Sunday, May 2, 2010
FIFA09 PS3
The myth that EA makes the bimbo football game and Konami makes the cultured one is probably dead by now. FIFA has long since put its dark, deformed days of knee-length grass and knee-deep gameplay behind it, and with this 2009th installment it delivers solid, realistic football along with its trademark compellingly polished presentation. And careful, because it probably is trademarked.
FIFA09 also allows you to define tactical presets, and then map these plans to a d-pad menu, so if you go behind late in the game, you could push your full-backs forward and press for an equalizer at the touch of a button, or if you're 2-0 up you could load the midfield. There are slider bars for all sorts of variables, and toggles for things like playing the offside trap. As ever, whether your team can do all the things you ask of them is down to their individual stats, and you still have the option to pick and tweak standard formations, set up man marking and kick takers, and drop Dirk Kuyt even though you love him, in the standard way.
Getting to grips with Be a Pro is like being on Faking t, but in time you can make a serious impact.
All of this comes in handy when you're playing with friends, and there's a new mode for that too. Lounge mode invites you to set up a league with up to 19 friends and then use "cheap shots" to give yourself pre-game advantages, like extra goals and reduced opposition performance stats. Or you can play them online in the 10-versus-10 games that rely on the "Be a Pro" mechanic introduced in FIFA08, where you control one player for the whole match. Pre-release we couldn't get enough people together for this, but we wouldn't recommend anybody trying it out without practicing offline first.
Good thing, then, that there's a companion single-player mode, Be a Pro: Seasons, where you get four campaigns to try and rise through the reserves and first team to become captain of your country, as the game put ticks and crosses against your name for moving into the right positions, completing passes and tackles, scoring goals and contributing to positive results. Online FIFA09 Clubs allows you you to set up a clan, effectively, and then compete for selection in Be a Pro online games. Whether online or off, you can use a typically robust character creation suite to define your player; from the name on his shirt to the sweatbands an his wrists. Well, that's just his torso, thinking about it, but you can also do how he looks, and whether he's got a stupid headband and poncy boots.
Good thing, then, that there's a companion single-player mode, Be a Pro: Seasons, where you get four campaigns to try and rise through the reserves and first team to become captain of your country, as the game put ticks and crosses against your name for moving into the right positions, completing passes and tackles, scoring goals and contributing to positive results. Online FIFA09 Clubs allows you you to set up a clan, effectively, and then compete for selection in Be a Pro online games. Whether online or off, you can use a typically robust character creation suite to define your player; from the name on his shirt to the sweatbands an his wrists. Well, that's just his torso, thinking about it, but you can also do how he looks, and whether he's got a stupid headband and poncy boots.
The PS3 and 360 versions both run smoothly, although the PS3 version lacks Trophies and seems to have Vaseline on it while the 360 has more tearing.
Manager Mode, EA's attempt to compete with Konami's revered Master League, also returns in tweaked but not expanded form, even though it's not mentioned on the box or in the manual. It puts up another stern test, allowing you to play around with a transfer budget, field weakened teams in the cup and get turfed out by your board if you don't win enough games, which you control in standard fashion. Konami purists may feel it's a bit light next to their obsession, but it's buckets more shiny water in a vast, vast well here, which also includes licensed leagues from across the world (Premier League, Championship, League 1 & 2 and FA Cup from England), though with randomised fixture lists.
If this were old-days FIFA, we'd now moan that it's all very well having more options than Starbucks, but it all looks a bit indulgent when you football moves around on a secret network of arching conveyors and the score's 16-7. Not anymore, of course, and FIFA09 rams the point home with the emphasis on physical midfield battles and possession football, where teams hold their shape and press, and jostle with great effect, and it's up to you to exploit them by dragging defenders out of position, switching the play and paying attention to personnel. Slide tackles haven't much place here, and sprinting is best saved for decisive openings, or you'll run out and continually lose the ball as it moves a fraction out of control with every step. Meanwhile, pressing with two players at once - the default tactic for impatient defenders - does more harm than good, particularly as the refs are officious to say the least.
