FIFA Soccer 2003

 PC
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
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  1. Play Magazine
    100
    The most realistic and technically advanced soccer game to date. It's almost too real. [Dec 2002, p.91]
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  2. PC Gameworld
    94
    Player movements are more realistic than in any other sports title from Electronic Arts.
  3. GameZone
    94
    The kind of sports game that most aspire to be but few realize. The game’s dynamic lighting and game physics are superb. The animation is exceptional and the play is fluid.
  5. GameSpot
    91
    Make no mistake, the pace can still be inordinately fast unless you choose to slow it down, but this may well be the FIFA that hard-core fans have been waiting for.
  6. PC Format
    91
    A shining example of the genre, and one that will be remembered for a whole twelve months. As the series carries on there are fewer defining moments which mark one instalment from the next: a little gameplay gloss here, a graphical rennovation there.
  7. Computer Games Magazine
    90
    One of the best sports games released in the past year on any platform. [Mar 2003, p.84]
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  8. ActionTrip
    84
    The introduction of more intuitive controls and the emphasis on fancy dribbling and short passes might bring some of that Latin American flare to the game that was definitely absent from FIFA 2002.
  9. PC Gamer
    78
    It seems that the difficulty in scoring is the developers' way of balancing out the appalling defensive AI. [Feb 2003, p.63]
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  10. TotalGames.net
    74
    Playing against another person is far more satisfying as the level of error and ingenuity creeps into the game.
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  11. GameSpy
    74
    The physics and graphics are better than they've ever been, but the AI, lack of features, and out-to-lunch rosters make it tough to globally recommend.
  12. Computer Gaming World
    70
    It does so much right that the poor defensive A.I. is much more of a disappointment than it would be in a lesser game. [Feb 2003, p.76]
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  13. All Game Guide
    70
    The AI is a glaring problem in an otherwise great game.
  14. IGN
    70
    Most of the changes from the last version are cosmetic, so if you are happy with the World Cup version then stick with that.

Awards & Rankings

29
#29 Best PC Game of 2002
72
#72 Most Discussed PC Game of 2002

User Reviews

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User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 48 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 48
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 48
  3. Negative: 8 out of 48
  1. LewisJDC
    Mar 14, 2011
    8
    This is one of the best football games i have ever played, and i have played a lot of football games. The thing that really separated thisThis is one of the best football games i have ever played, and i have played a lot of football games. The thing that really separated this game from any other football game (TIF, PES etc.) is the fact that this really had atmosphere, and the graphics were not even matched until FIFA first appeared on the xbox 360, 4 years later. Quite simply one of the most classic games to have graced the PS2. Also, this game has such a great degree of control over the players, the user can truly feel the players' movements. Many people have criticised the free kick system in the past, and true, you can score from the half-way line every time, but still, the system gave the player far better control over free kicks than ANY football game since. If there were to be any criticisms of this game, they would be that the player movement is somewhat clunky, and that the amount teams included in the game is quite low. These criticisms however are all against games on the market today, a full 8 years on, with FIFA 11 being the main game for comparison here. To conclude then, a clear classic, and if i was judging this game in 2003, then it would be a 9 or 9.5, but as it is, today, it will have to settle for an 8. A great game though.… Full Review »
  2. Alex
    Apr 5, 2003
    7
    At last, a FIFA game with quality. If you have a PC buy it, if you have a ps2 look for PES or PES2 instead.
  3. Shortman
    Mar 4, 2003
    9
    This is awesome cept for the headers and sometimes the passing is a bit weird but the free kicks are awesome and it is now more realistic.
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