From the off, it's fair to concede that the world's best-selling action football game, FIFA 2005, hasn't changed an awful lot in the past twelve months. Those who bought the last version will be entirely familiar with the game's look and feel, and could rightly argue that once more this new version is an evolution at best. But it's still quite a good one. The FIFA series has, in recent times, got into the habit of adding one big new feature each year, with middling successes. Last year's, if you remember, was the impressive-but-tricky off the ball control. This year we get a simpler addition, but a far more effective one. It's the first touch option, and it genuinely can open the game up, whether you choose to use it for a quick pass or tighter control. And it works because it's straightforward--there's no endless messing around with buttons to get it moving.

The rest of the game attracts the usual annual pros and cons. Its presentation is second-to-none, and for a more attacking-focused game, you need look no further. What's more, the single player mode is substantial, and very long lasting. The downside is the Pro Evolution Soccer franchise which is, and remains, the choice of the hardcore gamer. Yet that doesn't mean there's not fun to be had with FIFA 2005. Quite the contrary, in fact. Every year, FIFA can be relied on to provide an entertaining, engrossing and long-lasting football game. Thus, whilst it might be in second place, and this latest release doesn't change that, it remains a strong and worthwhile runner-up.--Simon Brew

Good game but as usual pro evo blows it out of the water. Who cares whether its ryan giggs or GOGGS..stop bein lazy and goto the name editor michaelmukasa2, thats what its there for.For real fans Gameplay is where its at and EVO will and always dominate. EA might just as well accept to being second best and leave it at that.

Fifa 2004 was a great game and 5 stars worth but EA Sports have completely changed the game again.The Set Piece system on fifa 04 was great but now it is hard and has been completely messed up.Scoring goals is now too easy as defenders just start backing off.EA Sports need to stop fiddling around or people will buy PES instead.Overall worth buying,the graphics are GREAT but Fifa 2004 is more worth the money.

I thought this game was alright at first but, since I've moved the difficulty up to Professional, I've realised that it's actually quite poor.

The main problem is that the three tactical options you can chose (Possession, Long Pass and Wings) are hopelessly flawed and none of them allow you to play properly. If you play possession football, your team's off-the-ball running will be non-existent. This is particularly (and infuriatingly) the case with your wingers, who will literally stand inches away from your player as you are taking the ball upfield, rather than run into space. Since it is hard to take the ball past men on the higher levels, winning depends on good one touch passing, which is hard to do if your players won't spread out. Choosing long passes will mean that your players stand too far from the ball, 95% of your passes are intercepted and your marking becomes very slack. The wings option is probably the most pointless of all, as you'll find that every time you put a cross in, your strikers are still out wide and nobody is in the centre, which completely defeats the object of attacking down the wings. In short, these tactics don't really offer you anything, they just create unrealistic limitations. I'd rather not choose one and just get my players to behave normally

Personally, I feel that since FIFA monopolised the license on player and team names, they have become lazy and think that's enough to sell games. For me, the gameplay itself has not really improved since about 1997 (at which time it WAS the best game), it's just the appearance and graphics that have. I still have RTWC 98, and to be honest it's probably more fun to play, even if it's not as slick. At least there are more than five different things that can happen at a corner, your players run off the ball probably, the skills are better and the commentary is factual and relevant. That's another annoyance, when Ally McCoist kept announcing "they've won the league anyway" every time I missed a shot. Firstly, there were still about 10 games left and I was only a couple of points ahead, and secondly even if I had won it, enough is enough!! I don't need to hear it that many times.

And a finally disappointment is that, given FIFA have the rights to the team kits, some of them are incorrect. Why do my team Chester City play in all blue and not blue and white stripes? Yes, I appreciate few people care, but given they've got the sponsor and the badge right, why were the club colours beyond them? Why do some teams not have names on their backs, even in the English league? To summarise, it's a bit rubbish. Buy Pro Evolution!!

The gameplay is great,the graphics are great and the career mode is great.
Buy this Great Game now !

This game has improved a lot. Career mode is really good, the only thing about the career mode that dissapointed me was that you couldn't be the team you want. I finally got 5 stars as manager hoping to be able to select every team in the english league, but you only get a few from each division. Everything else was great. i hope ea make it so you can select any club for Fifa 2006.