FIFA 07 is better than you think. This could be because the series has become symbolic for everything that is wrong with sequels or because the words “EA” and “sports” naturally induce a feeling of cynicism normally only brought out by the words “special limited collector’s ultimate edition DVD” but regardless, FIFA 07 is better than you think.

That’s not to say that FIFA 07 is anywhere near approaching the territory emblazoned with neon letters spelling out the word GOOD. There’s still a long way to go before that can be said about it. The controls need to be up to speed with the player, for example. Playing FIFA 07 is to play a game that reacts just a little too slowly to your button presses for you to ever settle down and feel comfortable. It never matches your speed of thought and when the unpredictability of a football match spills over into ungainly scrambles for loose balls, opponent strikers breaking free of tight marking or reactionary volleys, the controls never quite meet you halfway.

It’s a shame because this feels solid – something FIFA hasn’t felt for a long time. It has the hustle and bustle of a real football match and spectacular goals actually feel spectacular. The passes are nicely weighted, the tackling system is well pitched and it has a nice roundness to it that’s been lacking before. The sluggish controls obscure how well this latest iteration really works but at least it does work, something that hasn’t been said about the series for a good while.

Being FIFA means it’s still too dependent on cut-scenes and the players look like they’ve been dipped in varnish, having waddled out of the nearest Subbutteo factory and onto the pitch. One step at a time though, as for the first time in a long while FIFA seems to know where it should be heading and how to get there too. No sleepless nights for Pro Evo yet, but we reckon it should keep one eye open.

Ryan King