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FIFA Street 2 Review
Score: 
By: Andrew Castenmiller
Date: Sunday, 05 March, 2006
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FIFA Street 2 |
| Game Type: Action |
| Developer: EA Sports BIG |
| Publisher: EA Sports BIG |
| Platform: PS2, Xbox, Gamecube |
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The original FIFA Street was a blight to EA Sports BIG’s popular “Street?series, a concept that has worked in the past for Basketball and American Football. Despite the disappointment, the concept has survived and EA deliver a much-improved effort with FIFA Street 2.
Gameplay ?7/10
The first point to realise is that the gameplay is not at all realistic. Apart for the fact there are two goals and a football, the similarities between the street football replicated in this game and real football are thrown out the window. With four players instead of eleven per side, the major difference between FIFA Street and a football simulator such as PES is that passing is almost non-existent, with more emphasis on tricking your opponent using the “Trick Stick? While real football would consider it as showboating, tricks are the most effective way to score well in FIFA Street 2. Using the right analogue stick you are able to perform a multitude of tricks. Combine these tricks together and beat several opponents and you’ll build a tally of trick points.
Once you have filled up the bar with trick points, you are then able to use a “Gamebreaker? A hot spot will show on the pitch for you to run over allowing you to set up your Gamebreaker. Once in Gamebreaker mode you’ll find your shots hit with extra power, making it near impossible for the goalkeeper to stop. The major advantage of the Gamebreaker is takes goals away from the opposition score and adds them extra onto your team’s score. It has been implemented well with extra reward on how risky you want to be. If you beat one defender during the Gamebreaker, you’ll have one goal added to your score with one deducted from the opposition. Beat two defenders and you’ll get two goals, with one deducted from the opposition. Then if you beat three opposing defenders, which is basically the whole team, you’ll automatically win the game with a “K.O? Going for the K.O. is very difficult, but if implemented properly can win you the game from nowhere. Even if there are five goals difference, because of the Gamebreaker you can never be sure who the victor will be. The downside to the Gamebreaker is sometimes it can make games go seemingly forever because it also deducts goals as well.
Along with all the tricks there are some fundamentals, with button placement on the controls being similar to that in FIFA 06. Responsiveness of the controls could be improved, as it reminds me of how the FIFA series used to be. One-touch shots and passes are too few and far between, not responsive enough for a game that relies so much on stylish play. The shooting system, which you aim using the left-analogue stick, could also do with improvement. Because the aim is using the left stick, which is also used for movement, when kicking towards the top of the screen you’ll find most of your shots heading towards the high part of the goals. When kicking towards the other end, most of your shots will be low as that’s the natural way you’ll be aiming.
With so much emphasis on tricks, it loses its sense of a “football?game and very much becomes an “arcade?game instead. It is definitely good fun, but not for those who live and breathe traditional football.
Graphics ?8/10
From basketball courts of New York cement to the beaches of Brazil, each pitch in FIFA Street 2 has its own unique style. The lighting and surroundings of the pitches are very well done. The graphics are very sharp and colourful, fitting the style of game well. The detail of the textures, in particular the players, could do with improvement. There are not many close-ups of players, so it’s difficult to spot the player likeness. This may have been done to keep in tune with the unrealistic nature of the game.
As you would expect from a game with many tricks, FIFA Street 2 contains a vast array of animations. There are even many different animations for shooting. For example, if you lob the ball over your opponent and go to shoot, your player might spin around and kick the ball on the volley. I doubt we’ve ever seen a football game with as many animations as this one. There are some moments when the animations don’t seem to go together, but in general the animations are smooth and fluent.
Overall, the graphics are good and typical of the “Street?series. However, they won’t be turning many heads, especially with next-gen games now upon us.
Sound ?8/10
The sound in FIFA Street 2 is heavily reliant on the music that comes with it. There is no commentator, and talk from the DJs at each location is minimal, which is a thankful change from the original FIFA Street. The music adjusts depending on which location you are at and like most EA games, the soundtrack is compiled is top quality and fits the style of game well. The only problem with the sound is that songs can be repetitive if you play in the same pitch location most of the time.
Game Modes ?7/10
Most of your time playing FIFA Street 2 will be spent in “Rule the Street?mode. In this mode you design your own player with the goal to turn him into the ultimate street footballer. Initially he’ll have very limited skills with his teammates not much better either. Beginning in this mode can be dull at first because you will be playing with and against players without much skill or impact. However, this mode becomes more interesting as your player starts to play against the real football stars. You’ll even have the option to add them to your squad, eventually building a formidable outfit of players. Player management comes into play as well, with some players having falling outs with others, or simply thinking they are too skilful for your team.
With each victory you’ll build up a number of “Skill Bills? which can then be used to upgrade the skills of your player. As you progress your player will develop into one of the best, if not the best, in the game. You’ll then be able to take this player to underground tournaments and eventually the International Cup, which is basically FIFA Street’s version of the World Cup.
Along with “Rule the Street?mode, there is also the standard Friendly match mode, where you can challenge your friend or the computer to a match based on the rules that you select. There is also a “Skills Challenge? This involves juggling a football while performing combinations of tricks. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to appreciate the tricks being done in this mode, with much focus on getting the combination of tricks right.
Unfortunately, FIFA Street 2 misses a mode that would be perfect for a game of its type. There is no online play. Games within FIFA Street 2 can become repetitive and once you’ve completed “Rule the Street?mode, there’s little reason to return to FIFA Street 2 with the absence of any online mode.
Overall 7.5/10
FIFA Street 2 is the game that the original FIFA Street should have been. It has solid gameplay, albeit much different to football as we know it. Progression through “Rule the Street?mode is fun, although it’s disappointing there is no online mode. Good graphics and great sound round out what has been a solid addition to EA Sports BIG’s “Street?series.
Pros- Tricks galore
- Great variety of animations
- Soundtrack
Cons- Repetitive gameplay
- Not for football purists
- No online mode
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