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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
2006 FIFA World Cup
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 28 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 25 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >
Game Info
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Canada
Genre(s): Sports, Soccer
Players: 8
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: April 24, 2006
Summary
2006 FIFA World Cup features 12 official stadiums used at 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany and stadiums from each qualifying region. Gamers can play as their favorite team from qualification right through to a virtual reproduction of the tournament in Germany. With enhanced player animations, EA SPORTS has emulated close to 100 of the world's superstars, capturing their playing styles and individual likenesses. In addition to enabling gamers to participate in the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany by taking control of one of 127 national teams, the game features new compelling modes of play, including the groundbreaking Global Challenge that tests even the most hardcore soccer fan by recreating classic moments in FIFA World Cup history. Furthermore, the game supports up to eight-way multiplayer matches and features a plethora of in-game unlockable content such as legendary players and exclusive apparel. [Electronic Arts]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: 2002 FIFA World Cup
Cheat Codes & Hints: GameSpot Hints & Cheats
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
PGNx Media
The Xbox 360 is technically superior with no slowdown but it does lose out some features that the current-generation versions have.
Read Full Review >TotalPlayStation
The World Cup format alone could have set 2006 FIFA World Cup apart from FIFA 06. Instead EA tweaked the gameplay and came away with yet another winner. Guiding any of 127 countries through qualification gives the game much needed depth.
Read Full Review >GamePro
In all, 2006 FIFA World Cup is a no-brainer buy for soccer fans and is at least worth a rental for everyone else. [Jun 2006, p.82]
eToychest
The whole game plays faster than FIFA 2006, as here EA has managed to set the perfect pace for soccer.
Read Full Review >Next Level Gaming
If you have FIFA from last year, and you're not worried about having the official World Cup Germany licensing and such, or the new Global Challenge mode, then there's isn't that big a reason to upgrade as the gameplay is pretty similar.
Read Full Review >Game Informer
This newer game is by far the more impressive choice, with fully fleshed out features, excellent animation, solid soccer gameplay, and an exciting presentation, replete with another batch of great music from around the world. [Jun 2006, p.112]
IGN
EA put together its most solid soccer gameplay experience yet and the deepest World Cup title of all time. Still, it's hard to argue that the gameplay, an obvious imitation of Winning Eleven, is better, but with star players and a nifty new shooting mechanism, it would be hard to argue it's worse.
Read Full Review >Cheat Code Central
The lack of an online tournament mode did not go unnoticed and it's something that needs to be addressed in next year's version - and considering how good this game is, you can be rest assured the series will continue.
Read Full Review >Games Master UK
More than just a top game - this is an event, and a blinding return to form for flailing FIFA. [June 2006, p.54]
Times Online
The classic moment section, which features 125 well-known situations, is one of several nice touches in this game.
Read Full Review >Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
Even though FIFA 06 came out just six months ago, for fans of the beautiful game, 2006 FIFA World Cup is a must-have. [Jun 2006, p.97
PSM2 Magazine UK
The best FIFA we've played and well worth a rental to fill the gaps between matches come June. It still hasn't stepped out of "Pro Evo's" shadow, though. [June 2006, p.48]
Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK
If FIFA carries on like this on PS3, it really will start to bother "Pro Evo." [June 2006, p.84]
GameSpy
If you're looking for a full dose of FIFA action, replete with glorious presentation, exciting gameplay, and plenty of online challenge, 2006 FIFA World Cup should be at the top of your playlist.
Read Full Review >GameZone
This is a good game with a lot of challenges and more of FIFA’s acclaimed gameplay. However, innovation and graphical achievements were not included in this "upgrade."
Read Full Review >Pelit (Finland)
Feels more and more like "Pro Evolution Soccer." That is not entirely a good thing. [May 2006]
Play.tm
As a standalone football game without all the World Cup-related fluff and filling, EA have provided something which is actually good fun to play (both off and online), certainly not like their frustratingly average efforts over recent years.
Read Full Review >PSX Extreme
2006 FIFA World Cup is more robust than the typical World Cup videogame, but even then, its feature set is far below that of FIFA 06.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
2006 FIFA World Cup does a good job of re-creating the carnival atmosphere that surrounds the competition, but it suffers from frequent and obnoxious slowdown.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club)
Priced to sell, World Cup supplies just enough vicarious excitement to bridge the gap between now and early June.
Read Full Review >Jolt Online Gaming UK
Surely everybody knows the score by now: EA ever so slightly update FIFA. It gets new stats, new players, new kits and slightly better graphics whilst remaining pretty much the same game it always has been.
Read Full Review >Sydney Morning Herald
A fun football simulation for newcomers and the best FIFA of recent years. Even so, competitor "Pro Evolution" still has the virtual World Cup firmly in its grasp.
Read Full Review >Games Radar (in-house)
The biggest disappointment is the sheer lack of innovation in the game engine and graphics. Yes, the shooting mechanic is a little different, but for the most part the gameplay is the same as the last few FIFA games.
Read Full Review >VideoGamer
Gameplay still lags behind the mighty "Pro Evolution Soccer" in a few areas, but the 'first touch' and 'off the ball' systems continue to impress. Presentation is great as expected.
Read Full Review >AceGamez
FIFA multiplayer matches have always been great fun and this new instalment is, thankfully, no exception.
Read Full Review >PSW Magazine UK
It's like video gaming's very own Rio Ferdinand: it looks the part, but aside from one or two promising moments, the way it plays is totally unremarkable.
Read Full Review >1UP
All of the things EA did right with FIFA World Cup 2006 are overshadowed by the simple truth that what should be the most fun part of the game -- having exciting scoring chances -- is completely negated by shoddy game performance near the nets.
Read Full Review >Play UK
The problem is the stupidity of your defence - the number on their shirts apparently representing their IQ. [Issue 141, p.102]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 25 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
[Anonymous] gave it a10:
Simply the best soccer game to date.
Omer A. gave it a10:
this is one of the best soccer games i played. Keep on making these kind of games there are awsome to play and also fun to play.
Keegan H. gave it a9:
This game is awesome, just like all other soccer games, as long as they keep making them i will keep buying them!
Nikolai C. gave it a3:
Great graphics as usual; EA still has the licenses to seem like they control the world; but they just don't get it. Winning Eleven still holds the edge on realistic gameplay (although no licenses) while FIFA has stayed in the same stagnant place as they were four years ago. What starts out with a lot of flash ends with a whimper. Their choices for classic players is limited at most (no Beckenbauer) as well as classic all-time squads. They still have the most in-depth managerial system but that doesn't make up for the poor, redundant game play where you can figure out the patterns in five minutes. I scored with a player 9 times from the same spot just inside of the penalty area. Fix the game guys, or at least contact me so I can help you figure out what to do correctly.
Sujan V. gave it a6:
FIFA has always been the best for graphics and licensing but it has the worst game play. The only decent FIFA game is FIFA 2003 but ever since then; the gameplay on fifa has just been rubbish and the players look like plastic. But this is the best FIFA game since FIFA 2003.
Chuy D. gave it an8:
Winning 11 plays better still. you would think that since they have all the fifa rights for this games they would put more emphasis on matching or become better than the game play of winning 11. come on EA get your people together and do top quality soccer games it's time already!
