Over 60 international teams are available, and you can take yours through a number of different game types, including playing a one-off friendly or attacking the full World Cup. While these might seem appealing, you're tempted also by the inclusion of the major European and American leagues--15 in all.

The Season option, on the other hand, lets you play up to three consecutive campaigns, with relegation and promotion available in a FIFA game for the first time, and with versions of the UEFA and European Champions Leagues also available.

Gameplay is not radically different from FIFA 2000, but there are new player animations, with a lot of attention placed on the keepers. First-time players will find it very easy to get into, although the learning curve through the game's difficulty levels can be surprisingly steep.

Nearly everything can be customized or changed on the fly as the game progresses. The graphics have been polished, and the game runs very smoothly. FIFA 2001 is full of detail: key stadiums are accurately modeled, and each team has the correct sponsor logo on its shirts--with the exception of Arsenal, for some reason.

FIFA 2001 is probably still the best pick-up-and-play soccer game available. It might lack the depth of the ISS series; but, for immediate accessibility, it's still the champion. --Michael Bartley