Gameplay-wise, FIFA 07 Soccer is solid and a blast to play. It can be frustrating (patience, grasshopper), but rewarding when played correctly. Add in a REAL leagues system that is rewarding in both a singular and communal sense, plus a re-engineered Manager Mode, and you have one stout soccer offering in FIFA 07 Soccer.
Graphics and Audio
You can already guess that FIFA 07 Soccer is not a looker. It’s actually a decent looking game, but the next-gen has swarmed us with beauty, thus making it hard to go back to low-res. But I actually like what EA did with FIFA 07 Soccer. They prioritized the animations and game action, and worried about the prettiness second. This means that the game functions nearly perfectly (no lag, no frame rate issues, and smooth animations), and looks so-so in the process. The visuals lack a bit of pizzazz. You can see the crowd, but they look like those faceless people in The Wall. You can see player shadows, but they’re blurry. The important fact is that you can see what matters in order to make intelligent decisions while playing; a no-nonsense graphical approach.
FIFA games tend to excel in audio due to the excellent play-by-play programming and delivery. The same holds true for FIFA 07 Soccer, as the broadcast delivery is stellar, perfectly tracking the action and coming with an exciting punch. The crowds have been made a bigger part of the game in FIFA 07 Soccer too, as they seem much more into the action. They’ll cheer and jeer depending on the situation, and even kick a few chants when the situation presents itself. And the international soundtrack is excellent too, just as it has been in the last few FIFA SKUs.
The Bottom Line
I’ve been a die-hard Winning Eleven fan for some time now, but my allegiance to Konami’s famed series has taken a hit. FIFA 07 Soccer is the best EA soccer game to date, coming very close to the refinement of the WE series, and even eclipsing it in many areas.
Pick this one up for sure if you are looking for your favorite stars battling it out in a realistic manner. The Interactive Leagues is worth the price of admission, too. You may be a little let down by the graphics, but if you can trudge through those, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how solid a game FIFA 07 Soccer is.