a lob or ground ball, set the power, add curl and then let the ball go. It doesn't magically travel to your players, but instead goes the direction you aimed the shot while you players will run to it. Learning to control the ball enough to get it in front of a running player so he can break away for a goal is challenging. Using headers or bicycle kicks can pull off some fantastic shots you'll want to go into replay to watch in slow motion. Slide tackling is a dangerous business as referees are more than happy to dish out yellow and red cards to players. Yet a well timed tackle when the ref isn't looking can injure and opponent and take him out without a penalty.

For the soccer hardcores, this game can go into a deep level of detail. I mostly ignore the huge number of settings for team formation, aggressiveness of the players on offense/defense and a large number of other settings you can use to tweak the AI and setup of your team.

Are you confused by the 400 different teams? You can get yourself into the creation centre and make your own team of characters. Give them height and weight and then adjust their facial type, facial hair, head hair, skin tone and more. I built a team out of my entire group of friends. You can guess which team we play when we're in 8-player mode!

In the end, this game is amazing. I've got a strong dislike for sports games, but when my group of friends gathers, FIFA is the first game to go into the machine and usually stays there for hours.

This game deserves 10 stars, at least. The graphics are fabulous, it makes you feel like you are in a real stadium. The first time I played it, I got the feel that I remember when I was in Olympia Stadion watching Bayern Muenchen play!

The game control is multifacited--thank you EA! My kindergarten and first-grade boys were able to play straight-off using only the basic controller buttons. To play in an advanced fashion, it does time some practice with the L/R 1-2 buttons to get the hang of curving the shots and passing as well as gaining height on the ball. However, once you get used to all of the controls, this game is AWESOME!

Using Multitap with the game brings on a whole new dimension! Even for non-soccer fans, group play on FIFA 2002 is fun. The ability to set up plays is enhanced by the AI characteristics of the non-human players.

The amount of teams offered on this game is remarkable. The detailing of the team playing styles, the uniforms, field, stadiums, etc., is extraordinary.

This game is worth the price!

The best Fifa game for me was FiFa 98 for one simple reason, the camera views were the best. You could see the field and how your players were distributed and create passing arrangements that would boggle the mind. I know this game had its flaws but it still was superior than the others. The scenic movies they provided for each host country was phenomenal. I sure hope EA gets it right this time out. Fifa 2001 was fun but annoying, specially with those bicycle kicks, sure they were spectacular to watch but not if you saw them about 36 times in just one game. But if they really want to make this game worthy, they should fix the camera views. You can never see who you are passing the ball ahead of you. Sure there are other camera angles, but they are terribly akward. Another terrible feature of 2001 was the shooting bar. You can't strike the ball with enough force outside the area, the goals become monotonous and just have to be the same in order to score. You also need to add more leagues from the American Continent. Just Brazil and US doesn't cut it, what about the Argetinian league? Or even the Mexican. Just paying some rights would acquire you an extremely loyal market. This is 2002 the year of the world cup, you definetly need to add much more international teams than you had on 2001, atleast every team in the American Continent. One more thing, and I hope your reading this EA for your sake! Fact, if you want to sell the most copies of a game ever for this console, you have to add spanish commentary to the game. Its getting boring listening to the same decrepid irish or scottish announcers you had in this game for over 4 years. The best commentary in spanish at the time is by Omar Tapia and company from ESPN International. This truely would make the game a winner and a worldwide success.

That about sums it up. This game is rather. Other FIFA games have been fun, but not as much as this one. I loved FIFA 95 for the Genesis, but this version kicks 95's patootie. I especially like the fact that you can control the keeper from anywhere on the field.

i'm soccer crazy and play a lot. this game is definetly cool, once you master the passing, its an incredible game. i've had it since it was first released and i'm still not tired of playing it. the graphics are excellent, the commentating is pretty good, and the modes are challenging.
the downside is that with the new passing strategy, you can no longer sweep up the field in a lighting fast counter-attack, you must aim at the player first otherwise you lose possesion pretty easily. this makes us play long ball tactics which aren't as much fun and although you do score, it kind of makes you feel you missing something without the quick on the ground passing between players.
the camera angels also leave quite a bit to be desired, players are too small. i miss the fifa 2001 action and on the ball camera angles where you could follow the curve of the ball, or watch a bone crunching tackle or even dribble past players. in this one, you can't really see much up close.
it could be improved but for now, it is fun to play.
you might want to rent it first though, the passing frustrates many would be fifa 2002 lovers.

I just bought FIFA 2002 today it is the most incredible game ever! Everything is different from the announcers to the tackles. All new modes including qualify for the world cup. The new passing scheme is insane. It takes a little while to master but once its done it makes the games replay value soar. I am a big fifa fan and by far this is the best. I recommend this everyone this gives you the true feel of soccer

This is the best football game I have ever played. It is amazingly detailed: player faces, shirt sponsors, shoe colours(!?). It's got all the best teams and players from around the world. You can play seasons, tournaments (Champion's Cup, EFA Trophy and when unlocked a few others) and World Cup qualification (but alas, no actual World Cup). The controls are slightly different than 2001, but the passing system is a joy when one has mastered them. I have seen, and cannot understand people complaining about the shooting and passing, in football you never always get within the vicinity of the goal. It is a slap of reality when a player misses the goal by 10 meters because the defender is trapping you to one side. It is absolutely brilliant! If you love football, this is your game.