Amazon.com Product Description

Welcome to the craziest soccer game you've ever seen, with stunning graphics, fast-paced arcade-style gameplay, and all the color, fun, and creativity that the LEGO name implies. You can customize your very own awesome LEGO soccer team, from standard soccer players to Wild West cowboys to pirates and Martians. The game features 23 unique, action-packed, themed stadium environments, plus adventures across mystery islands, snowy valleys, medieval castles, pirate ships, cowboy forts, and even into space. Crazy game power-ups include Rocket Ball, which lets you shoot the ball toward the goal in a straight line; Steal the Ball, which allows you to teleport the ball to the feet of the player nearest the goal; Slippy Feet, which freezes the opposition's feet; and Exploding Ball, which turns the ball into a time bomb.

There are four game modes:

• Soccer Adventure: Pit your soccer skills against LEGO characters across many different environments. Beating the LEGOLAND team allows you to play through the LEGO World Cup Finals.
• Skill Zone: This is a fun way to teach gameplay through simple subgames. Learn how to pass, tackle, shoot, and dribble.
• LEGO World Cup Finals: Choose your favorite national team of LEGO players and see if you can make it all the way to the finals.
• Play a Friend: This single or multiplayer option lets you choose an existing team or create your own from a huge number of LEGO characters, select your opponents and environment, and start a game straight away.

Reviews (2)

Might be fun for kids under 7
I am writing this review because the only other review for this game so far gives it 5 stars. In my opinion, there is NO WAY this game is worth 5 stars. The reasons are as follows:

1) Gameplay is VERY slow. This game is frustrating to play because the lego players move at a snail's pace during the game, and that's when they are "running".

2) Despite the screenshots which show a bunch of different backgrounds for the matches, you can only play at 3 different "stadiums" until you beat certain levels in single player mode, which unlocks newer stadiums one at a time. Kind of annoying if you just want to play a friend and want more stadiums to pick from.

3) There is no commentary during games, which makes the matches very quiet and dull. And the music isn't enough to make the match entertaining.

4) The powerups may seem fun at first, but they grow old and are a pain to use during games.

All in all, I'd give this game a 2 out of 5 because it might be fun for little kids.

its the best game ever
it was fun fun fun ... ... Read more

Editorial Review

While it never quite achieves Muhammad Ali-like greatness, Knockout Kings 2000 isnonetheless an excellent boxing game for both the enthusiast and the casual gamer. Fifty boxing legendsfrom the past and present are featured in this EA Sports title, along with world-famous arenas and TV-stylecoverage. In addition to being able to set up your own fights in the standard exhibition mode, you can playout nine of the greatest boxing matches in history in the game's classic mode. And for those interested inless realism and more pugilism, slugfest mode offers over-the-top, arcade-style boxing.

The real crowd pleaser here is Knockout Kings 2000's career mode. Choosing from a wide varietyof options, you get to create your own custom boxer, who can fight his way to the top in career mode orparticipate in exhibition and slugfest matches. Before career fights, customized boxers can be improved bytraining, or playing various mini-games. (A memory card is required to save custom boxer data.)

What robs Knockout Kings 2000 of the championship belt is its unbalanced 3-D graphics. Theboxers look great and move fluidly, but everything else appears flat and unfinished. Thankfully, fast gamespeed and responsive controls clamp down on the sightseeing, which is one sure-fire way to end up KO'd.--Joe Hon

Pros:

• Can create your own custom boxer
• Features realistic and arcade-style boxing
• Fast game speed and responsive controls
• Optional 1-button mode for those who don't want to memorize controls

• Except for the boxers, graphics aren't very pretty

Reviews (30)

Ho-hum Knockout Kings
Overall, Knockout Kings 2000 is a disappointment. Although the selection of boxers has improved--like the addition of Sugar Ray Robinson and Joe Frazier, the boxing action has taken a step backwards from its predecessor, Knockout Kings. In that game, a fight could end at any moment with one good punch, and the action wasn't as frenetic--like regular boxing. Here, to make it more "exciting", the programmers simply turned it into a glorified karate punching game with loads and loads of punches being landed. The computer does not improvise any strategies, and hence all the fighters seem the same on computer mode. When it's energy is low, it covers up. When yours is low, even if the computer's is, it comes out you--and is easy to knock out every time. Better to hold off and wait for Mike Tyson Boxing from Activision which promises more realism and strategies. Hey EA Sports--where are Gerry Cooney, Jerry Quarry, Thomas Hearns, Roy Jones, Prince Naseem Hamed, George Foreman (a young and older version), Riddick Bowe, and Kid Gavilan? Put some more classic fighters in there as well!

It's just another Slugfest
EA Sports have done a brilliant job on the graphics but where did the game play go? I mean after watching a brilliant intro playing the game isn't much fun at all. The sound tracks are brilliant but what happened to strategy and being able to make your opponent work. This game reminds me of Barry Mcguian's Boxing that came out for the commodore 64 back in the early 80's. There's absolutely no difference in game play. This game is just about pressing the button quicker that your opponent (that's if your in two player mode). This has taken a step backwards since Knockout Kings '99, which other than the graphics is a far better game.

My advice: Don't buy!

Excellent for the Play Station
I like this game because it's cool. I like how Al Albert, Shawn OBraty add commentaries during the fight. I also like how Mills Lane gives the fighters instruction before the bout. I highly recommend this game to future boxing fans.

TKO
I really like the game, but I wish the opponent's attacks were just a little more telegraphed so that I, as a player, would have a better fighting chance against the computer that is obviously connected to whatever button I press when it comes to its defensive tactics.

Knockout Kings 2000 quite entertaining, but some flaws
Knockout Kings 2000 is overall a pretty good game. After first playing it with my friend, I got hooked on it. The music is awesome. The Career Mode is a good idea, and I love that there are so many legendary boxers to choose from.

However, I agree with other reviewers in that the game is not so true to real-life boxing techniques. (Of course, one can argue that realism in a video game is unimportant, just as in the movies...) I can win too easily just throwing combos. Not much strategy involved. Also, defense is impossible in the game. All you can do is evade once the computer starts swinging; bobbing and weaving are useless. This really annoys me. Another thing that bothers me is that the computer can throw just as many combos as you, but still have nearly a full tank of stamina.

I wonder why George Foreman or Mike Tyson aren't included? I mean, Jack Dempsey, but no George Foreman? Come on! And Ken Norton and Joe Frazier are underrated in the game. This really bummed me out. Also, it seems odd to me that I can beat Muhammad Ali with, say, Leon Spinks, easier than I can beat Larry Holmes or Evander Holyfield, using the exact same strategy. And Holyfield--while a great heavyweight--is not as good as the game makes him out to be, in my opinion.

But all in all, the game is good for hours of enjoyment. There are more things I like about it than dislike. I recommend it favorably. ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Amazing game, best soccer game ever
Fifa 2002. This game is better than any words can describe. It combines high quality control with incredibly realistic graphics for an excellent feel. Being a soccer fanatic, I can tell you that this game is much like the real game of soccer (except that it requires no real physical play, of course). I have been playing this game non-stop for a couple of weeks now, and I have had this game since Christmas. It is great for multiplayer or for just sitting down by you for a quick game. I like to challenge myself by playing on World Class mode, the hardest level of play there is. I'll get right into the game.

