Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:31 pm
Fifa Street 2
Gameplay: 5.5
Graphics: 6.2
Sound: 7.9
Value: 5
Tilt: 6
Overall Rating: 6.2
The console versions of FIFA Street 2 tried something a little fresher at least, and the result was better than the original. That's why it's so perplexing that the handheld versions are actually just portable installments of the original FIFA Street. While you'll find the original game more or less intact, none of the goodies in the console version made it to the PSP gameplay. While it's better than what the DS got manhandled with, it's still plagued with its own issues, and even worse, without a right analog stick or any approximation, you're stuck with the auto-trick function, which sucks out some of the fun
You don't even get to design your own pitch like you do on the console versions, but at least character creation fares better, giving you more customization options for your player in the career mode. After you've chosen his physical appearance and attributes in areas like accuracy and power, it's off to the pitch with three other players. From there, it's a matter of stringing together a variety of flashy tricks, which somehow makes it more likely for you to score a goal.
The problem is that pulling off the moves is just not satisfying, because without a right analog stick, you're stuck letting the game decide for you what move to do. One of the delights of the console versions is how smoothly you can pull off your tricks. On the PSP, you simply hit a button over and over again and then make a shot. It looks good and has a simple elegance at times, but it dumbs down a needed aspect of gameplay that was already on the repetitive side.
Even the ball itself is an issue, since it doesn't always go where you expect it to. Last we checked, laws of inertia state that a body in motion tends to stay in motion, and a body at rest tends to stay at rest. Soccer balls in the PSP version of FIFA Street 2 just do their own thing: magnetize to a player's shoe, curve in midair. On the other hand, we didn't see the ball get stuck, although the weird physics were more noticeable overall on the PSP.
The game looks really good. Character models move nicely, and the PSP hardware does an excellent job of showcasing the animations of the series. It runs smoothly, mostly without the slowdowns and loading times we've grown to expect from other PSP games. Also look good and capture the feel of the pitches. It also shares most of the music of the console versions, which is a huge relief, since the music is excellent across the board. On the other hand, while the sound effects are utilitarian, matches themselves are silent.
Graphics: 6.2
Sound: 7.9
Value: 5
Tilt: 6
Overall Rating: 6.2
The console versions of FIFA Street 2 tried something a little fresher at least, and the result was better than the original. That's why it's so perplexing that the handheld versions are actually just portable installments of the original FIFA Street. While you'll find the original game more or less intact, none of the goodies in the console version made it to the PSP gameplay. While it's better than what the DS got manhandled with, it's still plagued with its own issues, and even worse, without a right analog stick or any approximation, you're stuck with the auto-trick function, which sucks out some of the fun
You don't even get to design your own pitch like you do on the console versions, but at least character creation fares better, giving you more customization options for your player in the career mode. After you've chosen his physical appearance and attributes in areas like accuracy and power, it's off to the pitch with three other players. From there, it's a matter of stringing together a variety of flashy tricks, which somehow makes it more likely for you to score a goal.
The problem is that pulling off the moves is just not satisfying, because without a right analog stick, you're stuck letting the game decide for you what move to do. One of the delights of the console versions is how smoothly you can pull off your tricks. On the PSP, you simply hit a button over and over again and then make a shot. It looks good and has a simple elegance at times, but it dumbs down a needed aspect of gameplay that was already on the repetitive side.
Even the ball itself is an issue, since it doesn't always go where you expect it to. Last we checked, laws of inertia state that a body in motion tends to stay in motion, and a body at rest tends to stay at rest. Soccer balls in the PSP version of FIFA Street 2 just do their own thing: magnetize to a player's shoe, curve in midair. On the other hand, we didn't see the ball get stuck, although the weird physics were more noticeable overall on the PSP.
The game looks really good. Character models move nicely, and the PSP hardware does an excellent job of showcasing the animations of the series. It runs smoothly, mostly without the slowdowns and loading times we've grown to expect from other PSP games. Also look good and capture the feel of the pitches. It also shares most of the music of the console versions, which is a huge relief, since the music is excellent across the board. On the other hand, while the sound effects are utilitarian, matches themselves are silent.