Along with the tactical presets on the d-pad (or analogue stick, if you switch them around), you also have a broader range of skill moves, accessed by holding a shoulder button and wiggling the right stick in prescribed patterns. The right stick also handles your first touch when receiving the ball, and elsewhere in the increasingly complex control system are various holding moves, jockeying options, fakes, dummies and shot or pass modifiers. As ever though, a player with a good eye for space and movement can get by with just a few buttons and no in-deptg knowledge of the fancy bits, even of ot never hurts to bone up.
If this were old-days FIFA, we'd now moan that it's all very well having more options than Starbucks, but it all looks a bit indulgent when you football moves around on a secret network of arching conveyors and the score's 16-7. Not anymore, of course, and FIFA09 rams the point home with the emphasis on physical midfield battles and possession football, where teams hold their shape and press, and jostle with great effect, and it's up to you to exploit them by dragging defenders out of position, switching the play and paying attention to personnel. Slide tackles haven't much place here, and sprinting is best saved for decisive openings, or you'll run out and continually lose the ball as it moves a fraction out of control with every step. Meanwhile, pressing with two players at once - the default tactic for impatient defenders - does more harm than good, particularly as the refs are officious to say the least.
Along with the tactical presets on the d-pad (or analogue stick, if you switch them around), you also have a broader range of skill moves, accessed by holding a shoulder button and wiggling the right stick in prescribed patterns. The right stick also handles your first touch when receiving the ball, and elsewhere in the increasingly complex control system are various holding moves, jockeying options, fakes, dummies and shot or pass modifiers. As ever though, a player with a good eye for space and movement can get by with just a few buttons and no in-deptg knowledge of the fancy bits, even of ot never hurts to bone up.
Transper details appear to be up to date, with Robinho at City, Spurs full of new face and Grumpatov at Man United.
FIFA09 may want a certain type of passing football to succeed, then, but it's also built on a bedrock of good ball physics and realistic player behavior, and it's not quite as mean around the box as PES used to be, so while the goals are hard to come by, they can be spectacular. Volleyed and driven shots are particularly fearsome, and while 25-yard potshots won't work as often as placement and good build-up, you rarely feel like the ball is caught under your feet when you should be in prime position to really murder it home. The only slight disappointment is how little joy we had from corners and wing play. Cutting inside to pass it to the striker was always a better ploy, as the physical presence of centre-halfs and the goalkeeper turfed us out of the box on most of the occasions the ball arived in the air. Particularly strong aerial attackers, like People's Hero Peter Crouch, are exceptions, but it's odd to see the likes of Torres coming up so short.
Otherwise, there are only complaints about unimportant details. There's one irritatingly persistent bug that spins your player round when he's running onto a loose ball, which looks odd and often costs you possession, and there are other times when your teammates apparently lose all sense of time and place, as well as the traditional football game grumbles of the player-select button selecting a player you didn't want, passes going to the player next to the one you meant, and button presses getting buffered for the next player on the ball, who passes it harmlessly into touch when you wanted him to run with it.
Otherwise, there are only complaints about unimportant details. There's one irritatingly persistent bug that spins your player round when he's running onto a loose ball, which looks odd and often costs you possession, and there are other times when your teammates apparently lose all sense of time and place, as well as the traditional football game grumbles of the player-select button selecting a player you didn't want, passes going to the player next to the one you meant, and button presses getting buffered for the next player on the ball, who passes it harmlessly into touch when you wanted him to run with it.
Watch out for everyone o n the receiving team doing a little warming-up jig at kick-off. It's hypnotic.
On the whole though, the depth of choice on and off the pitch makes up for these things. FIFA09 feels like a proper football game. It used to pretend to be football, dressed up in face masks and gluey boots, but these days football is exactly what it's computing. And the face masks are prettier too. Likenesses do vary in quality (Crouch looks like a tanned smurf, for one), but the animation is phenomenal, and there's so much subtle variation in the visual language EA's defined that we could swear they've even replicated stuff like Kuyt's shambling gait. But then perhaps we're just imagining it, or expecting it, because the game's otherwise very convincing. It always be your brand of football, and you can ask for more, but only by degrees. The myth is dead. "Let's FIFA".
