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It’s that time of year again: FIFA upgrade time. I say upgrade, because only one in every three releases feels like a new title rather than a toned up and salon treated version of its predecessor. What will we get this time? I have to admit I was worried given that we reviewed FIFA 2004 just 10 months ago and at this rate EA Sports is soon going to find the dates of its titles two years ahead instead of the customary one. Thankfully I needn’t have fretted because – to coin a phrase – it’s a whole new ball game.

Now before we get down to the nitty gritty of what’s new, what’s old and why those official logo screens at start up seem to have lengthened from an age to an eternity, I’m going to knock one thing on the head: the Pro Evolution Soccer debate. It seems every year the new FIFA and PES releases draw more polarised support than the US Presidential Election. If you like one, you hate the other. It’s fun seeker verses purist, pop music verses alternative, Montagues verses Capulets – you draw a line and don’t cross it. Except I’m going to break with convention here and declare that this town is now big enough for the both of them since FIFA finally deserves its place in your collection.

Ok, let’s look at the latest stats in FIFA 2005 – those that make the marketing men drool, or the superficial bits as I like to call them. There are now 18 officially licensed leagues, 38 National teams, over 15,000 authentic players and 38 different bands on the soundtrack. More importantly, the management side of the game has been expanded to last 15 years and this year’s gimmick: the fluid player kinetic system or first touch to you and me, is the best development in the history of the series.

Breaking this down, the implementation of first touch means you can now dictate exactly how players control the ball at the moment they receive it. Sounds simple, but it leads to all sorts of fun. Imagine how Zidane can jink past a player just when you think the pass is going beyond him, or how Ronaldo (either one!) can turn a defender who marks them too closely. It is this moment of leave-your-opponent-flat-on-his-behind entertainment that is now open to you and to be honest, laughing at your friend as he falls victim to your clever turn can be just as much fun as scoring a goal. This level of fluidity, coupled with last year’s successful off the ball movement has brought the game to a new level. In fact, I would go so far as to say it is an element which actually improves on Pro Evolution Soccer 3 where players were prone to being a little statuesque when watching a team mate in possession.

FIFA 2005 has also finally done away with one of the biggest skeletons in its closet: the ball no longer rigidly sticks to your foot. I know, after 11 years and fourteen incarnations this may be a little hard to grasp, but now you really do have to put effort into controlling the ball. Players need to muscle one another off the ball as well, since FIFA 2005 ditches the single button tap ball winning methods of previous incarnations. Suddenly the FIFA series is out of the dark ages and into the light, and about time too.

Graphics have also had an overhaul, because while the research that went into the faces of the players in FIFA 2004 was impressive, the animation was still lacking when compared to its great rival. Players now appear taller and ganglier and there is greater variety in the individual models. PES perhaps still has the edge but the gap is now much closer.

One area where FIFA really batters its rival, however, is online play. With FIFA 2005 EA is already fine tuning its software whereas PES is only dipping its toes in the water for the first time with PES 4, and even then only on the soon to be released, Xbox and PC versions. Signs are that Konami will have its work cut out too, because the FIFA 2005 online experience is fantastic. Gamers can play one off matches, leagues and cups and there is even an overall EA Sports world ranking table which collates positions of players worldwide. These positions are not just calculated from victories either, the level of your opponent and the quality of teams you each selected all play a factor. Consequently, thrashing some poor guy with Brazil when he is playing as Sunderland isn’t going to move you up the ladder very quickly.

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