I'll start with the graphics. These graphics are absolutely incredible, no doubt. Every time I turn the game on my jaw drops at the incredible detail of the players' faces and the scarily accurate interactions between players (arms pushing off each other, legs reaching out to take the ball, etc.). And the cinematic sequences, like every time you score a goal or the opening, ending, and halftime sequences, are beyond belief. EA Sports is known for having the tip-top graphics, and this game goes far beyond my expectations, and I think many people will agree. The presentation is good, and even the Menus have been carefully thought out. The game is aesthetically pleasing, and all of my family members agree that this is one of the most realistic-looking and playing soccer games on the market.

Next, the sound. The sounds are very high quality in this game, and even the menu music sounds good. I find myself getting these songs stuck in my head often (which is not always a good thing). The commentary is incredible; every single part of the game is programmed in with commentary, and there is an option to turn it off it you don't like the announcers. Much of what they say is different, and I find the announcers' reactions to be very amusing sometimes. There's not a whole lot to say about the sound effects, they are fairly simple. There's not much to them except for the thump of the ball being kicked, and the occasional moan from a slide-tackled player. They are fairly simple, but are extremely effective. And an occasional burst from the crowd can actually affect the way you play.

The gameplay. Wow, what can I say? It is incredible. Unlike any soccer game I've played before (and believe me, I've played a lot), this game's control is nearly perfect, and the use of momentum and curve on the balls now has a big effect on your game. It's all these tiny things that make this game feel real. There is now an easy way to do a 1-2 pass (give and go), and that is with the flick of the C-Stick. Lob balls are also important, and they can be kicked by using the B button. However, one of the most important additions to your shots and passes is adding curve to the ball. I have scored numerous goals from nearly midfield by adding curve to the ball so that it curves around the keeper and into the net. You can also curve the ball around players for all sorts of passes. This game is extremely fun to play, and I enjoy it nearly every day. Seasons are especially fun for me, and the Create-a-Player option is also enjoyable. Overall, the gameplay is excellent.

The replay value for this game is excellent in my opinion, but many people do not enjoy sports games as much as I do. I find I can play this game several times in a row and I am still perfectly satisfied. Keep in mind though that this is my opinion, and my opinion could differ greatly from someone who doesn't like sports games. Also keep in mind that another improved version of this game is Fifa World Cup. I have yet to play this one, but I've heard it's great and can provide more longevity to your Fifa experience.

Overall, Fifa 2002 is one of the greatest sports games currently. I enjoy it a whole lot, and I feel that everyone should at least try this great game. It's at least a must-rent, and I believe it's a must-buy. All of the qualities that make up this game are nearly perfect, and a season only takes up 29 blocks on a memory card, which really isn't bad as far as seasons go. Overall, Fifa 2002 is a great buy and I recommend it to any gamer that enjoys sports games. As an avid soccer player, this game is great fun for me and all of my friends. I hope this review is helpful.

Mark Williams

Holy Cow!!!!!
When I was shopping for my first gamecube game, i was going to get Star Wars: Rogue Leader. Not a bad choice. But once I saw Fifa 2002 I had to have it! I own Fifa '99 for the Nintendo 64 system and that game is loads of fun! I knew that this game would be stupendous!

When I first popped the game in, i was blown away by the gameplay, sound, and graphics. I didn't even play it and I was already loving this game.

After playing, I didn't change my opinion, it was made stronger! This game is a must have for soccer fans as well as people not so accustomed to the sport.

The opportunities in this game are more realistic. It isn't a breeze to score as in Fifa '99. Once you score, the graphics become outsanding. When your playing, the option to send a player on a run is superb. Of course the commentators are a nice addidtion to the game. John Moxon and Andy Gray are great! After playing for about 10 hours, I am still hearing things I haven't heard from them!!

Get this game!!

TIGHT GAME!!!...
I don't have this game, but I've played at my friend's house. The game is kind of boring when it's on normal speed but when you put it on fastest, it was one of the funnest games I've ever played. I reccomend this game for people who are in to sports game and want to have a fun time.

Great Game!!!
This game is Great! You can be any team that exists, and play in every mode there is. Also, it's only ($$$)!. It's much better than FIFA World Cup 2002, and it's ($$$) cheaper. The graphics are good, and so are the controls. There's not a lot else to say except GET IT!

Ok, just a few problems
FIFA is a great soccer title compared to the cartoon version, Soccer Slam. This is a game with easy controls to remember, Over 10 leagues and divisons and over 150 teams to choose from!Another plus is the detail on every player! The only problems are that there too many championships to go through, unless you like to take ur time with games. This game takes up too much memory on a 59 memory card, unless you have a 251 which, you'll be fine. Last, problem the setting this game starts on is too easy. I won 15 to 0 on my first game. This game is a totally a keeper for you if your a die hard soccer fan! ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Best Basketball Game on XBOX!
Well, mainly because it's the only one! Nevertheless - until Sega's NBA 2K2 is released next March - this is definitely the game to have. EA Sports usually does a great job with graphics, etc. and this is no exception however I've never been a big fan of their gameplay but I do however like this better than NBA Live 2001 for the PC. It's easy to get a pickup game going and of course a lot of fun when friends are playing as well. I'd recommend getting this if you usually enjoy basketball games - if this would be your first basketball games or if you're not a big fan of them - I obviously would not recommend it as it's not the best (just the best available so far). Thanks for viewing!

Big improvement over NBA Live 2001
First I'll say that I used to have a PS2 system and I had NBA Live 2001. I hated the game. Players didn't look real at all. Proportions were all messed up...Shaq looked about the same physically as Kobe. Faces were totally terrible. All that has been corrected in NBA Live 2002. I'm shocked at how close many of the players resemble their real life counterparts. They even have a number of players wearing their signature sneakers. Graphically, the game is just a huge improvement. Gameplay is also much improved. Game just has a much better "flow". Players move very fluidly and are easier to control. Computer AI still is not great, but it's better than in prvious NBA Live games. I still think players miss too many shots when you go to the higher levels. However, if you do work for open shots, your percentages will increase. Announcers are pretty average. Season and franchise modes are great and create a player mode is fantastic. Overall, I really enjoy the game. I hated NBA Live 2001. Thought it was rushed to the market. EA definately improved things here so if you were like me and were disappointed with Live 2001, give this one a chance.

NBA LIVE 2002, Its in the game
If you have played the 2003 and 2004 versions of NBA LIVE and played this version, you will find that they are pretty much the same. Especially the 2003, Players all look pretty much the same and there are not any new moves at all. NBA Live 2004 made some improvement but some of the AI is not tolerable. This game has great AI, and great game play with alot of flashy dunks. Sure some of the guys faces doesnt look as good as the 2003 or 2004, and sure, Michael Jordan still plays in this game, and yeh, Nba Live 2004 has that option where you can choose your favorite team and their colors and players will be showing int he menu, but so what? Aren't these sport games all about gameplay??? Petty features should be ignored and we should not encourage EA to make a sport game every year if the roster is THE ONLY thing to be changed. THis is definitely a cheaper but more worth your money NBA Live.

