FIFA Soccer 09

 

Developer:  EA Canada
Publisher:  EA Sports
Release Date:  Oct 03, 2008
Platforms:  Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Genre:  Soccer, Sports Simulation

 

It’s a common trend by EA to publish a FIFA game with style every single year since 1993. And every single year you get to realize that you are getting closer to the ultimate football simulation you always dream to play back in your mind. When the competition between FIFA and PES are gradually increasing year after year, EA makes a solid move by publishing FIFA 09 with its improved game engine and enhanced features.  And, of course, it's another chance to power the aging debate that who rules in the virtual football pitch.

The very first thing you’ll notice in FIFA 09 is how deeply the game has been polished from its previous versions. Even though the basic pattern of the game remained completely identical, most of the polishing was done in the area of upgrading characters likeness, moves and the actual gameplay. But have they been enough to drive FIFA series to the forefront of the genre?

 

 

FIFA already had a vast grasp on footballers and leagues played around the world. Few improved physicality can be noticeable while you play your very first game. Collisions between two players now resulting in a series of modified and realistic animations, players running into space will call for the ball, while defenders will raise their arms to alert the linesmen of an offside attacker. Games are played in a slower and more deliberate pace, which is very much rewarded to the patient and tactical virtual footballers. Compared to the other football simulation progresses, these additions easily give the indication that FIFA is taking virtual football to its next altitude.

Those enhancements aren’t the only addition of FIFA 09. More moves have been introduced. What more you can ask when moves like 360 turn, fake controlling or passing, calling players towards you or the ball or run forward are already added at the previous versions. Well, Football isn’t only about passing and making spectacular moves, Football is more of building a play supported by good passing, runs and shooting techniques; to make an attacking or defending strategy fruitful. FIFA 09 will definitely make you pay attention to the basic of football when you find yourself very hard to score in the game. If you aren’t up to the task, you find yourself falling into opponent’s trap and conceive goals very often in the game. Specially when you unlock the highest difficulty level by unlocking all the challenges from two different zones. Though until you don’t play online or multiplayer, you hardly can image how challenging the game can truly become.

 

 

It has always been debated whether the commitment to realism actually equals more fun. Even though you can adjust the settings of the game speed and limit the capacity of your team and your opponents, FIFA 09 will always require more premeditated approach. Many gamers have complained about it’s not being playing fun anymore because you don’t get to do the magic moves and scored which were easily possible at the previous versions. This is probably the only reason I see FIFA not changing the basic pattern of the game but having different series with different improved packages. Now if you have any complain about the improved version, you can still stick to the old ones and keep having fun the way you want to. There are number of gamers who have switched to other football simulations, because they have complained the game being too much realistic. I personally find this complain very funny. But, what if anyone wants both? Improved gameplay with an upgraded game package!

FIFA 09 has the exact copy of the game modes and challenges since 07. Nothing has changed. You rather feel neglected when you only get to play the same challenges and go through a similar career mode year after year. If EA doesn’t pay more attention to improving its game mode enchantments any soon, FIFA will starting to lose more gamers over the next few years. Only those will remain who pay attention to the actual game on the pitch not the whole package itself. For a series which has been out there for long 16 years, definitely needs to be more concern about this reality.

But when it comes to having most licenses, FIFA is always on top of its genre. There's no doubting that the license goes a long way, and with an unbelievable amount of leagues realistically represented. There’s enough here to satisfy even the most extreme football fan. Which means completing the game 100% isn’t just as simple as it sounds. 100% completion will definitely take 3-4 months of gameplay, if you play on a regular basis. Though there are some shortcomings in the game commentary and distributions in other leagues often noted, with all those improvements in terms of gameplay it can be ignored. Not to mention that the games’ one of the best major improvements when it comes to player likeness. This particular improvement has always been a new addition the FIFA series throughout all these years. Maybe the greatest addition is the return of Be a Pro, now fully featured and enabling players to take a single footballer up from the reserves and through to international glory over the course of four seasons.

 

Some very minor improvements are done in terms of the game commentary, even though Andy Gray and Martin Tyler both are already excellent. Each major team has its fans' chant imitated, where you find yourself in command of Chelsea and you'll hear 'From Stamford Bridge to Wembley', and bring Manchester United out at Old Trafford and you'll hear a chorus of 'Glory, Glory, Man United'.

With some very little drawbacks FIFA is very much in the course of becoming an inclusive football simulation. And, when the packages are so vast and offers so much, it’s hard not to be impressed. But the question still remains whether it’s better than PES or not. In my opinion FIFA won’t let PES take the crown of its genre without very decent fight. And, the time isn’t very far for the final upshot. Releases from both the publishers in next few years will definitely tell us about the future of our very best football simulation.

Rating: 4.5/5