FIFA 06

Or so we thought.

FIFA 06 was intended to be the same on all consoles. Key features like the tactics selection and the 2004-2005 Challenge mode have been brought to this version. Most of them work really well. FIFA fans will instantly recognize the similarities in passing and scoring mechanics. They'll notice that the game utilizes precision in a similar fashion, as well as the kick meter that added a new level of play to the series when it was introduced.

Despite having a lot of the same features, FIFA 06 is not the same as its next-gen siblings. I say this primarily because of the camera, which is way too high. You can angle it and zoom in on the players, but both changes are so subtle that you hardly notice a difference.

In a world where the characters were intricately detailed this would be fine. FIFA 06's polygon athletes remind me of Tony Hawk in his Game Boy Advance debut. It's true that he was made of polygons, but could you make out a face? Could you make out individual details? All you could see was that he was performing a trick. He was there to give players something to manipulate within the game world. It worked in Tony Hawk's case. That was a GBA game and up until that point the system hadn't seen anything like it. On PSP – the most powerful handheld console on the market – it is an embarrassment.

I'll pause for a moment and take into account the limitations that plague all handhelds. I'll consider the size of the screen, and be sure to remember that powerful as Sony's portable PlayStation is, it's still not as powerful as PlayStation 2.

After taking those things into account I still can't help but take issue with FIFA 06. When gamers say FIFA 06 is the best soccer game for PlayStation 2, the lackluster competition is undeniably part of the reason. Thus, when I (and anyone who plays this version) say that FIFA 06 is not the best soccer game for PSP, it is partially because I've experienced a game that is better in every conceivable way: Sony's own World Tour Soccer.

WTS's camera is more flexible, the players are more visible, and the faster arcade-style action is more fun on a handheld.

Had Sony not released a better soccer game that wouldn't suddenly make FIFA 06 a must-buy. You'd still have to overcome the puny gameplay, a feature that can't be changed. The game feels way too small. They've got this huge screen to work with and they waste most of it on the arena, which is not much more than a green backdrop.

When the camera zooms in close for a replay or whatever, that's the only time the game shows any real detail. That's the only time you can see player faces, and the cardboard cutout audience.

It's also the only time the game is shown off to the world. Check the back of the box – no standard gameplay shots are shown.

Exclusive to the PSP version is a juggling mini-game you have to kick the ball up into the air and never let it touch the ground. You do this by pressing the corresponding button (which is random) as the ball passes through the circular icon. Keep the ball in the air long enough and you'll go up a level; let the ball touch the ground and you'll lose one ball. You have five balls at the start of the game, which amounts to five tries. Higher levels move quite a bit faster, demanding quicker reflexes. Juggling is pretty responsive and beats the typical scrolling icon mini-game, but at best it's a better-than-nothing time-killer.

I love the PS2 version and cannot wait to see FIFA hit Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. But they've got a lot of work ahead of them if they expect to make FIFA a hit on PSP. Similar gameplay mechanics and passing/scoring physics are not enough. You've got to go the extra mile, look at what your competition is doing, and do everything in your power to top that. That's what the console version did – it topped what everyone else was doing, including EA's own FIFA Street.

Gameplay: 6.9
Too hard to see to enjoy. It's funny that when critics say graphics are secondary, we mean as long as they do not interfere with the gameplay. We're assuming that developers understand this. Like I said – if the camera was closer this game would have been so much better. But no matter how close I zoomed in it still wasn't enough.

Graphics: 5
Most of the time I can't see the players very well, and when I can they don't look too good. The tiny animations would've been redeeming, but there again it's a feature that's too small to stand out. Squint, hold the screen closer to your eyes, it doesn't matter. You'll be disappointed by the visuals and go back to playing World Tour Soccer.

Sound: 8.7
Almost identical to the soundtracks featured in the console versions, this handheld variation includes a couple of music videos, crystal clear sound, and the same great music from Doves, Hard-Fi, Embrace, and more.

Difficulty: Medium
While not as good as the console versions, FIFA 06 is challenging on PSP.

Concept: 6.5
The idea that having a far away camera to show more of the action is great…on a 67-inch plasma television. It’s not so great on a handheld game device.

Multiplayer: 6.9
Ad hoc and infrastructure play modes available, letting you and up to three friends battle to be the soccer champ.

Overall: 6.9
The version to pass on. FIFA is usually the leader in soccer games and on PS2 there’s no exception. The PSP version didn’t turn out as well, having characters and thus gameplay that’s too small to enjoy.