The pass is lobbed ahead six yards. Striker Paul Scholes, of England, reaches back and with a sweet little heel tap, draws the ball in front of him. The Finnish keeper, sensing doom, reacts, charging out of the net. Scholes touches the ball to the side, then blasts it into the unguarded corner.

“He showed supreme accuracy to put it inside the right post,” remarks the English commentator.

He did indeed, and if not for the replays, showing the flow of the play from a variety of angles, it would have been almost impossible to appreciate the sheer skill of the play because it happened so quickly.

2002 FIFA World Cup, the PC release from EASports, has wiped away the peripheral elements of other soccer programs. There is no training, no unique or situational game options, just the game of soccer, or football as the world knows it, presented in World Cup fashion. There are two ways to play the game – either as a friendly competition (for those who don’t know, a friendly is akin to an exhibition match, full intensity but the outcome matters only to the players, not to standings of any sort), or during pool play in World Cup competition at venues in Korea and Japan.

You play the game – period. Yes, you can manage the international teams, set line-ups and formations, and fiddle with the camera angles and other options to your heart’s content. But the bottom line here is the game, and what an incredibly-rendered game it is.

You can always see incredible soccer talent by watching matches on television, but what the developers of this game have done is nothing less than extraordinary. Bicycle kicks, head-ons, trapping down to an aerial pass are all included. The offsides' rule is accurately portrayed. And nothing is sweeter than watching the ball bow the back of the net on a well-driven shot.

As the ball snaps the back of the net, Scholes raises arms triumphantly as the crowd, waving flags of both Great Britain and Finland, goes wild. The camera rotates around Scholes, and in the background, the Finnish keeper is on one knee, his head in his hands, seemingly second-guessing his attempt at the stop.

You will see the crowd seemingly reacting as individuals, not one uniform mob; as the camera pulls back for a throw-in, or pans down the sideline during a run, you will notice the team coach on his feet, gesturing wildly and pointing at his players with great animation.

Yep, this game captures the pure excitement of the tournament, and the thrill of watching the world’s greatest players display their talents. You will be amazed at the skills these players display without so much as you telling them to collect a ball.

Not only is this game visually stunning, but – as with any EASports title – the commentary is exceptional. Not only is the game action and analysis wonderfully handled by announcers Andy Gray and John Motson, but you will hear players on the field yelling for the passes and pointing out that they are making runs.

Power meters let you know how hard a pass or shot will be. The controls are, by default, set up for the keyboard, but the game can handle a gamepad just as easily – and all controls can be customized. While the initial elements of control are very simple, more skilled play can be achieved by working keys or buttons in combination. And you can put spin on the ball, while actually aiming it at a specific location.

This is a stunning PC game. It features real stars, with actual player features and characteristics, gifted and amazing action, and the joy of the best squaring off on the sport’s greatest stage.

If you are a fan of the sport, this is one game you won’t want to miss playing.

This game is rated for Everyone.

Gameplay: 9.4
The game action is absolutely amazing to watch, and very smooth from opening touch to final whistle. The replays are wonderful as well, using a variety of camera tricks to entreat the viewer and add enjoyment to the thrill of a goal scored. No stability problems were detected in this game.

Graphics: 9.4
The animation is absolutely incredible. With bright and vibrant colors, the players emulate real-life counterparts, and the environments are skillfully rendered. Time of day also plays a part in the contests. The lighting effects are superb.

Sound: 9.5
EASports takes great pride in its audio presentation and this game is emblematic of the attention this side of a game receives.

Difficulty: Medium
This could have easily been rated as easy, but there is a learning curve for mastering control elements. The program has four difficulty levels, with a new ‘beginner’ mode of play. However, if during the course of a match, you find yourself kicking the opposing team all over the pitch, don’t be surprised if you get a pop-up window stating that you have obviously mastered the beginner mode and would you mind trying the amateur mode of play? You find yourself going from a lopsided contest to one in which your actual abilities are put to the test.

Concept: 8
This is the only licensed FIFA World Cup game for 2002, and while some may lament cutting down on the play options, this program gets right to the heart of the matter – playing the game either as one of the many “friendlies” which precede the tourney, or as part of the tourney itself.

Multiplayer: 8
The true test of your playing abilities comes with facing another human opponent – sometimes. There is no program option for multiplayer gaming online, but two players can compete on a single machine.

Overall: 9.2
The number of game-play options may be cut down, but when it comes to the game itself, EASports has created a program that is simply incredible. This is an easy one to recommend to fans of the sport, or to fans of sports games in general. You will be amazed by the action, stunned by the graphics, enthralled by the audio, and thoroughly entertained by this program.