Gameplay:9
Sound: 8.5
Graphics: 8.5
Replay Value: 9
Overall: 8.75

A unrefined game.
The problem about this game is that there is no defense, which means that the only thing that you can do is drive in with the turbo button, then dunk. *sucks.* YOu can roast the AI doing this. Bleg.

wheres the Defense
well i've been probably one of the biggest NBA live fans from NBA Live 95 on SNES to current....but wow, this was not very good
graphics and stuff are whatever, they dont really matter ALL that much in a basketball game
crossover and 'stutter step', theres no stutter...
umm, and the worst thing about the game, there's no defense
i was playing it at a friends place and even a person who's never played a basketball game could possibly score on every posession...theres no DEFENSE played by the computer and it is very hard to play defense as a user
holla ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Ouch!! This game clubs down any other
This game is so cool. What could be bad about riding a motorcycle and trying to knock other people off their bikes? That's right. Nothing!! The story line of this game is about your friend is stuck in jail and you eventually need to free him by gaining respect by your fellow posse members. But this is road rash. Does their really need to be a story line to be fun. There are a huge variety of weapons like clubs, lead pipes, baseball bats, 2x4s,pepper spray, taser, cattle prod, chains and much more. Also new to this game in the fighting aspect is there are tons of combos (At least 45 different ones) that do massive damage. This is a must have for anybody who likes fighting or racing games.

Best Road Rash Since the Sega Genesis!
This version of Road Rash is the one to get. The racing feels realistic, and the races are challenging, but not impossible. This game has great fighting between bikers too, with a huge variety of weapons including a tazer stun gun that the cops use. The race courses vary from mountains to seaside to city driving, which keeps it interesting.

While there are pedestrians that can be run over (with entertaining screams), there are no animals. It was always fun to run over a deer and jump up into the air in Road Rash 3 for the Sega Genesis. Its just too bad that they got rid of the mooing cows in this one.

This game has great replay value, because the racing feels so realistic. It is fun to race the courses repeatedly, even without following the "plot" of the game.

An ok game
The game is ok. When I first played it it seemed boring untill I read the intructions and learned the moves and the basics of the game. Then the game is cool. One player mode is anyway. I havn't played with a friend yet on it but one player mode is ok. It brings back memories of the old Sega Genises game that I used to play as a little kid.

Mindless violence, endless fun...
This game has one good quality: pure and nonsensical violence. However, unlike other games out there, this is truly macho violence. First off, this game is about riding a sport or Harley motorcycle and whacking other gang members, and most importantly, winning the race. Next, the controls are simple and easy to learn, and the bikes are variably responsive, depending on the motorbike that you choose. True, the graphics are a little pre-dated as compared to the Playstation 2, but it does the job. There will be some pop-up and vanishing acts of people. It does offer a tremendous multiplayer game, from co-op to versus. With the gang members whacking you with various weapons and cops on bikes chasing you, this has to be the most fun. This game even offers "Five-O" Mode where you get to be the cop. That has to be one of the best modes for this game. The cutscenes for this game are weak; they are really, really bad. Overall, this game is great, and this should be a fun and exceeding addition to any Playstation library.

one of the best roadrash
Roadrash is back! the best since the original computer one! although the graphics could be just a bit better, i think the game is very good and i rate it a 5. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Mr. Madden's football games continue to be the titles against which allother gridiron games will be judged. Considering that Madden NFL 2002 isthe Xbox's first contribution to the series, it's a triumphant debut indeed.Everything that we've come to know and love about the console Madden games hasmade it to the Xbox. This version even has minimal but noticeable upgrades fromthe PlayStation2 edition.

Gameplay is almost exactly the same as Madden NFL 2002 on the otherconsoles, with key differences relating to the enormous Xbox controller. Ifyou're not a fan of the Microsoft controller's ill-placed black-and-whitebuttons, you'll be happy to see they aren't used too frequently.

The artificial intelligence exhibited by the Xbox-controlled players seems to beequivalent to that of the very smart PS2 version. In other words, expect aslow-paced, competent game that will challenge you for every yard.

The graphics, however, have been slightly tweaked for the extra pixel-pushingabilities of Microsoft's console. Helmets get scratched and dirt, grass, andother filth accumulates on player uniforms. Players are somewhat sharper andsmoother than in the great-looking PS2 version, plus people with widescreen TVscan view the entire offensive and defensive lines without having to pan left orright. All in all, the improvements over the PS2 version are slight, but they doadd to the atmosphere of the game.

Also retained are the two-minute drills, teaching modes, and Madden Cards fromthe other versions. Sadly, repetitive and droll announcing by Pat "What Game IsHe Watching?" Summerall and John "Blandly Stating the Obvious" Madden didn't getupgraded. One or both of these guys need to hang up their microphones in ahurry. Also, the game still puts way too much emphasis on the passing game,leading to sometimes inflated QB stats.

If you've enjoyed the Madden series on other consoles, you'll love this 2002edition. The legendary Madden gameplay is better than ever, and the games havenever looked this good. --Mark Brooks

Pros:

• A great football game that plays like its PS2 counterpart
• Aside from picking receivers, the black-and-white buttons on Microsoft'squestionably designed controller get minimal usage
• Some visual upgrades, including dirty players and somewhat sharper graphics,from other versions

• Lethargic commentary by Madden and Summerall
• Gameplay differences between this and PS2 version are minimal at best; don'tbuy both
• Emphasis on passing can lead to inflated stats

Reviews (67)

Madden NFL 2002
Madden 2002 is a solid football game, but there's no hiding from the fact that it wasn't specifically built to take advantage of the Xbox's capabilities. Because of this, I can't shake the feeling that this game isn't all that it could've been. The improvements in graphics are definitely noticable but not on par with what we expect from the Xbox.

But the 64 dollar question is which game is the best out of NFL 2K2, Madden 2002 and NFL Fever 2002. Fever and NFL 2K2 are in more direct competition with each other than with Madden 2002. There's an obvious arcade-leaning gameplay mechanic in Fever and 2K2 that Madden just does not have. The EA game requires a play style that's been refined, learned and accepted over the years that can be pretty unforgiving to the uninitiated, but that is its charm. When I look at Madden objectively, which we try to do here, it plays a lot slower than either of the other two games, but I also see that it's intentional. Madden 2002 isn't going to wow you with its speed --even if you're running the ball with Edgerrin James-- because you're supposed to be awed by its authentic blocking and defensive AI.

It's NFL substance over style that we've come to expect from Madden games and that's what Madden NFL 2002 gives us.

The best football game yet!
While I have not been a fan of Madden games historically (on playstation & genesis) madden 2002 is the best football game i've ever played. The graphics are stunning & fluid, surpassing the graphics of any sports game I've ever seen. It also gives you great gameplay, very accurate player rankings, & VERY in-depth control of the games. I especially like the free-angent signing & how you have to draft AND sign your draft picks.
Admittedly there are some flaws in the game, but most are evident in every football game: namely poor defensive AI and atrocious & repetitive commentary. Other problems are:
1. trading with the computer is rediculous. After many ill-fated attempts at trading with the computer on franchise mode i decided to see what I could get for trading marshall faulk... a 3rd round draft pick?!
2. No customizable playbooks or play creator
3. John Madden
still it is the closest to perfect anyone has gotten for a football game.

holding penalties are ridiculous
Great graphics and some very realistic features but I am furious over the number of holding plays I keep getting especially when I use a superior team over another i.e. the all madden team vs. a regular team. The regular team rarely gets called for holding while I get called nearly a third of the time and on running downs. THAT IS BULL PLOP.

The commentary also needs a lot of work on better coordinating and adding many more so we don't hear the same thing over and over.

Also there are waaaay to many receivers dropping the ball on well thrown passes.

Madden 2002, great game
If you like the Madden series, you will love this game. The graphics are astonashing, and the gameplay is amazing. It is a little slow looking at times, but none the less it is such a fun game.

