Although visuals are always important, this is less true with soccer games, since you spend most of your time in an unappealing but practical overhead view. Even so, FIFA World Cup’s graphics far outshine those of its predecessor. While the terrain in FIFA 06 looks flat and drab, the terrain in World Cup is more realistic. Also, for the short time that you do see the action up close, the character models look much more polished in World Cup.

For a game based on a sport which is historically anything but an American pastime, it has a surprisingly large amount of American music. On the other hand, true to its title, FIFA World Cup is filled with great music from around the globe. From French rap to Euro techno, the music in FIFA World Cup is top notch. Half of the time I put into the game was spent navigating the polished menus just listening to the international tunes.

As fun as nice graphics and catchy tunes are, the heart of any soccer game is the gameplay. Here, more than anywhere else, is where these two games differ. FIFA 06 takes a more realistic approach, while World Cup opts for fast paced fun. I’m hesitant to say that one is better than the other, since they both have their pros and cons. On the one hand, diehard soccer fans will probably prefer the realism. And, as hard as it is to score a goal in FIFA 06, even on normal difficulty, it is that much more rewarding when you actually do. On the other hand, video games should be fun, and accessible to hardcore and non-hardcore fans and gamers alike. Aside from the obvious overall game styles, World Cup has a few additions over FIFA 06, such as first touch controls, which allow the player to direct where the ball will go immediately after he receives it.