FIFA’s rivalry with Pro Evolution Soccer has generated an exceptional creation from both game masters. With the obvious success of PES 6 FIFA needed to come up with something extra-ordinary to close the gap on its old rival and they pulled it off.

FIFA 07 throws you into the rollercoaster ride of a football season. Employ real world tactics, make realistic decisions, and think like a player in order to win matches. New intelligent AI ensures that your 11 men on the pitch make realistic decisions, finding space and passing like professionals.

Due to the somewhat failure of FIFA 06 there has been a complete overhaul of the game engine which now means that take on the updated and improved challenge of the Manager Mode with player values and wages being tuned into realistic sums of money. Also managerial decisions have even more tangible effects on player performance and welfare. Smarter CPU decisions mean rival managers are even more strategic in their own pursuit of silverware.

The graphics are slightly improved on 2006 although they are by no means amazing. The sprites are still pretty big but there's not a whole lot of detail. The pitch and backgrounds are nice enough though and there is some sound and vibration.

Another plus of the new improved version is that you get absolutely hundreds of teams. You get all the teams from the Premiership, Ligue 1, La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga. And then you also get four teams from around the world. Plus, there are the game modes, you can play a single match, go for a season or try some scenarios.

When I come to think of it maybe I shouldn’t be writing this review, I proudly admit that I am definitely a Pro Evolution Soccer man and always will be. Despite years of effortlessly kicking FIFA’s arse I am not afraid to compliment the opposition when needed to, and I think this is required.

My love affair with PES means that I expect the best and FIFA 07 went some way to impressing me, therefore I would recommend it to anyone who wanted a good game of footy on their console. FIFA have definitely got their act together and erased the debacle that was last year’s edition. This can only spell good news for the rivalry between football’s greatest games and I expect the gap to be even closer this time next year.

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James Henderson