Best football game for 2002.
This was a great game to get in 2002. Dont bother now, get 2003 but only for the better rosters. I guess you could do this in 2002 but you need to update stats and trade players away, ex. Ricky Williams to the dolphins but it might take a while. ALso you can't add players to the Texans. The controls and gameplay is great. The commentary is average but the player models look fantastic with real-life faces that you can make. You could make a moustached-bearded 400 pound guy or a little, bald, 160 pound kicker. Overall- a great port. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Whether your video golfing ability classifies you as a tour-hardened proor weekend duffer, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2002 provides ample opportunityto refine and enhance your strengths. Gone is the swing power meter in earlierincarnations in favor of a new wrinkle from EA Sports--Total Precision Swing.Essentially, the onscreen golfer is your real-time power meter, as you now havethe ability to control his or her entire motion, from backswing tofollow-through. Power drives, insane-angle slices, fading hooks, and more canall be executed with the proper touch. And while the Total Precision Swing'slearning curve is steep, it does add new flavor to the game.

Among the new game modes are the Tiger Challenge and Speed Golf. In the TigerChallenge, you compete as Woods against a progression of 17 players--some PGATour players and some original EA Sports characters--to earn cash rewards andthe right to unlock hidden golfers. You can also unlock individual holes onTiger's Dream 18, a course designed by Woods himself. Speed Golf features a fastand furious race to the hole in which you can either compete by yourself orsplit-screen against another player. Money is earned in head-to-head competitionby finishing the hole first, and through bonuses for such things as teeing offfirst and hitting a longer drive than your opponent. Any money earned issubsequently drained from your opponent's total, creating all-out mayhem on thecourse. Other game modes offer stroke, match, and tournament play, skins,scenarios, and practice. Also, Play Now mode offers a helpful tutorial that youmust complete before moving on to further options.

Visually, the game's many courses and related elements depict a stunning,near-live experience. From the well-kept fairways and greens of Pebble Beach andthe TPC at Sawgrass to the otherworldly dazzle of Copperhead Canyon, the coursescome alive with rainy mists, murky fogs, and glowing sunsets. Also enhancing theexperience are crashing ocean waves, rippling lakes, swaying tree branches, andeven the occasional live animal should you knock a shot into the trees.--Larry White

Pros:

• Wide variety of opponents in Tiger Challenge
• Innovative Speed Golf competition
• Stunning visuals

• Analog swing control may take some getting used to

Reviews (43)

At least it's better than last year...sort of
I'm always baffled by people who like console golf games, yet they don't like "Hot Shots" style golf games. To be truly great at "Hot Shots" or any really good golf game takes skill, timing, finesse, shot/club selection and the ability to read greens. What makes a great golf game is how all of those things are achieved, how they flow together. Tiger Woods PGA 2002, as much as any other video golf game allows you to manipulate the reality of golf to better play it (putting spin on the ball in mid-air, zooming along the path of a putt to read it, etc.) That being said, I want to have FUN when I play a golf title. I don't want to try and do three different things with only two hands to get a ball to go where I want it. Tiger 2002 wants to be a golf simulation, hey man if I want to play bad golf, I can go out and actually PLAY golf. I play video golf to be GREAT at golf. This year's version looks better in some areas (characters, greens, trees) and worse in others (Robin's egg blue ponds? What kind of toxic waste is in that water?). The best part of this game is the inclusion of more courses. THANK YOU EA SPORTS for attempting to give us our money's worth course-wise. The worst part is the tedious WORK involved in playing it.
My advice is to rent it. Who knows? You may like being frustrated.

Almost the Perfect Golf Game
This is by far the most enjoyable sports game I've ever played. The controls are not as difficult as you might think, I got it down after a few tries. The courses are awesome, the announcers are good, the competition is great and the best part is there are so many different options to play. This game doesn't get boring. You can play tournaments, skins, practice rounds, match play in the Tiger challenge, and different scenarios. My only complaint would be the speed golf option, it would of been alot more fun to just play a regular match against a friend rather than no head to head option other than speed golf. Other than that if you are a golfer or enjoy sports games, this is a must buy, the game is great.

Excellent but not perfect
This game is truely an enjoyable experience. I had just as much fun playing this as I did 10 years ago playing PGA Tour II for genesis. The graffics are un-real, and the courses are equally as spectacular, especially those which are imaginary. The game play is quite realistic. For example, the way the shot is affected by different lies is extremely relatable to real life golf. Although 2003 is coming out in only a month, I will be buying this game this afternoon, because it infected me with immediate addiction. The only two flaws I found in the game were that in Tournament mode, you only play two rounds rather than four. Also, the game became very easy. The second day I played the game I shot 57 for 18 holes. But it is still definitley a wise buy for any golf or video game golf lover.

Must buy for golf fans
If you enjoy golf video games, this is a must have. The controller scheme is different from any I have played before but I find it a little easier to manipulate than the 3-button press thing. It is especially effective for chipping. When you first start the game has a tutorial mode that is really good at getting you going quickly. The load times aren't too bad.

The announcers are really well done and any golf fan will recognize the voices. There are enough different phrases that they don't repeat too often. The comments are almost always on target and haven't gotten annoying yet.

Besides playing normal golf games (stroke, match, and skins) there is speed golf and what are called Scenarios. You can think of scenarios like mini-games for golf. You go out and do things like sand saves, hard putts, play 4 holes, or try to catch someone in match play from 2 back in 5 holes. This is great if you don't feel like playing an entire round, or if you just want a little more after a round.

Each round you play, you win money that you use to improve your golfer. After each round, you can use the money to improve the attributes of your golfer. You can improve Power, Approach, Putting, Spin, and others. The game also keeps track of parts of your game like your average score, earnings, the number of eagles you've made, and that kind of thing.

On the minus side, the golfer's models don't look much like the real golfers, especially in the face. I have only unlocked 7 so far but some of the guys don't look much like the real golfers. (Who is the guy they modelled for Stuart Appleby?) As far as the menus and interface goes, it is a little confusing to start a game for anything besides the Tiger Challenge.

Great Golf Sim for Anyone
When it comes to sports games, there are two camps--those who want a pure simulation game that is completely realistic, and those who want a pick-up-and-play arcade game with crazy moves and unrealistic physics. EA Sports usually makes games that appeal to the former group, but I think Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2002 appeals to both sides. This game can be as simple or as deep as you want it to be. There are plenty of options. There is a great single player career mode, where you play against pros for money to build your golfer's attributes. You can also get monney by playing through special scenarios, like shooting as low a score as possible on three par 5 holes.

There are also some great two-to-four-player options. You can play a straight golf game, a skins game or the new speed golf, where you actually have to run from where you hit the ball to where it lands.

I think what I like most about this game is its innovative controls. Unlike most golf games where you just press a button a couple of times to swing the club, these controls actually simulate a real swing. You pull back on either analog stick to pull the club back, then press it forward to swing. You can control the distance by how far you pull back on the analog stick. You can also make the ball fade or draw by pulling the stick back at an angle. These controls really set the game apart from the other golf games out there.

My only complaint about the game is that while the 2002 version of this game has a lot more courses and options than the 2001 version, the first game had better gameplay. In the 2001 version, you could choose where you wanted to hit the ball, then there would be a meter showing you how far back you had to pull. In this game, it will tell you to swing a certain percentage and leave you to guess how far to pull back. Also, in the first game you could actually see the slope of the green to determine where to aim your putt. In this game you have to rely on a caddy tip that will tell you to aim a certain length right or left or short or long. Not too helpful if you have no way of measuring the distance on the green. These gameplay "improvements" can make for some very frustrating times.