Khai : 5/5
Chris : 1.5/5
Fitri : 5/5
Opinions:
Khai : The footballers now have extremely realistic motion capabilities and when they collide there is a plethora of realistic animations which bring the game to a new level. Not only this but the off ball antics are incredibly well polished, players run into free space and will make calls for the ball while defenders will try to notify the linesmen of offside players by waving their arms and motioning. These may sound like small additions, however in the grand scheme of things they bring a more realistic atmosphere to the environment.
The matches are extremely well paced and unlike many they reward the skilled and patient player ... the best way to score goals is with measured build up play and skilful use of free space.
This year the individual players have more pronounced skill sets so spending some time getting used to the individual strengths and weaknesses is a great way to enhance your game play. FIFA has a unique trick system which is operated by the right analog stick and this enhances the depth of game play for hose willing to invest the time to learn the methodology.
Those of you used to playing PES might find the jump to FIFA09 rather difficult because this is definitely more simulation oriented than the quick play style that PES brings to the table. This means the goals and tasks at hand are not so immediately accessible and while this might seem a negative aspect, in reality the game flows much better and makes the end result much more satisfying.
Other enhancements over the 08 edition include better ball movement, meaning the game looks more graceful and the team works better as a cohesive unit.
This added realism may not appeal to everyone however if you like your football games strictly arcade style with one or two button presses then this might seem like overkill. There are quite a few settings to alter the game speed and how much the computer will aid you during play. It would be safe to say in fact that regardless of which option you want to alter, the game will allow for it.
As always FIFA is loaded with content and the presentation is of the highest standard I have seen. All the leagues are faithfully represented which is sure to appeal to football fanatics across the globe. Commentary is supplied this year by Sky Sports Andy Gray and Martin Tyler and for the most part it is a success, there are occasional errors in the dialogue but the voices work well and add a great deal of immersion to the proceedings.
Manager mode is worth a mention and although it is not quite as good as the PES Master League it is a nice diversion as you work your way through various clubs boardrooms. Be A Pro is also a fun game mode as you take a newbie from the reserve ranks right up to the upper echelons of club and international game play.
The graphics are very well designed and considerable time has gone into the detail, each of the major teams are accurately rendered with the individual players mirroring their real life counterparts very closely.
The audio is equally as impressive and each of the clubs has their own audio scripting for the fans, for example if you are playing at the Manchester United ground you will hear " Glory Glory, Man United" echoing across the terraces.
Online support has also been improved on both the Xbox360 and Playstation 3 with the new Adidas Live Season, a feature which gets statistics from the real life football matches on a weekly basis to keep everything exciting and fresh. There is also a great new mode which allows for 10-vs-10 online play, quite why no one ever thought of this before confuses me! It is hugely addictive.
It is fair to say that FIFA09 is a return to form on a variety of levels, both with single player and multiplayer game modes. EA have done a great job of creating one of the most immersive and in-depth football games ever. I actually think they have managed to knock Pro Evolution Soccer off the top spot and that alone is a huge achievement. If you like football at all then this is not just highly recommended, it is a must have.
Chris : Honestly speaking, I am not much of a sports game fan. I find it quite boring and not fun at all. However, I enjoy watching people play. But, the graphic is good enough. I enjoy playing Role Playing Game much more than this. I don't really want to suggest this game to anyone though, this is because i do not know much about football or any other sports game. I prefer playing the sport itself instead of playing it on a video game.
Fitri : The game seems realistic enough! It is fun and provides the feeling as if you are the real footballer himself. It will be even better if you are able to play it with your friends or people around the world since PS3 is able to go online. If you enjoyed the previous Fifa games from the PS2 console, this I suggest you to play and have at home.
Games Reviewed @ 9:56 AM