This is Football 2004 - PS2

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This is Football 2004 (PS2)
Viewed: 3D Third-person, floating camera Genre:
Sport: Football - Soccer
Media: DVD Arcade origin:No
Developer: Sony Soft. Co.: Sony
Publishers: SCEE (GB)
Released: 26 Mar 2004 (GB)
Ratings: PEGI 3+
Connectivity: Network Adaptor (Ethernet) compatible
Features: Vibration Function Compatible, Multitap adaptable
Accessories: Memory Card, Analogue Control Compatible: all buttons, USB Headset

Summary

Developed in-house by Sony's London Studio, This Is Football 2004 (TIF2004) has been under the knife and been given a big overhaul, so let's go pitch-side and get the full skinny on the new breed of football from London Town

TIF2004 features more than 300 photo-realistic players from the biggest teams worldwide, 20+ league structures, over 900 club and national teams, and a total of over 18,000 players, each with their own individual abilities and skills. The developers have included an attribute system for certain players that allows in-game actions more like their real-life counterparts - thus Beckham can make a 40 yard pass with ease; Zidane's magical footwork will take him past players like they aren't there; and Ronaldo will look a bit porky from any angle!

TIF2004's passing and shooting systems have been re-engineered to make for a more open, free-flowing game. The introduction of a shot power bar means that long range shots can either end up in row Z or be hit with pinpoint accuracy, depending on your level of skill with the controller. Note to impatient gamers: it's not so much the controller you need to get to grips with - everyone loves the PS2 controller by now, surely - but the control system itself. Put it this way, you'll be bamboozled before you get to do any bamboozling on the pitch.

Any videogame worth the time of day in the noughties should be feature-packed and brim-full of options to make it worth shelling out for, and TIF2004 doesn't disappoint. The Transfer Market is present and correct, enabling those not entirely happy with their team to buy, sell and trade. Career Modes is the definitive mode for people who want to get the most out of the game, along with Challenge mode. With a host of hidden teams and features to unlock, TIF2004 has enough features and extra treats to keep football fans happy.

The real deal in any football game is in the gameplay, and while it's no work of Konami-inspired genius, TIF2004 can certainly give EA's FIFA a run for its money, providing - as we intimated before - that you can commit the controls to memory. Give it time, and TIF2004 might just become your second favourite football videogame.