Fancy taking on the Young Boys of Bern? How about tackling Grasshoppers? Relax, we're only inviting you to join in a game of Swiss League football in FIFA 2004, just one of many tournaments to choose from in this deep, deep game. FIFA Football 2004 is the most complete and authentic soccer experience. EA's offering for the new season has some stiff competition with Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer 3 figuring strongly and gaining fans left, right and centre. FIFA Football 2004 comes with two big ... more >>

Fancy taking on the Young Boys of Bern? How about tackling Grasshoppers? Relax, we're only inviting you to join in a game of Swiss League football in FIFA 2004, just one of many tournaments to choose from in this deep, deep game. FIFA Football 2004 is the most complete and authentic soccer experience. EA's offering for the new season has some stiff competition with Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer 3 figuring strongly and gaining fans left, right and centre. FIFA Football 2004 comes with two big additions to its features list to warrant closer inspection.

The feature that really grabbed our attention in FIFA 2004 is EA's new 'Off the Ball' Control. It does exactly what it says on the tin: let's you control the players not in possession of the ball. Luckily enough, you retain control of the player with the ball at his feet too. Hurrah! It's a neat addition to the series' list of features, enabling you to anticipate moves, time your runs, fight for space and put players in prime positions to receive passes and launch attacks. It does take a while to master, but then again, it increases playability no end. The PS2 version jumps even further ahead of the competition with the facility for network play. Mystifyingly enough, the Xbox version doesn't have this facility. Very strange… However, when you want to take on new competitors on your PS2 version, you can connect to EA Sports Online for match up gameplay, tournaments and downloadable content.

In a nod to certain other football games, FIFA Football 2004 incorporates a Career mode that offers players the chance to adopt a more 'hands-on' role at their chosen club. Sure, you continue to control the players in the matches, but you now get the chance to take a team from the lower divisions, battle through the leagues, acquire new players, and attempt to turn them into champions. With the usual host of league and cup competitions we've come to expect from the license-laden, best-selling FIFA series, a mind-bogglingly huge selection of teams, and the sheer playability of the game, the FIFA series goes from strength to strength. << less