Overall, however, this game can be pretty fun. It's even better if you have a friend or two to play against. Sitting around waiting for a computer-controller golfer to play can get boring after awhile. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

NBA Street is the best arcade basketball title available. Period.Why? No refs, no clocks, and no fouls. Players will knock you over, and theypractically live for blatant goaltending throughout the game. Realistic? No, butit's always fun--even if you hate basketball.

Street has two game modes--City Circuit and Hold the Court--yet thedifferences are minimal. Both feature three-on-three games of 21, in which youmust assemble a squad composed of (initially) NBA players. Soon you'll playagainst street legends (read: bosses) that, once defeated, can be added to yourteam. Your ultimate goal is to defeat the biggest legend ever--Michael Jordan.

To survive the streets, you must learn which buttons to mash as you masterspecific stunts. This will add special points to your score and give you accessto news ways to score. Though similar to the NBA Jam games, Streetis deeper and sports a surprisingly developed finesse game.

Street does commit some fouls, however, with its over-the-top, repetitivecommentary and lack of play modes. But even if you hate arcade-style basketball,you'll find Street is different from the pack and a solid MVP contender.--Mark Brooks

This review refers to thePlayStation2 version of thegame.

Pros:

• Good controls and gameplay
• Pleasantly cartoonish graphics
• Arcade approach makes it fun for those turned off by very technicalbasketball simulations

• Horrific commentary
• Only 2 gameplay modes, and they're very similar
• No 4-player support

Reviews (47)

NBA Street for the Gamecube is a must have
Sure this game isn't as good as NBA 2K2 or NBA Live 2002, but who cares? It takes the NBA game outside onto the courts and is very fun. Although it doesn't show the players names when you play you still have fun making sweet dunks, amazing three's and buzzer-beating full-court shots. You not only get points for scoring but you get points for the style of the shot, type of shot and distance of shot. For example if you do a sweet alley-oop you might get 2000 points. Taking the game to the streets in NBA Street is so fun... This game isn't as good as 2K2 or Live because it isn't as realistic like the NBA, but it is still very fun.
EA Sports has yet again made another great game adding to it's awesome games like SSX Tricky, NBA Live and Madden NFL Football. This is a must-buy game for all Gamecube owners.
Fun: 5/5
Controls: 4/5
Graphics: 5/5
Gameplay: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

Sweet
NBA Street is a great streetball game. Even though it has its flaws, it is still awesome.

Graphics: 10/10
The graphics are unbelievable. They're so crisp and clear. When a player dunks, it looks like they're actually touching the rim, which most basketball games dont have.

Controls: 8/10
The controls are alright. They take quite a bit of time to get used to, but once you have them down its very simple.

Music: 6.5/10
The music on NBA Street is ok. They try to play some kind of hip hop thats really annoying but not very good. If they want good hip hop, they need to have 50 Cent or Nelly.

Fun: 9/10
This game is very fun. The sorry part about it is that you can only play in two game modes, which are very much alike, and create a player has very weak detail. Also, they need to get real NBA legends, not those corny street legends ... But once you start a game, its a blast.

Overall: 9/10
This game is the real deal. And at [this price] now, why not buy it. If you love NBA basketball get this, but if you dislike NBA basketball, this isnt for you.

NBA Street
NBA Street is awesome. It has loads of trick moves, including dunks. The gamebreakers and busted rims are cool in every aspect. The player models and create-a-player are very realistic. It even has "Street School", which teaches you the gameplay. There are downsides, though. There are only two modes of gameplay which are kind of similar. The commentary is a tad bit annoying. Still, this is a must have for gamers.

Pretty Awsome
This game is alright.You can get alot of great nba players just by winning but who said they were good at street ball?There are alot of courts to choose from but i'd recodmend the street hoops game more because there are actually real street ball players on that game like you see on tv

it is awesome
Nba Street is one of the coolest games that i have ever played. It has some pretty cool characters like Yetti, Alein, and magma man. It also has Jordan, Iverson and many other real NBA players. The different places you can play and awesome different moves that you can do just hit the spot. My personal favorite is DINNER'S SERVED! But that's just me. You might like PUTIN' IT HOME or the ALLEY-OOP. All in all, this is a fun all around good game. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

In baseball, if a pitcher starts losing control the manager yanks him. It’s a smart thing to do because baseball tends to flow in streaks. This is why EA Sports came out to the mound and pulled the ailing Triple Playseries. Never a critical favorite, it was too arcade and not enough simulation. Triple Play just wasn't performing, and fans were beginning to notice what the other baseball sims were doing better (almost everything). So rookie MVP 2003 trots out to the mound for its day in the sun. It’s a step in the right direction.

MVP looks great. The field, players, and animations are all smooth and realistic looking. Instead of placing the camera directly behind the batter in the default view, they’ve gone for a slightly tilted camera that better simulates a batter’s view of the ball screaming in. The only graphical glitch is that the batting box is too small visually. Curves don’t break correctly, change-ups don’t drop enough, and this just plain looks weird. However, the mini-diamond that shows the situation (including how much of a lead the opposing team's runners take) is just about perfect.

Rather than simply demanding you keep your eye on the ball, MVP has a batting box that predicts where the ball will go. This makes hitting too easy and pitching a bit too hard. A pitcher has too little time to get the ball icon within the strike zone. Other sims do it better. The other problem is with fielding. You have decent control (they avoided World Series Baseball’s rookie error) but changing players is neither quick nor easy and the game forces your player to dive when you don’t want to. Tossing it back to base isn’t as intuitive or smooth as it should be either. You’ll get used to it but, again, other games do it much better.

MVP is a strong debut but it just isn’t a contender for the Hall of Fame.--Andrew S. Bub

Pros:

• Great graphics
• Realistic baseball action
• Franchise mode

• Pitches don’t "break" correctly
• Fielding system is out of whack
• Franchise mode lacks initial draft

Reviews (74)

Puts the Fun Back in Baseball Sims
Baseball sims never could replicate the excitement of Sammy Sosa facing the closer, with 2 outs, bottom of the 9th, runners on 2nd and 3rd, with the Cubs down by 1 run. Until now.
Almost unexplainable as to why, this game pulls it off. The graphics are the best ever for a baseball sim, but its really the pitcher/batter duel that EA Sports has perfected with new interfaces, which to me is the essence of baseball itself. No longer mindless, boring cursor pitching and hitting, this game gets you involved in the mind game battle, and for that alone is worth the price.

Sure, you could complain that it does not have the best franchise mode out there (still OK), or the best fielding control (no control over diving/jumping), or a fantasy draft (always a fun option), but as soon as you get the hang of the pitching and hitting, all is quickly forgiven. Between the best STAT keeper and the most options (WSB & All Star & High Heat) games vs. the most fun to play and OK options/features, I chose the latter. If you do too, get MVP as your baseball game this year.

The Best Baseball Game We've Played
My ten year-old bought this game today and we LOVE it! The new pitching and throwing features make the game much more realistic. MVP Baseball has great diving plays, easy-to-use line-up changes including pinch runners, and near-to-life stadiums and players. At Miller Park, you can even see Bernie Brewer slide down his left field slide when you hit a home run.

This game is also much faster-moving due to its game play and between inning transitions. The base runner windows are a great feature and allows you to see the runners advance while still watching the rest of the play.

This game is great for 10 year-olds and 40 year olds! Great job EA Sports!!!

