So once again it's come to this: Konami with Pro Evo is in the net, awaiting FIFA's attempt with an accomplished corner shot. When the ball leaves EA's foot, the new development team behind the 2006 instalment does their best to cross it in. However, Konami is there, growing by the year, taking up net space with their large body. If their hands don't save the ball, no doubt that spare tyre will! So FIFA's new development team go back roots, they don't try anything too fancy. They simply cross it over, the ball flies through the air in slow motion and Konami's team looks up and signals to their goalkeeper not to get too cocky yet - because this ball is well on course. Konami's goalkeeper takes the advice though and plays their trump card. The keeper lets out a desperate war cry and almost defies gravity, arms spread, hands out, to clasp the ball. As the goalkeeper makes a grab for the ball, through an unfortunate series of events, it actually slips out of his hand and bounces on the floor, along with the keeper. The goal is wide open for one of FIFA's top men to kick it in the net. A goal has never been so close for a point over Pro Evolution 5. Could this be it?

A slightly biased referee blows the whistle. He insists that FIFA has committed a foul. EA fall down on their knees - they were so confident that this would be the year to set Pro Evolution straight; a new development team, old school controls, along with many licences and that authentic feel. But, as I stand there with the whistle in my mouth, I send FIFA off the pitch. As the entire team walks past me in disappointment, I simply say under my breath "Next year, chaps". Sure, I was that slightly biased referee and FIFA 06 was darn close to scoring over Pro Evo this year. Give this new development team another year and Konami might be the ones taking the corner.

FIFA's strongest point has always been its authenticity. FIFA 06 makes no change to this aspect - there are literally hundreds upon hundreds of teams to choose from, regional, continental and those big shot teams too. Bigger teams like Arsenal will have fans in the crowd waving their flag, amongst Arsenal advertisements around the home stadium. Character likeness is spot on too; you can instantly recognise the main people in any team, especially if you actually know the team! It's safe to say that FIFA 06 just adds to the whole footballling feel with endorsements, hundreds of proper football teams and information about every single player that stars in this game. It's actually quite interesting to use this game as a football encyclopaedia. Did you know…?

Modes really haven't changed much since last year - at least, not to the causal gamer's eye. While this is not a bad thing for hardcore fans that will inevitably buy this game anyway, casual gamers might be all too familiar with the Manager and League Modes, with only the slight game change here and little interface change there - only the people that worship FIFA will know what's different. While most modes are here from the last game, and these modes pretty much do the same as they did before, there is still a large wealth of gaming to enjoy. This means that people who didn't buy the last one will not only have lots of modes they aren't too used to, but they'll be treated to some great controls. This is why I suggest you alternate buying these football games; Pro Evolution one year, FIFA the next.

Last year, if you remember, the controls were making use of the analogue sticks for passing. I really enjoyed this system actually. Looking back though, it wasn't too practical for prolonged play, due to thumb-strain! I still to this day enjoy that system for the odd blast - but I'll admit that Pro Evolution had the upper hand when it came having a really long session. Anyway, almost suspiciously, EA's new FIFA team have decided that Pro Evolution's success is down to simple control, so this year when you power up FIFA, expect a new (or is that old) method of passing, simply using one button, holding it down for a harder pass, or tapping it for a short one. The same goes for shooting, crossing and even heading the ball - it's all done with that lovely bar method that makes Pro Evolution so accessible. However, FIFA 06 has gone one better and made use of the right analogue stick. This is now used for pulling off a host of tricks to throw people off the scent while you have the ball in your control, as well as being of great use when it comes to defending, acting as what I might call the tackling stick!

Tackling is great with this stick - you can put pressure on by pointing the stick at the player and you can see your player really putting some shoulder into the tackle. While you can get carried away from time to time and get the odd yellow card, I think the system works rather well. Four control schemes are here for you to play around with, all offering some degree of old school familiarity, while chucking in a bit of innovation too.

