FIFA Soccer 09 (Xbox 360)

FIFA 09 keeps its position as EA Sports' most complete and entertaining franchise.
10/23/2008 6:30 PM | 0 Comments | Page 1 of 3

EA's FIFA series has always been a popular franchise -- but the "smart" money was on the feisty PES games from Konami. The theory was that FIFA won over gamers with its powerful licensing, first-rate graphics and easy-to-grasp gameplay. It was the serious soccer fan who played the Konami games, while the casual gamer stuck with FIFA.

That's no longer the case.

While the PES series has stagnated over the past few years, EA Sports has changed course and has turned the once-fluffy FIFA franchise into a hardcore game of reflex, strategy and surprising depth. This change in design focus culminates in FIFA Soccer 09, which is clearly the best the series has ever been, and it will take a spirited effort from Konami to top what EA Sports has done this year.

Publishers of sports games like to tout feature sets. This is because new sports games can be strikingly similar to previous versions, so something needs to be on the back of the box to lure gamers into buying the latest game -- even if they shelled out $60 a mere 10 months ago. The problem is that the gameplay in most sports games usually stays about the same, and the feature sets end up being public relations noise -- ideas sitting on the periphery of what is really important: how the game plays.

While FIFA 09 does sport some fancy new features to satisfy the box hype theory, it is a superb game -- not because it adds a new Be A Pro: Seasons mode and 10-on-10 online play, but because the on-the-pitch game is significantly better than that of any FIFA game before it.

There are midfield battles this year that actually don't involve players attempting sliding tackles every few seconds. Players tend to stay on their feet, which is a welcome sight. The collision detection, combined with improved ball physics, adds a layer of realism -- and more importantly, a needed dose of unpredictability that makes every game feel like a new experience. That's a rare feat only pulled off by giants of the genre, such as Sony's MLB: The Show and EA's NHL franchise.

FIFA 09 is challenging; novices will get enough of a game on the default Semi-Pro level until realizing that the AI doesn't play defense on the wing, and veterans will receive a stiff test against the higher levels of difficulty. But the reason it works is because you rarely feel cheated. Player ratings matter more than ever, and you are not going to see the AI dominate a game as the Columbus Crew if you're playing as Arsenal.

One new feature that does involve gameplay is the custom tactics, which allow you to use the d-pad during the game to adjust your strategy. If you're leading late in the second half, you can shift to a more defensive-minded setup; or if you desperately need a goal to tie the game, you can shift your team into an attacking formation. This makes a huge difference in how the game plays, particularly online, as you need to adjust to what your opponent is trying to do.