A great baseball game!
MVP Baseball 2003 is a fun game. What I like most about the game is that when you pitch, you can control of how accurate your pitch is going to be. When you select a pitch, there is an accuracy meter. There is a green section and blue esction of the accuracy meter. If you hit it on the green section, your pitch will be more accurate and most likely you will throw a strike. If your pitch meter hits the blue, then your pitch will end up as a ball or an easier hit for your opponent. I really ike how you can control the accuracy of your pitch or throw. I would say to any baseball fan, this is a good game to play, so if you ever get the chance, I recommend you buy it.

best baseball game of its year!!!!!!!
fun never stops with this game.

great improvment
I didn't think this game would be any good at all after playing the old triple play from ea sports, but I was wrong. It is great. It has a good sound track (like all the other ea games), good grahpics, and controls you can get used to. The total pitch control and Full swing control are nice. Very nice features are the picture-in-picture bases that make it easy to see what is going on. The franchise mode is not the best combared to others. But other than that a nice game. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

NASCAR 2001 sports a new game engine that has enhanced the graphics, car physics, and artificial intelligence over previous installments in the series. There are over 18 tracks to race on, including the famous Daytona, as well as fantasy road courses. Choose to race as one of 30 top drivers, including Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, and Mark Martin. Computer-controlled opponents follow the tendencies of their real-world driver models. Players can create their own driver, and race through full or half seasons--or even multiple seasons in the game's career mode. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Edge of Your Seat Excitement!
Being of of NASCAR's biggest fans, I have to say I was impressed with the latest version of EA Sports' attempts to bring the thrill of driving the worlds fastest stock cars to your television - with you behind the wheel.

I laugh when I read all the critics badmouthing the game and want to ask them: "Could YOU have done any better?"

I have been a follower of this series since the original NASCAR Racing was introduced in 1996/97. Now THERE was a terrible game! But it was only the first attempt for ANY game manufacturer to bring professional stock car racing to the console system. Then came NASCAR 98 - a better game engine indeed, but terrible graphics. "Driving through cartoonland racing cartoon cars" is the best way to describe it. NASCAR 99 hit the shelves and was better in gameplay, but no real improvements in graphics. NASCAR 2000 seemed to be a step backwards in the gameplay area, but better graphics.

NASCAR 2001 is a SERIOUS improvement over previous version of the game. I've played em all and 2001 hooked me from the get-go. The graphics have improved dramatically, despite what all the negative critics think. Added lighting effects and smoother-flowing graphics along with ultra-realistic gameplay literally provide 'edge-of-your-seat' excitement and will keep you satisfied for hours.

If you have ever played previous versions of this game, then you will immensely enjoy (and appreciate) NASCAR 2001 - despite all the negative critics!

Not So Good
I've played all the Nascar Games and this is a step back. The graphics are not good, and there are no other improvements over the setup of Nascar 2000. In fact Nascar 2000 is a better game. I recommend Jarrett @ Labonte Stock Car Racing for the true racer, but forget about Nascar 2001.

my review (please read)
Well personally i am a nascar fan and have all the nascar games from 1996-2002 :). 2001 one was one of the better ones, although i think 2000 was a bit better but 2001 has better graphics and more realistic gameplay. but the best one yet is nascar2002, over all nascar 2001 is a good game and is worth its price.

The racing game for racing fans.
I think this game is the best nascar game yet. It has new drivers, and new tracks like Daytona. It's the most realistic racing game ever. It has awesome wrecks because of how long they last, but they don't happen alot. The only thing I would change would be the frequency of the wrecks. This game is for the racing fans. The music is cool because it's new and it goes with the racing. The fans look real and when you wreck, your most likely to flip your car. So if your looking for a nascar game for playstation, this is one of the best.

Its Cool
This game if the best nascar game they have had out for 01...great graphics and more of a selection of cars and tracks including daytona... ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Leave the nonmagical world of the Muggles behind to play as Harry Potter in the Game Boy Color release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Experience the wizardry, adventure, and thrills of life at Hogwarts.

As the game begins, you're starting your first year at Hogwarts. Explore the school and its grounds, gather items for potions, cast spells, and take on a range of adversaries in turn-based wizard challenges. Solve action-oriented puzzles with Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Albus Dumbledore, and a host of unforgettable characters from the J.K. Rowling book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone--the book that started it all.

Colorful graphics render Harry's enchanted world in spirited detail, making the journey from Privet Drive to Diagon Alley and the Gringotts, then onto Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest, all the more fun. You can also trade and collect famous wizard cards to unlock rewards and increase Harry's skills. You can trade cards with a friend using a Game Link cable. And as you garner experience points for Harry, you can upgrade spells and improve Harry's strength so he can take on new opponents. ... Read more

Reviews (79)

The best GameBoy game ever (Kari)
This game is the best GameBoy game I've ever played. I've had it for two days, and I've played it for over six hours. I like that you can pick your own spells, and you battle bats and other icky creatures. I also like that you can talk with Hagrid, Hermione, Ron, and other characters from the book. It's challenging. In one of the challenges you have to find potion ingredients for Snape, and it takes a LONG time (I haven't finished it yet). If you are a Harry Potter fan I think you should try this game.

Very Good
Harry Potter and the Philosopher/Sorcerer's Stone (depending on where you live) for the Gameboy color is the best Harry Potter game on _any_ system. Sure the PC/PS games look a little better (okay maybe more than a little)--but the gameboy color game has one thing they don't: seriously addicting gameplay. You'll spend hours trying to complete your collection of Wizard Cards, running back and forth to get potion ingredients, fighting monsters and completing the game. The only thing EA wasn't able to integrate into the game was Quidditch. Surprisingly the loss is minimal to the overall enjoyment of the game.

Recommended for Potter fans, looking for a really great Potter experience.

This game rules!!!!
I think this game is the best game since Super Mario Kart on the Super Nintendo! I don't actually have the game yet,but I've played it once and it is really fun! You start the game in Privet Drive then move on to Diagon Alley where you buy all your wizarding needs. Ofcourse you first must navigate through the Gringotts maze to get you money. Once you have all your supplies,to the Hogwarts Express! After the Hogwarts Express you get to Hogwarts finaly. The castle is huge! You collect and trade wizard cards to improve Harry's strength.This game is really fun and will definately be a huge hit among gamers so it would be smart to reserve it,or you'll find yourself with an empty shelf.Thanks and see you at Hogwarts!

Lovin it!!
OK.I absolutely luv this game, but i cant find the boomsalng skin!!!!ITS DRIVING ME KRAZY!!!!I've looked at the pic of the snake & i still can't find it!I press A at the pic & it still wont let me get the boomslang skin!!!!!!!!I am about to kill this game(even tho i luv it)if it duznt let me get that boomslang skin!!!!!!!!!!!!Can anyone help me?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Boooooooooooo!
This game stinks:( The wand power is terrible. There is a level that is immpossible to get past. You never get to play quiddich.

DON'T BUY THIS ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This is the first game to feature the 2002 Formula One WorldChampionship and your first chance to compete for the 2002 Formula One crown.F1 2002 includes the new racing teams--Toyota F1 and Renault F1. You cancompete for, unlock, and collect Formula One team-specific cards to win uniquerewards and access new game modes. Building on the challenge mode from F12001, the game now lets you set multicar challenges in which you competeagainst the star drivers from the Formula One grid, or enter into a team dualand test your driver skills against an opponent in an equally competitivemachine. Use the all-new Slingshot Bar to slipstream opponents and pull offhigh-intensity passing maneuvers. Enjoy watching "hero shots" and otherrace-breaking moments from multiple camera angles. ... Read more

Features

• Wrestle the WCW stars
• Choose one of 60 WCW celebrity wrestlers or create your own
• Fight in the ring and continue brawling in locker rooms and garage areas
• Includes theme music, crowd chants and wrestler taunts
• For 1 player

Reviews (28)

Mayhem Rocks!
This is the absolute best Wrestling game in the entire world and I love it. No WCW fan with a playstation shouldn't have it.