I might say that the idea is borrowed from Pro Evolution 5 - and it is, but the whole passing system doesn't feel just as good, even though it's arguably the same. I'm just trying to put my finger on what the difference is and it's quite hard to describe. I think it's best summing up the difference by saying that it simply doesn't feel as good as Pro Evolution's simple system, because you have to remember, Pro Evo has been doing this for years now. In FIFA 06, passing is great most of the time. But sometimes you'll hold the movement stick in the direction you want to pass it in and you see a team mate in that direction too, but your player passes to somebody else to the immediate left or right - so much so that it almost feels magnetic. I suppose you wouldn't be able to carry a high-powered magnet past a fridge without some catastrophe and sometimes FIFA 06 really reminds me of that situation.

Before we move on, let me just cover the Manager Mode again. As usual you can pick a face for your manager, name him or her, and then spend money on staff in certain areas to improve your overall team status. You can spend money on other things, aside from the usual defence and attack departments, such as scouting and stadium management. The better scouting you have, the better idea you'll have about what you might be going up against, plus there's greater access to more opposition information, as well as the ability to find and acquire new youth talent. The stadium manager will expand your stadium's seats to fit more paying fans in - pretty devious, but if you're doing well and lots of people want to see you, why not expand and cash in? Aside from spending money on staff, you can earn money from sponsors and then by actually playing, or simulating the match if you're sick of playing. There are infinite possibilities as to what you could do to take your team to the top - and it's a very good mode, if not a little too similar to last year's instalment.

I've always said that FIFA has Pro Evolution in a stranglehold when it comes to graphics and sound. This year the graphics seem to take a zoom out, again having a more Pro Evolution feel to them. However, the camera tends to sit nearest you, giving the lovely effect of players in the distance looking far away while players at your side of the pitch look graphically superb. The camera moves with you of course and everything looks great. The pitch detail is also very good too, but sometimes those darn pitch shadows, however real they may be, really darken the gameplay - but it's not as bad as I'm making out. Things like replays are also graphically excellent, with fantastic close-ups that really let you get the feel of what's going on. I also love victorious hugs and cheers, when you can see everybody happy and jumping about in a close up. It feels very authentic. Lastly, something else worth mentioning are the entrance scenes; you can see the crowd cheering like mad and the atmosphere feels just like the real thing.

FIFA's sound never disappoints me. A large array of proper tracks, many of which have come straight from the chart, such as Jamiroquai's Feels Just Like It Should, all of which really makes the menu system and manager mode a joy to peruse. In game, the sound effects are excellent as per usual, with crowds cheering and chanting and whistles blowing - which normally spells bad news for one of the two teams playing. The duo of commentators are comical at times but mostly informative, doing a great job of keeping the player up to speed with what's going on, as well as entertaining at the same time. It's nice when commentary is so good that you don't ask for background music, as the talking can just be as equally pleasing to the ears as any music track can.

When it comes to the multiplayer, the gameplay is as excellent as always against real competitors. There's only one crucial difference between the Xbox and PS2 versions - Xbox players can enjoy up to 8 players online as opposed to the PS2's 4. However, in a strange twist, PS2 gamers can have up to 8 players in an offline game, while the Xbox is limited to 4. So if you're predominantly an online gamer then the choice is clear for Xbox, while if you prefer to get a group of mates over, PS2 might just be where it's at for you. As per usual, the poor old Gamecube comes in last, with a 4 player multiplayer limit and, of course, no online play.

FIFA 06 is the best FIFA game to date. So you might be wondering why I only scored it an eight then. Well, it's simple; I gave Pro Evolution a nine and I didn't want the two games to look equally matched upon first glance. Don't get me wrong, FIFA 06 will really appeal to the football fan and obviously to the hardcore FIFA lover. The casual gamer might have to be beware if they have bought the previous FIFA though. Things like online play and the inclusion of retro FIFA 94 are welcome and add to the overall lasting appeal. I feel in about a year's time, when they have this new engine perfected, FIFA might be a serious contender, but at the moment it's not quite realising its full potential. If you're in doubt, then I'd advise you to rent both games before you make a decision. However, whatever you do, don't overlook FIFA 06 or laugh at EA's latest entry onto the pitch, because they could well be the ones having the last laugh in a year's time. Roll on 2007!

Reviewed by Dexter Pearson for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).