Metacritic Games

FIFA 07 (Xbox)

FIFA 07 delivers complete authenticity with licenses for all the world's top leagues, including MLS and Mexican 1st Division in North America, and 26 others from over 20 nations. This year, you have the power to shape your club's destiny in the EA Sports Interactive Leagues, a new online mode that enables you to pit your club against supporters of your real-world opponents. The online interactive leagues feature the F.A. Premier League, Bundesliga, French League and the Mexican 1st Division. Experience the future of online gaming as you play your games according to the real-world schedule. When they play, you play. Track your team's progress as the aggregate results determine your club's position in the league table. This year, new intelligent A.I. ensures that your 11 men on the pitch make realistic decisions, finding space and passing like professionals. A complete overhaul of the game engine now means that you have to employ real world tactics, make split-second decisions and think like a player in order to win matches. Watch as your players jostle and collide realistically while trying to win balls. Experience the realism of the world's superstars, who come to life with signature moves and authentic playing styles and a more sophisticated shooting mechanic that gives you greater control to produce finesse shots. Plus you now have the ability to apply topspin or backspin to the ball for more creative set-pieces. [Electronic Arts]

Electronic Arts
Sports, Soccer
Players: 4
E (Everyone)
Developer: EA Canada
Released October 3, 2006

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

85 / 100

Critic Reviews

100 GameShark
The online play and interactive leagues are superb and the thrill of scoring a goal in the 90th minute online was a fist pumping "Heck Yeah!" experience which I haven’t felt in a long time playing an online game.
95 Ferrago
But, where FIFA climbs a little higher than the plateau occupied by its rival(s) is in addressing a small point of hugely influential significance: player-to-player off-the-ball transitions.
90 Team Xbox
I’ve been a die-hard "Winning Eleven" fan for some time now, but my allegiance to Konami’s famed series has taken a hit. FIFA 07 Soccer is the best EA soccer game to date, coming very close to the refinement of the WE series, and even eclipsing it in many areas.
90 Official Xbox Magazine UK
FIFA 07 is fantastic. The reworked gameplay feels so right and its Xbox Live support is amazing. [Nov 2006, p.66]
90 AceGamez
Although still not quite as refined or smooth as Pro Evo, FIFA 07 is certainly kicking at the heels of its great competitor.
89 Game Over Online
An excellent game. Is it completely new? No. Is it revolutionary in some way? No. But EA has taken the core FIFA game and improved it to create the best FIFA footballer to date.
89 IGN
FIFA 07 has closed the gap on "PES5" more than we could possibly have imagined. Compared to previous FIFA instalments this plays a more rounded, authentic game of football without cranking up the realism so much that it’s no longer fun.
89 GameZone
Solid multiplayer support, great skill animations, smart AI and improved physics all add up to a game that is a marked improvement over the last iteration.
88 Game Chronicles
Despite a few annoying omissions, the overall gameplay is as good as it gets on Xbox. The wealth of settings and ability to play a quick match or dive into the deep end of team management is a complete thrill and well worth the price.
87 GameSpot
Not all of the changes that have been implemented since last year's game have been for the better, but there are more than enough improvements here to make FIFA 07 worth a look.
85 Official Xbox Magazine
Impressive. After several plodding annual upgrades, FIFA 07 shows significant improvement and delivers its best soccer game in ages. [Nov. 2006, p.85]
85 Gamers' Temple
Those on the ends of the spectrum who are looking for a hardcore sim or a simple high-scoring soccer game may be disappointed, but everyone else in between will have a good time with the game.
85 Armchair Empire
If you enjoy sports-gaming league micromanagement like only EA can provide, along with amazingly solid soccer offline or online via Xbox Live, you’ll get your kicks with FIFA 07.
81 Jolt Online Gaming UK
The tweaks to the existing feature set and gameplay have certainly raised its game and will make you feel like you are close to experiencing a real football match.
80 Games Radar
Yes, it’s a little tougher to learn the nuances than in years past, but the final verdict is in - and it’s a golden goal.
80 XboxAddict
Is FIFA 07 the new king of football? To put it bluntly, no - but its !&%$@#* close. It's something I've thought long and hard about, but when the question is asked, PES still reigns supreme.
80 Gamestyle
There are annoyances, such as poor menus, but these are balanced out by the excellent online integration and animation.
80 Pelit (Finland)
Playing cup matches in the middle of the season against Hartlepool and Macclesfield is refreshing, and the new passing system is a welcomed improvement. However, the controls are too complicated, AI knows how to cheat, the ball behaves strangely and tactically FIFA 07 is much too simple. [Sept 2006]
80 Pro-G
FIFA 07 most definitely beats PES in a few areas, most notably in presentation and the brilliant first-touch control, but it's still not PES.
80 DarkStation
EA further refines its soccer franchise, with marked improvements in the gameplay mechanics, even more modes and updated visuals.
78 Game Informer
Gameplay, meanwhile, makes some minor adjustments this year--giving a few more control options including the ability to play with a scheme that is identical to Konami's "Winning Eleven" button layout. [Oct. 2006, p.94]
70 1UP
This is clearly the best-playing FIFA game ever made, but that merely puts it above some of the most average-playing soccer games ever made. Even with the improvements, the game remains far too simple tactically.
70 Sydney Morning Herald
Convincing physics have been brought into play to improve the feel of passing, crossing and shooting - a feature that brings FIFA more in line with the current simulation champ, "Pro Evolution Soccer."