The best thing about this game is the amount of Wrestlers. There is about 30 at the start of the game and there are loads more to win. When you have won them all there is about 60.

Mayhem offers 12 pay-per-view arenas, more than any other Wrestling game I can think of. There is Bash at the beach, The Great American Bash, Starrcade, Spring Stampede and loads more. The game also features Monday Nitro, Thursday Thunder and Saturday Night arenas. One thing I can't understand though is why they didn't put the Mayhem arena on, the game is called that isn't it?

Some people have complained about Mayhem's gameplay but I like it(yes!) because it is quite slow so you can figure out the controlls and get prepared for the next move.

The graphics are cool and the camera angles are really ace.

Mayhem's create a Wrestler mode is really good. You can create Zombies and Monsters as well as Human Wrestlers. When you have created a Wrestler put him into a match and see how he fares against WCW's Superstars!

In the game there is a Pay-Per-View password screen where you type in a password and it takes you to an already made Pay-Per-View.

Over all Mayhem is a fantastic game. The only bad thing about it is there are no cage matches and no hidden rants like on the WCW Thunder and WCW Nitro.

My final thing to say is this: Buy it if you're a WCW fan, don't if you're not. And if you've not a fan of Wrestling don't buy it either.

Happy Grappling!

WHY WHY WHY!
This game is terrible! I cant believe EA tried to make this game. First of all the conrol is aweful, terrible. I mean the moves are really hard to pull off. The graphics are OK but they could of been alot better. They were poorly done. They are way to short. Now lets talk about the gameplay. Well lets start with the create a player mode. I have one word to describe this mode. The loading times are really slow. I mean whatever I do it loads. Its also way to short. You can hardly chose anything. Well maybe the best part of the game is the soundtrack. The commentary is pretty good. And the cheers and the grunts makes you think you are right at the match! But with the poor graphics and bad gameplay makes you think you are at a circus. If you are looking for a good wrestling game get wwf attitude or wait for wwf smackdown to come out. But im warning you whatever you do DONT GET THIS GAME!

Worth playing five years later
WCW Mayhem is a relatively old game (the 'WCW' should give that away) it was initially released in 1999. Yet it still has enough entertainment value to be worth a play even today.

1. Sound. The best sound effects I've ever heard on a wrestling game. I've played many titles in this genre, including Wrestlemania XIX and Legends of Wrestling II, and Mayhem is superior to both. The crowds roars and jeers, the thuds and slams, go together to make a fantastic atmosphere. Even better is the two man commentary, and it's like you're watching it on TV.

2. The wrestlers. Coming from the late 90's WCW era, this has got some of the biggest superstars in wrestlin history gruped together. Hollywood Hogan (as he was then), Macho Man Randy Savage, Ric Flair, Sting, Bret Hart, Lex Luger, Goldberg, Curt Henning, Scott Steiner, Rick Steiner.....it's a great line-up. I'd say it's the best line-up in any wrestling game until this years Showdown: Legends of Wrestling. There's 50 wrestlers all together.

3. The wrestling itself. Don't expect super-fast gameplay. Don't even expect the pace of the latest wrestling games. Expect the methodical, paced action of late 80's wrestling. It's spot-on. I haven't seen such an accurate representation of the speed of wrestling in any other game.

4. It's for PS1, so it's incredibly cheap now. I picked up a secondhand copy from this very site for a mere £1.99. Two pounds, and to think it used to cost about £34.99 originally. As far as value for money goes, it's a five star purchase.

Now the negatives. The graphics are weird and not especially attractive - the crowd is just a flat block of coloured blobs. The weak collision detection means your punches will often miss at point blank range. There's no season mode, you just fight for titles and defend them. The Create A Wrestler mode is so basic you won't be able to make any of your favourite wrestlers not in the game already. You can, however, make a knight in armour...

To sum up, WCW Mayhem is not the greatest wrestling game on the market. No matter what console you have, there is atleast two better games avaliable. For the PSX/PS1, WWF Smackdown and Smackdown 2: Just Bring It. For the PS2, four Smackdown games, and three Legends of Wrestling games. For the XBox, WWE Raw & Raw 2, and three Legends of Wrestling games. And for the GameCube, Wrestlemania X8 and XIX, and two Legends of Wrestling games.

Nevertheless, I'm still playing Mayhem today and I have both Wrestlmania XIX and Legends of Wrestling II on my shelf. The commentary, the wrestlers avaliable and the accurate pace of real wrestling make this unique and enjoyable. Add to that the fact that it's ridiculously cheap (even if you only played it for one night, you'd still get value for money), and you're looking at a worthwile purchase.

Awkward controls make for limited mayhem
WCW Mayhem seems like a pretty fun game at first. You have over 50 WCW wrestlers at your disposal, the ability to take the fight backstage to one of twelve different areas, ring entrances for each wrestler, a choice of six different types of match, a smattering of weapons lying about such as bats, chairs, and - my favorite - tasers, the ability to wrestle (in all of the historical rings from important WCW events) in exhibition and pay per view matches as well as go in quest of titles leading up to the coveted heavyweight championship belt, and the option to create your own wrestler. Another important aspect of the game is the color commentary provided by Tony Schiavone and Bobby the Brain Heenan. It doesn't take long for some of these plusses to start feeling like minuses, however.

I am not a big fan of the new manner of controlling your wrestler built into this game; it is much less intuitive than older WCW-based wrestling games, and I often find myself able to come up with only a very limited number of moves; still worse, I constantly find myself repeating moves I had no intention of repeating. The announcers do at least have fun with this, talking about move repetition in disparaging terms as it is going on. Their overall banter, though, while quite funny at times becomes repetitive itself after a short while. Even the overexcited shouts of Schiavone declaring a victory in the ring grow stale, as do his constant calls for someone to stop the bloodbath and call for help. I never get tired of the Brain, though; he is always hilarious.

I don't think the graphics here are much of an improvement over older games, either. There's really not a lot of difference in audio and visual between WCW Mayhem and earlier WCW games for the Playstation. You can fight backstage now, which is cool, but the graphics are largely unimproved and the gameplay is awkward and sometimes annoying. I would much rather play the older WCW/NOW Thunder than I would WCW Mayhem, when it comes right down to it.

Not that great
I bought this for my 7 year old son and he played it for about 7 minutes before tossing it into the "games he never plays" box. Not only are most of the fighters out dated but it was hard for him to even figure out how to use 2 player mode, he thought it was 1 player only until I read the instructions on how to access the 2 player mode. He is usually very quick to pick up on how to play a game but this one was set up in a dumb manner. Also, the announcers are annoying and keep saying the same thing over and over. Even though it was very cheap it still was not even worth it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

FIFA 2002 is here and it's packed with features sure to make gamers and soccer fans happy. With all-new open passing, you have more control and precision than ever before. Find a breaking forward with a perfect 40-yard ball into open space, embarrass the tightest defense with cunning one-twos, or fool any keeper with deep swerving crosses. With deeper customization, FIFA 2002 is set to dominate the competition.

