A new season of Premiership football has begun, and with the fully monied-up Abramovich and his almost all-conquering Chelski team doing their best to break our beloved national league, there’s every chance you’ll be looking for some digital escapism. Fortunately, it’s about this time every year that good ole EA likes to reissue its own season ticket to the ever increasing amount of revenue generated by the country’s favourite football game - FIFA.

Whilst the debate about the relative pro ... more >>

A new season of Premiership football has begun, and with the fully monied-up Abramovich and his almost all-conquering Chelski team doing their best to break our beloved national league, there’s every chance you’ll be looking for some digital escapism. Fortunately, it’s about this time every year that good ole EA likes to reissue its own season ticket to the ever increasing amount of revenue generated by the country’s favourite football game - FIFA.

Whilst the debate about the relative pros and cons of the big F and Konami’s ever more refined PES is well documented, EA do try to bring all-new features to their yearly update, and it’s always interesting to see what they come up with. This year, they’re bursting with pride thanks to their latest innovation, which they call Total Control.

Gameplay promises to be more attacking than ever before, and at the same time the people at EA have set out to make the management side of things the deepest ever. The management mode gives you the options to sign sponsorship deals, find the perfect players in the transfer market, or drop under-performing players to make up some money. On the pitch, control over dribbling, passing and shooting has been made more responsive. The Midfield General and Team Chemistry features allow you to control tactical decisions throughout the course of the match, so your whole team can react as one man as the situation requires.

Of course, the biggest attraction of FIFA has always been the official licenses that EA move heaven and earth to provide for you. FIFA 06 is no slouch in this department, and as well as official leagues and players, you get so much more, with real clubs, stadiums and the actual kits for every team, too. Shiny and polished as ever, FIFA is back for another season. << less