2006 FIFA World Cup Reviews

  • SashamorningSashamorning2,932,118
    29 Jun 2010 29 Jun 2010
    39 8 8
    2006 was such a fantastic year in football (the non-American kind for us Yanks) that EA found a way to put out not one, but TWO FIFA games! Lucky us!

    Well, for those of us that picked up the even-less-than-disappointing FIFA 06: RTFWC, it felt a lot like playing half a game. You get all the way to the end and are rewarded by... a list of players that will be playing in the World Cup. That isn't on the disc. That you won't be playing. Unless you buy this disc. So, much like Matrix Reloaded, we end up waiting several months for Matrix Revolutions (2006 FIFA World Cup) to come out. So does it deliver?

    Well... it's better than RTFWC, primarily because you actually get to play in the World Cup and take the pixelated trophy off to... well, no, you don't even get to take it to your locker room because there isn't one, but you get the idea. You actually get to win the Cup. (As an aside, has anyone ever questioned the fact that the World Cup has the world part down, but isn't really a cup? Just wondering.)

    The game looks good (for being 4 years old now), and the play is decent. It's better than RTFWC, but no, there's no comparison between EA's output and the superior Pro Evolution, and it definitely isn't as good as the later FIFA offerings. So for those of us hunting through the bargain racks to pick up old achievements, is it even worth that?

    ...no. Whereas FIFA 06: RTFWC at least had a decently easy 1000GS sitting there on its rotting corpse, EA decided to torture all of us with 2006 FIFA World Cup. There are 5 achievements, 4 of which are simple (qualify for the Cup, win the Cup, beat Germany, play a scenario). These won't take you long, especially with the difficulty turned down.

    It's the other half of the points that are a killer. EA (like many of its games near the 360 launch) kept its achievements condensed, and created one massive bitch of a 500GS achievement by requiring you to complete all of the different historical scenarios that are presented. Some of these are easy: you have a lead... now hold it. Some of them are hard: down by 1 late... win the game. Some of them are damn near impossible, and are the type that make people claw their eyes out, like beating Solomon Islands by 7 with Australia, or a Brazil-Sweden game. You can't change the difficulty on these, so getting through this gauntlet is quite a feat.

    And yes, if you get that achievement, I'd say it's worth your trophy case.

    In short, by now there are much better football (soccer) games out there. The only reason you're probably even considering this is for the achievements, so buyer beware. This isn't Avatar, and don't let that 1.6 ratio fool you. It feels higher.

    I'd give it 3 stars for presentation and gameplay, but I'm knocking it down for that one large achievement. If you like a challenge for your gamerscore, here's one for you.
    2.0
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    Coffee CPHPoor guide. You obviously don't know about the glitch.
    Posted by Coffee CPH on 26 Sep 19 at 22:57
    SashamorningI wrote this 9 years ago, before the glitch was common knowledge. Even so, I wrote it for people who would play it without using the glitch.

    This isn't a guide. This is a review.
    Posted by Sashamorning on 26 Sep 19 at 23:17
    @Coffee CPH you’re going on r/facepalm laugh
    Posted on 04 Feb 21 at 15:27
  • JeeperCreeperMCJeeperCreeperMC156,705
    28 Apr 2021
    0 1 0
    Looking for a game with bias similar to that in the North Korean government? Then have I got a game for you. Anyone looking for a reasonably entertaining football game, look elsewhere. Picked this up the other year for a meagre 50p, an absolute bargain for (what I assumed) a easy FIFA game to clean off in a few days of playing. Ooh boy was I wrong, the game (not factoring graphics, cos duh it's a 2005 game, so obvs worse graphics) is an absolute disaster and i genuinely dont have a blues clues where to start.

    Controls: Clunky as all hell (sorta expected for its age, but Jesus, there are much better controlling games of similar age), on the ball you will turn as fast as a brick house, but off the ball, why even bother, you're not going to win the ball anyway...but on the other hand, the opposition can turn as smooth as silk, which leads me on to...

    AI: As mentioned at the start, in traditional EA fashion, the refereeing is as bias as the North Korean government. You get chopped down when going 1v1 with the keeper, no foul given. You chop the opposition down in the middle of the park and your name is down in the referees book. But that's just the start of it, the AI players are by far the worst bunch of cheats I've ever seen, literally, any time you're on the ball, expect to be shoved off it, them activating their "Go-Go-Gadget Legs" and appearing to jump to light speed to get the ball off you. And on to the AI on your team...easily some of the worst footballing I've ever seen, those bastards will sidestep through balls, pull BACK when they can easily make a run on Goal, it's laughable

    Achievements: 4/5 of them are relatively easy to get, the fifth one is by far the one that would make you drop kick your decrepit grandmother over. You have to complete EVERY. SINGLE. SCENARIO. Only saving grace for it is that you don't need to do the bonus challenges alongside it. But this achievement will easily test your patience, some games are stupidly easy, but then some are a bit harder, and by god with the aforementioned AI antics, they become nigh on impossible to the stage where you're literally wanting to squeeze your controller in half and smash your TV.

    So for the sake of yourself, your sanity and your family, I seriously discourage from ever making the mistake of buying this title...
    .5
  • gladbecker82gladbecker82231,090
    31 Aug 2013
    2 3 0
    I stumbled upon this Game recently in Mint Condition for just 5€, and for some Nostalgia it grabbed being my first Sports Game for 360 back then. And now here is my Review.

    So, as mentioned i had this Game back then and damn, looked this Game fine back then, and i gotta say, this is still good looking, especially the Crowd and the Overall Presentation remains probably the best in the FIFA Franchise, but thats my Opinion and so may disagree but for a 7 Year old Game it holds up very well.

    So, putting the Presentation aside there is a meaty Football Game with every Nation available from this Planet, Squad sizes vary, some will just feature the regular 20-25 players, the big Dogs in Football like spain, brazil germany etc go up to 50 Players. Stadiums are available across the Globe, and also all german world cup stadiums, with around 25 Stadiums to pick.

    Game Modes are standard, World Cup, Qualifying, Friendlies and a Challenge Mode that will make you lose a few hairs :D

    Gameplay wise, its hard going back, FIFA 13 was very fluid and this Game is quite the Opposite.
    You dont feel that you are really in Control of the Game and Animations arent really that great which shows even more with the brilliant Graphics. Its sad to say that but all this hurts the Fun Factor for this Game a lot.

    So, my Connclusion:
    If you wanna relive some Memories and can look over the Controls being not so great, i say get it for as cheap as you can, but otherwise this is not worth your Money and especially your Time, every FIFA since 09 is remarkably better in every way.

    Final Rating 2.5 out of 5
    2.5
  • robbietk94robbietk9449,078
    15 Apr 2010
    4 10 3
    Hey kids, want 500G?
    Yeah sure. Then buy this game, it's amazingly good (for achievements).

    When you've played 50hrs of FIFA 09 and then you take a trip back in time to 2006 FIFA World Cup because you loved it so much on your now broken PS2, you remember why you liked FIFA 09.

    It's unfair to comment on how lackluster the graphics are really but for a few quid this game is playable for 500G and I say 500G because there are 5 achievements and 4 of them take little effort. The 5th is to complete all scenario's (challenges) and unless you really love to Achievement seek you wont bother. On any difficulty you can win, qualify and beat Germany in the World Cup and complete one scenario (of your choice).

    For 500G, pick it up and avoid retailers selling you the crappy "Road to.." game which they tried to twice to my Mother.
    3.0
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