All-new tackling and referee models let players angle and time their tackles, either determining their success or earning a card from the referee. Cinematic cutscenes seamlessly capture all the impact, pain, and emotion of a world-class game. Hard-core in-game animations capture the rough-and-tumble aspects of soccer with increased physical contact, giant collisions, and crunching falls. Authentic light sourcing delivers dynamic player shading and accentuated physical detail as players pass in and out of shadows.

FIFA 2002 gives players the choice of more than 75 licensed national teams and 16 licensed leagues, including the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Spanish Premier League, the French LNF, and Major League Soccer. Localized commentary is provided by legendary commentator John Motson and renowned soccer star Andy Gray. ... Read more

Reviews (66)

WOW!
EA never stops improving their games. I was impressed with FIFA 2001 and I am blown away by the new 2002 edition. With a new pressure sensitive passing you have complete control over every aspect of the game. The ability to play a long ball into open space for your front line to run under is excellent. They have also added one touch passing for a wall pass which makes it easy to blow by defenders. The graphics have also improved dramatically. The fans looks so real that you are just waiting for them to throw stuff onto the field. You can now see blades of grass and they have increased the number of customizations you can have for each player. The only flaws on the game (and they are minor) is the player must use the analog for complete use of passing. I rarely use the analog (I'm just and old school game pad player) so it was tough to get adjusted to. Also, the learning curve is much longer on this game than those in the past. No more pounding the ball down field or in the goal with little concern of direction. If you are aiming to the sideline or hold the shot button too long the ball will sail out of play. I have blown more chance my first week of playing but I still love the updated features. Finally, the only other flaw is the player's faces. Who did they model these guys after? Most of them look like pre-historic man. It just seems a little weak that they would not take more time to design the faces since they did so much to improve the graphics in the rest of the game. Overall, the game is well thought out and a lot of fun to play!

Hits the post.
I should begin with what FIFA 2002 is not. It is not FIFA 2001 -- which was a mediocre game that played more like arcade soccer than the real thing. FIFA 2002 features vast improvements over its predecessor. The game has more real feel with a new passing control that allows for touch and finesse play just like the real thing. The graphics are also improved with beautiful player reactions and theatrics. The game also has the full range of licenses giving you the opportunity to play with all of the world's major teams and players.

But somehow FIFA 2002 fails by way of its own success. Its a cruel reality for sports simulation games, but the closer it gets to the real thing the more the little things jump out at you and say "nice try EA, but come on!"

The biggest downer that you will note in this game is how quickly you will master the game at the "Beginner" level. Fine you say. Give the next level of three a try. Sadly the "Professional" level may bring you to fits and tirades before you finally decide to get completely frustrated with the game. The "Professional" level plays like the "World Class" level, or the highest level of the game. In fact, after numerous games at both levels I can't tell a difference. And the problem is that they both are very, very hard. Suddenly, you will never (and I mean never) win a ball in the air on the offensive side of the field. I've score one volley goal (corners are the exception and produce goals too easily -- don't ever give your opponent one!) in months of play. Suddenly every pass is somehow intercepted by your opponents no matter how close they are to the ball. You will be forced to take the highest view possible in the game in order to see more of the field. Otherwise you wont have the ball for more than 30% of the game. At this camera level you will be hard pressed to see important details so you wont know when to time your tackles and you will miss a lot of the very few shots you get as you really aren't sure where you are aiming. Don't get me wrong. You can work through this and get better; but when you take a high-powered side like Roma or Manchester United and lose to a MLS team due to this crazy computer AI you will get more than a little upset. I finally came to the conclusion that I had to make a few shortcuts like turning off fatigue and offsides to give myself even a chance in this game. And this is after hours and hours and hours of gameplay. At this point I surely would have mastered the intermediate level of any other game.

Why can't EA ever set gameplay levels with a variable 1/2/3 or easy/medium/hard setting so that you can graduate levels in tiny increments and customize gameplay to your progress? With FIFA 2002 you would then have 9 levels of gameplay. It might be the easiest change in the world to make a game infinitely better for the consumer, accomplished in very few lines of extra code and therefore memory on the disk.

Another problem is the unexplainable way a selected player somehow just stops from time to time. You will definitely note this when you are chasing down a breakaway opponent. There is nothing like a complete defensive stop to let your opponent get an easy shot and goal. This problem gets worse at the higher levels of the game as you simply must play like a madman not to let in a goal to have a chance to win.

Finally there is the conspicuous absence of the World Cup in this game. You can qualify for the World Cup but if you want to play it, you must set it up for yourself. Just don't try to make it too real as you will be forced to play a group opponent in the second round of your created tournament -- a thing that never happens in any tournament in the world I know of. Somehow the randomize button which lets you shuffle your opponents is not available at this point. "Come on EA!" I assume all of this means we will get a World Cup title this summer. Let's hope someone at EA reads this review, gets some non hyper-caffeinated testers to help them level set the game and gets some of the obvious bugs out. Otherwise you will have a lot more fun yawning your way through easy wins at the Beginner level of FIFA 2002 then buying another version of the same game ...

All in all FIFA 2002 is a great game. Likely the best soccer simulation out there. But buyer beware; its not all you may think its cracked up to be.

Who Loves Soccer?
This game has tons of action. Anyone who likes playing soccer should buy this game. All my soccer friends and I play this terrific game.

Still my favorite! ...
For the record, I am reviewing the European version of FIFA 2002, for PS2 (I imagine the european and usa versions are the same quality)

written on February 12, 2003.

I received this game as a Birthday gift around Christmas, 2001.
It was frustrating to get used to the controls, and losing much of the time. But having progressed to NOW -- I LOVE this game! I have LOVED it for about 6 months. I had some initial trouble getting the database to agree with what I was asking of it (over 50 created players, over 20 created teams, editing existing team names/Player names and flushing out (or transferring) entire groups of players from existing teams, creating over 20 different cups/championships, managing team formations). It took me 4 different memory cards (for all of my tournaments, and database conflicts) ... but now things are smooth as silk!

I can sit around and play my World Cup Final Phase (including the acurate team rosters for all teams from W.C.Final Phase 2002). I created Senegal, and all of its players (+ uniforms, etc...). I updated Holland, and added missing players to other national squads.

Don't get me wrong. I am plenty angry at the database organizational problems I encountered (tell me which programmer I can yell at *hmph*). But, what the heck. It gave me something to problem-solve! And the end result is: Football Playing Bliss!

I have developed everything I want. For the record: FIFA 2003 doesn't even have a creation center and is not able to edit players, neither! FIFA 2002 is my adored game of choice for Football. (I also have "This is Football 2002", "FIFA 2003" and "Red Card 2002". I have played "Pro Evolution Soccer 2" on PS1 several times, I don't like it).

From the reviews listed here, I've noticed that many people (who DIDN'T like fifa 2002) complained that the game is too easy. My suggestion to them is : Alter the difficulty in the options menus!... That's what the options are for! Make the referee strict! Play in the hardest mode! Damn. do it!

Someone complained that the players are too small, and seem too far away. Answer: Change the camera! If you play with the ACTION camera, the players are close, and the action seems real (the faces of the players are even quite clear). Personally, I always play with the TV camera. That is my favorite (I gues it helps to have a 30 inch TV screen, as well).

That's my 2 cents worth.
I think this game rules!

I agree with almost everyone (in these reviews) that gave fifa 2002 4 or 5 stars.