One thing is immediately clear: soccer games need to be played on a console with a giant wide-screen TV while sitting on your easy chair, preferably in the company of a few friends, some as opponents and the others as public. This isn't different with Fifa World Cup Germany 2006. Althought the game with its stimulating music and comments, eye candy and so on, tries to bring in the World Cup atmosphere, it's you who actually makes it. So if you have too much money and can't think of a good cause to spend it on, then invite some friends over and experience your own World Cup.

What has the game in store for you? Next to a great deal of countries -also those who didn't make it- and the traditional game modes, unlockables can again be bought, among which old stars, classic shirts, balls and game options. Insight and fair play are important, the ammount of bonus points are determined by the way you play. Cards, red ones or yellow ones, maek you lose a part of your points so you might maybe just not be able to buy Karate Cantona.

All this is of course very nice, but a soccer game depends on gameplay and just like earlier Fifa titles you'll stay behind with mixed feelings after a match. The atmosphere is alright and the graphics don't dissapoint either, but sometimes you do curse on your teammates because they don't see a certain -and absolutely clear- situation or because the players react quite fickle on your controls. Fifa World Cup Germany 2006 is fun and gives you a lot of possibilities to determine the game but sometimes the AI doesn't act smart. What I want is more control over your teammates on the field. There is a frame with strategies and tactics, but it doesn't affect the individual behaviour of your players. Well, if you accept that Fifa is a glorified arcade game with a few minor but chronical disadvantages, which once in a while will provoke a feeling of dissapointment, you do have a quite good soccer game in your hands.

The packaging is nice, the presence of star players demands some strategy and both the comments as the music is good. The bag of tricks that can be opened with your right joystick is fun but personally I would have wanted more ways to shoot at the goal. Maybe a system like in Fifa Street?