Millions will be glued to their television sets when the FIFA World Cup begins this June. Touted as the largest sporting event in the world with a viewing audience that surpasses the 133 million people who tuned into the Super Bowl, the FIFA World Cup is a reason to stay inside on a nice summer day.

EA, creator and owner of the FIFA video-games property, is attempting to give us another reason to forego sunshine: a new game based on the world-renowned tourney. Though it seems like we just had a new FIFA (with FIFA Street and other variations on the market, things can get a little blurry), FIFA World Cup 2006 promises a different experience. Does it deliver?

Featuring 127 teams, 40 classic moments, and 12 official stadiums, FIFA World Cup 2006 is hefty a package for $29.99, especially if you don't own FIFA 06. If you do, you might assume that the lower price is due to the fact this is more of an upgrade than a true sequel.

But whoever said upgrades were a bad thing?

One of the biggest draws of this game is its newest mode: Global Challenge. If you've been following our coverage of FIFA World Cup 2006, you already know what to expect. Dozens of classic moments have been re-created in video-game form, giving players all around the world the chance to experience the magic firsthand. Win or lose, history will be rewritten. EA decided to spice things up by letting you take on the Global Challenge using modern teams. I'm a hardcore gamer, not a hardcore soccer fan, so the majority of these "classic" moments didn't have the emotional impact on me that it might have on someone who's been following the sport for decades.

I did, however, enjoy having another challenging game mode to sink my thumbs into. Being down by a few points might not be so bad in a game you've been with from the start, but there are trials in the Global Challenge mode where you'll begin a loser - and have only minutes to make a comeback. Depending on how you've got the game's clock set, minutes can turn into seconds. They don't have to run in real-time. If they were the game would take too long, and that's only fun every one in a while.

On top of the Global Challenge, Play Now, Play Online and Team Management modes, FIFA World Cup 2006 also includes a great Penalty Shootout game. In this mode you get the chance to score, as well as the chance to block. The perspective is closer and as a result more intense than a typical shot. FIFA World Cup mode, the mode everyone's been waiting for, is an eventful road to success ... or failure. Choose from the qualifying rounds and the finals, and you can select one of several teams spanning across the North American, European, Caribbean, South American, Asian, Oceania and African territories.

There are quite a few small (but noticeable) changes employed to differentiate the main gameplay mechanics from the other FIFA games available. Most of them stick out like a lemon sitting on top a barrel of limes. The camera angle, for instance, has been pushed back a slight amount. Zooming in on the action doesn't help much. This has a positive effect on the gameplay in that I can now see more of the stadium. More players are visible, giving us a better chance at making successful passes in a tight situation. Soccer's a game of quick thinking and clever strategy. It's knowing when to pass, when to take a chance, and when to let the enemy 'steal' your ball ... so you can take it back when they least expect it. FIFA World Cup 2006 is great at making each of these elements exciting. The wider view reflects that.

However, in last year's game I always had the option to pull the camera back. But now I don't feel like I have as much control in bringing the view closer to the action. While Madden moves more toward realism and Fight Night gets more cinematic, FIFA hasn't evolved much in either respect. It starts out looking impressive, introducing a number of cool, in-your-face angles. Then, as soon as you get control of the action, the game switches to a standard view. I'd love to see the series become more dynamic with the next edition, having quick camera changes, motion blurs, and intense close-ups during gameplay. To keep it from getting out of control, a "standard" view would be necessary for players who want a traditional FIFA World Cup 2006 experience.

That's what this year's edition provides – an experience you've had before, but with slightly faster gameplay, silky-smooth controls, and more team and player options. It's not a must-buy, but neither was FIFA 06 if you're not a diehard soccer fan. If you are, and you haven't gotten FIFA 06 yet, make FIFA World Cup 2006 your next purchase. Otherwise, rent last year's edition, and wait to see what EA has in store for us with FIFA 2007. More innovation, I hope.

Gameplay: 8.0
This game’s got the soccer experience under control. Under great controls, that is. Last year’s formula is very much a part of this edition. The smooth, natural feel of passing, kicking, and scoring is what keeps FIFA at the top of its game. As you can imagine, tweaks have been made where appropriate. The penalty shootout feature is great, and opens the door for expansion in future iterations (like FIFA 07, which is likely less than six months away from release).

Graphics: 8.0
FIFA World Cup 2006’s most visually appealing moments are quick cuts of close details before the game. The facial expressions aren’t overly expressive, nor are the players as realistic-looking as those featured in Madden. The backgrounds, lighting, shadows, texture and overall look of the game from a close view, however, is pretty impressive. No one will be blown away from the standard gameplay view, but it’s smooth, has a consistent frame rate, and is on roughly the same level as the last FIFA game.

Sound: 7.0
While the gameplay was built for everyone, the sound was designed for the European market. Euro-pop overwhelms this edition. Not my favorite selection of songs by any means, but there were a few that were somewhat catchy. The commentary is appropriate for the sport, but I was more excited by my actions (and those of my opponents) than I was by what the announcers were saying.

Difficulty: Medium
A positive challenge for newbies and hardcore FIFA fans alike.

Concept: 7.6
Tweaked/changed gameplay and different game modes don’t equal full innovation. FIFA World Cup 2006 stays afloat by offering a quality gaming experience, albeit one that isn’t overly different from the last.

Multiplayer: 7.9
FIFA World Cup 2006 is a good multiplayer game, but it’d be even better if we hadn’t had FIFA 06 last fall. I love frequent sequels more than anyone, but this is more of a reiteration for the World Cup, not a step ahead. If you’ve haven’t kicked the balls out of FIFA 06, the World Cup edition will be the only multiplayer game you’ll want to play. But for me, someone who has had perhaps a little too much FIFA as of late, it’s just a 7.9.

Overall: 8.0
For the price ($30) and the contents, FIFA World Cup 2006 can’t be beat. Know what you’re getting before going in – otherwise you might be disappointed. This is a good game with a lot of challenges and more of FIFA’s acclaimed gameplay. However, innovation and graphical achievements were not included in this “upgrade.”