And the big one: online play, with organised tournaments and prizes up for grabs.Īs for the gameplay, it's a more measured affair than in previous instalments, with subtleties becoming apparent over time. This is a brilliant idea, and was actually suggested by yours truly when I met with the developers earlier this year.Īlso new to the party is an extensive five-year career mode, with a rudimentary transfer system, enabling you to take your team to glory, or - if you're shit - get the sack. There are a slew of leagues from which to choose, and for the first time the English lower divisions are included. And while it may not make a great deal of difference to the gameplay, given the option any sane person would clearly choose authenticity. Through the FIFA licence, EA effectively owns football, and as such can include player names, likenesses, kits, stadiums, the lot. Stadiums RockĮA hasn't been caught napping though, and FIFA 2004 sees an all-out assault on its rival, excelling in areas where PES3 can't go. With PES3 now available on PC, the goalposts have moved. It has become traditional in FIFA reviews to point out how superior PES is, and equally traditional to receive a call from an irate PR person crying that we're comparing it (unfavourably) to a PS2 game. If you asked for Pro Evolution Soccer 3, it might be worth keeping hold of the receipt. So will there be tears of joy or sorrow as the package is eagerly torn apart? Depends on what you asked for, really. It's here though, and whatever is written below, it will be crammed into thousands of stockings come the big day. Such an inevitable fixture in the gaming calendar, a FIFA game not turning up every year would be like Christmas being cancelled. Which can only mean one thing: the annual instalment of FIFA dropping gently on to the doormat.

The nights are drawing in and there are six months of bleak, cold darkness to look forward to.

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