FIFA 2000

Gameplay and Innovations

FIFA 2000 built upon the established formula of its predecessors with several notable additions. A significant innovation was the introduction of a multi-season mode, allowing players to guide a club through consecutive campaigns. This mode included the dynamics of promotion and relegation, as well as the pursuit of qualification for European cup competitions, adding a long-term management aspect to the game.

The game featured over 450 club teams and 40 national teams from around the world. For the North American market, the game carried the subtitle Major League Soccer, marking the first time the MLS was officially licensed and featured in the FIFA series. This inclusion was a major selling point for soccer fans in that region. The game also included a tournament mode that let players create custom single-elimination competitions with any teams they chose.

Presentation and Audio

The audio presentation of FIFA 2000 was a highlight, with localized commentary teams for different regions. The UK English release featured the familiar voices of BBC commentators John Motson and Mark Lawrenson. Notably, Motson visited the developers in Vancouver to provide insights into the intricacies of real-life football, aiming for greater authenticity. The US version featured commentary from ESPN's Phil Schoen and US international star Julie Foudy.

The game's soundtrack was headlined by Robbie Williams' track "It's Only Us". As part of the licensing agreement, EA Sports included Port Vale, the club Williams supports, in the game. This was an unusual inclusion as the game did not otherwise feature clubs from England's second division. Localised commentary also existed for the German, Spanish, French, Italian, Hebrew, Japanese, Greek and Brazilian Portuguese releases.

Critical Reception

FIFA 2000 was generally well received by critics. The PlayStation and PC versions earned aggregate scores of 87% and 85% respectively from GameRankings. Reviewers praised the game's graphics, sound, and longevity. PlayStation Max awarded it a gold rating, though it noted scoring could be too easy. In one GamePro review, a critic stated that soccer fans would have to go a long way to find a better soccer sim on the PlayStation, while another said it was an automatic purchase for fans of the sport.

Some publications were more critical of the gameplay mechanics. The Official UK PlayStation Magazine felt passing was too precise and that beating defenders was unrealistically simple, awarding the game a 7 out of 10. A review of the PC version noted good single-player AI and the MLS as positives, but criticized player models for looking like cartoons and a lack of key offensive plays, stating a preference for FIFA 99. In Japan, where the PlayStation version was released as FIFA 2000: Europa League Soccer on March 30, 2000, Famitsu magazine gave it a score of 28 out of 40.

Platform Variations and Sales

The game was released on Microsoft Windows and the PlayStation to strong commercial performance. By 2000, it had sold 500,000 units. In the United Kingdom, the PlayStation version sold over 300,000 copies, earning a Platinum sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association.

A separate version for the Game Boy Color was developed by Tiertex Design Studios and published by THQ. This portable iteration was poorly received, holding a score of 47% on GameRankings and often cited as one of the weakest entries in the entire series, considered worse than other contemporary football titles like UEFA 2000.

Legacy and Accolades

FIFA 2000's PC version was recognized with the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences award for Computer Sports Game of the Year at the 3rd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards. This accolade highlighted the game's technical achievements and its appeal to simulation sports fans.

The game is remembered as a solid entry that expanded the franchise's scope with its season mode and the integration of Major League Soccer. For many players, it represented a polished and feature-rich football experience for its time, despite some criticisms of its gameplay balance. The inclusion of Port Vale via the Robbie Williams deal remains an unusual footnote in the series' history.

Technical and Regional Details

The core development was handled by EA Canada, continuing the studio's work on the main FIFA series. The game was rated E for Everyone. The Japanese release underwent a notable change, being rebranded as FIFA 2000: Europa League Soccer, which reflected a different marketing focus for that region.

The game's new match engine and extensive roster of teams were key technical selling points. However, critiques often centered on the AI and graphical presentation, with some reviewers finding the player models cartoonish and the offensive play options limited compared to the depth offered in other modes like the multi-season campaign.