Xbox
With the football season well underway, it’s time for the annual battle between gaming's two major rival simulations: Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) and EA’s FIFA.
FIFA 09 marks an evolution in gaming
Having trailed PES in terms of gameplay for many years, anticipation for the latest FIFA has been at an all-time high, thanks in large part to last year’s much improved FIFA 08 and its superb semi-sequel, Euro 2008.
With Konami having dropped the ball with the disappointing PES 2008, the feeling among many dedicated football game fans is that EA need only avoid disaster with 09 to retain its crown for another year.
But the good news for all concerned is that the company is clearly in no mood to rest on its laurels: evolution is the name of the game for EA right now, and FIFA 09 doesn’t so much meet expectations as blow them away completely.
Make no mistake: this is an incredible football game.
For those upgrading from FIFA 08, the biggest improvement here is the game’s overall responsiveness.
All the in-depth tactics and variety of play from the previous iteration remain intact (complete with a comprehensive trick system ideal for Soccer AM-style showboating), but this time it’s all connected via a slick and intuitive gameplay interface and flexible passing system.
Die-hard PES fans may still balk at the idea of switching to FIFA, given the fact that EA’s series was for so long the weaker game, but a re-evaluation is long overdue.
FIFA has undergone dramatic improvements in the past two years, and now offers as enjoyable a football simulation as has ever been presented in 3D.
For the less committed players FIFA 09 contains all the things you would expect from an EA title: quality visuals and presentation, and countless perfectly recreated teams and rosters - but dedicated players are also admirably catered for, with a wealth of engrossing play modes, and quite frightening depth of play customisation available via the all-new quick tactics system.
And those who like to play seriously are in for a real treat: the Be A Pro mode - which allows you to control one player on the pitch and through a career - here returns in a new, expanded form, and is even playable online, where you can get together with nine friends in a 10-on-10 online match, with all 20 outfield players controlled by real players.
Of course the success of this mode is dependent on the attitude and cooperativeness of your teammates, but it’s an impressive technical feat, and when it works it takes the game to another level.
Taken as a whole, this isn’t just the best FIFA to date: it’s the first next generation football game worthy of the title. Forget any historical preconceptions you may have; this is genuine evolution of a soccer franchise.
TITLE: FIFA 09
PLATFORM: Multiformat (Xbox 360 & PS3 versions tested)
GENRE: Football
PRICE: £49.99
RATING: 9/10
FIFA 09 marks an evolution in gaming
Having trailed PES in terms of gameplay for many years, anticipation for the latest FIFA has been at an all-time high, thanks in large part to last year’s much improved FIFA 08 and its superb semi-sequel, Euro 2008.
With Konami having dropped the ball with the disappointing PES 2008, the feeling among many dedicated football game fans is that EA need only avoid disaster with 09 to retain its crown for another year.
But the good news for all concerned is that the company is clearly in no mood to rest on its laurels: evolution is the name of the game for EA right now, and FIFA 09 doesn’t so much meet expectations as blow them away completely.
Make no mistake: this is an incredible football game.
For those upgrading from FIFA 08, the biggest improvement here is the game’s overall responsiveness.
All the in-depth tactics and variety of play from the previous iteration remain intact (complete with a comprehensive trick system ideal for Soccer AM-style showboating), but this time it’s all connected via a slick and intuitive gameplay interface and flexible passing system.
Die-hard PES fans may still balk at the idea of switching to FIFA, given the fact that EA’s series was for so long the weaker game, but a re-evaluation is long overdue.
FIFA has undergone dramatic improvements in the past two years, and now offers as enjoyable a football simulation as has ever been presented in 3D.
For the less committed players FIFA 09 contains all the things you would expect from an EA title: quality visuals and presentation, and countless perfectly recreated teams and rosters - but dedicated players are also admirably catered for, with a wealth of engrossing play modes, and quite frightening depth of play customisation available via the all-new quick tactics system.
And those who like to play seriously are in for a real treat: the Be A Pro mode - which allows you to control one player on the pitch and through a career - here returns in a new, expanded form, and is even playable online, where you can get together with nine friends in a 10-on-10 online match, with all 20 outfield players controlled by real players.
Of course the success of this mode is dependent on the attitude and cooperativeness of your teammates, but it’s an impressive technical feat, and when it works it takes the game to another level.
Taken as a whole, this isn’t just the best FIFA to date: it’s the first next generation football game worthy of the title. Forget any historical preconceptions you may have; this is genuine evolution of a soccer franchise.
TITLE: FIFA 09
PLATFORM: Multiformat (Xbox 360 & PS3 versions tested)
GENRE: Football
PRICE: £49.99
RATING: 9/10
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