The World Cup is fantastic fun to watch on television. Even sports fans who shun one of the world's most popular sports might tune in to see how their country of origin is faring in the big event. In the video game world, this game is our chance to participate imaginatively in the sport. While Fifa succeeds at giving us a solid soccer engine with great graphics and control, it falls flat in the options department.
If your main goal is to create matches between this year's major games, then Fifa 2002 will do a pretty good job. You can also play in a recreation of the entire World Cup event. However, if you're looking for much beyond this, then this title isn't for you. It's a pretty straight-and-narrow look at the big-time sporting event, and that's it. For those looking for lots of different play modes, you'll have to look elsewhere.
It's a shame too because it's an absolute joy to play. The pressure-sensitive gameplay is stellar and takes soccer games to a new level in terms of realistic gameplay. Star players are also recognized on the field and can make a deciding difference in a close match. The physics engine looks and feels believable, and you can actually make plays with the ball in the air (as long as you know your team well and give your big guys the chance to position themselves).
The graphics, sound, and animation are all top quality. While there are some framerate problems, the overall look of the game shines. The players move and react like real soccer players, which means they act like big kids. They pout, shout, run around like maniacs and generally make themselves look like fools. However, they look good doing it. The crowd is also teeming with activity, waving flags and causing a raucous.
I like Fifa World Cup 2002. It's a fun game that becomes stellar if you do lots of multiplayer gaming. However, if you get down to it, it's rather thin in the options department. It might be a realistic look at the World Cup… but in the world of videogames we just want a bit more substance than what this title offers.
-Jerred
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