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.

The stadiums look fantastic, as do the player models.

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.

The midfield game is what makes FIFA 09 special.

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.

Keeper AI is vastly improved from last year.

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.

The controls also work effectively: They combine advanced controls that allow gamepad magicians to work their magic, but also allow novices to pull off fun moves by using the face buttons and a few flicks of the right analog stick.

Gameplay isn't perfect. The artificial intelligence of your teammates could use a shot in the arm, as they tend to run in circles when receiving a pass or simply stop marking a player when he's running at full speed into the attacking zone. And yes, the game still doesn't choose the player you want to activate when you switch players -- a soccer gaming staple that has yet to be resolved. There are also not enough fouls called, as free kicks are a rarity.

What's a soccer game without celebrations?

Manager Mode is back again this year, and it seems as if EA Sports spent no time fixing what was broken -- namely, the fatigue and lineup issues from FIFA 08. The CPU is terrible at running its teams; players never rest due to exhaustion, and if a trade is made the newly acquired player rots on the bench. If you want to play the game solely for offline league play, this is a major sticking point.

Be A Pro: Seasons is a new mode of play that grants you four seasons to take your created player to the captaincy of your national team. This occurs in a miniature role-playing game in which you earn experience points and boost your attributes in positioning, completing passes, successful tackles and so on. You don't have to play just as your player -- you can control your whole team if you like; you just need to use your player as much as possible to earn experience points. It's a fun mode, but the limit of only four seasons is a bit of a puzzler. Why not allow you to create a player and play him through retirement?

Offline play has its ups and downs, but online play is where FIFA 09 shines. You can form clubs, play in a league, or battle it out in a 10-on-10 online game (which can be pure chaos, so make sure you get a game in with a good group). The new Adidas Live Season allows you to download player updates for your favorite league on a weekly basis and use these changes in offline and online games.

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If you are on the fence about whether to get the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 version, keep in mind that the PS3 version does not support Trophies. In addition, the PS3 visuals, as with most EA Sports games, look a bit shiny and the players are a bit slippery on the pitch. The Xbox 360 version is more muted, and the players react more realistically when cutting and stopping. Regardless, the game looks outstanding. The player models are spot-on and the grass looks nice and short. That may sound like an odd compliment, but it took EA Sports a long time to get this right.

FIFA 09 is a case where the new features on the back of the box are window dressing. The core gameplay is reason enough to give this edition a try. EA Sports has held serve -- Konami, mixed metaphor aside, the ball is now in your court.

This review is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.