FIFA Soccer 06

FIFA Soccer 06 for PSP is EA Sports' portable football simulation for the 2005-06 season. Released in North America in October 2005, it was published by Electronic Arts and developed for the PlayStation Portable by Team Fusion, rather than simply being the home-console version moved to a smaller screen. It is the second FIFA entry on Sony's handheld, following the launch-period FIFA Soccer game, and it brings licensed club and international football to UMD in a format built around quick matches as well as longer competitions.

The action is played from a broadcast-style, angled view, with the player directing a full side in real time. Passing, shooting, tackling, switching the controlled footballer and positioning the team form the foundation of each match. The PSP controls were revised from the earlier handheld game: first-touch and freestyle techniques use the analogue stick with a shoulder-button modifier, giving players a way to vary their play while working within the system's compact control layout. Team selection, formations, line-ups, kit numbers and designated set-piece takers can be adjusted before taking to the pitch.

FIFA Soccer 06 includes clubs from 25 leagues across 18 countries, additional teams from elsewhere in the world, and 40 international sides. Friendly play offers an immediate route into a single fixture, while Season and Tournament modes support more sustained campaigns and can be configured to suit the competition a player wants to run. The licensed squads and 2005-06 framing make the game a snapshot of football during that particular season rather than a generic collection of fictional teams.

Challenges provide another route through the game. The PSP version presents 20 comeback situations and 20 rout scenarios drawn from the 2004-05 season, asking the player either to overturn a difficult scoreline or to protect a commanding one. Completing them opens a custom challenge editor, allowing users to create their own match situations. The handheld edition also adds a PSP-exclusive juggling mini-game, in which a selected licensed player keeps the ball aloft by responding to prompted controls; higher levels make the timing more demanding and turn the activity into a score chase.

Multiplayer was important to this particular portable release. Local ad hoc matches return, and FIFA Soccer 06 adds Infrastructure support for play through the PSP's wireless networking capabilities. That choice sits alongside the regular single-player modes and lets the game serve both short individual sessions and direct competition with other players. As part of the long-running FIFA series, FIFA Soccer 06 PSP captures EA Sports' attempt to tailor an annual licensed football game to the early PSP: a broad team roster, editable match setup, scenario challenges and dedicated portable extras in one handheld package.