FIFA '09

Author: Joe Martin
Published: 1st October 2008
Comments (18) Stumble

Five Aside

New control schemes are all well and good of course, but it probably isn’t enough for most football fans to justify buying a new game for – so it’s a good thing that there’s some under the hood stuff that’s been updated as well.

One of the most impressive things about FIFA this year is the way that physics have been integrated into the gameplay more fully. It sounds a little thing, but playing a football game where the chance of a handball isn’t totally controlled by a random chance is quite important.

Likewise, having a football that realistically flexes the net is one of those small improvements that can make a big difference and stop a game from feeling amateurish and hastily thrown together.

The physics unfortunately aren’t driving the entire core of the game, as it does in the jaw-smashingly gorgeous Backbreaker, but it does play a big part and is especially fun to watch in the replays, which you can trigger whenever you want. When you savagely slide tackle someone (from Chesterfield FC, say) and clip them on the ankle then you can see them tumble much more realistically than you might expect from Yet Another EA Sports Game ‘09.

FIFA '09 FIFA '09 - Gameplay

As we said though, the game isn’t totally physics driven and there’s a big bulk of statistics and sports trivia here to fiddle with and get completely confused with. Again though, the statistics are nicely layered and the interface (which is clearly and awfully consolised) is designed so that the whole game can be understood at a glance if that’s how you prefer to play.

The ability to tweak the game and play it as you want is a great boon for FIFA ‘09, as it means that football fans who just want to have a kick-around can quickly jump in and play, while those at the other end can spend some time weighing up the pros and cons. FIFA ‘09 is no Football Manager of course, but there’s a surprising amount of depth here thanks to the 11 tactical sliders that let you customise team tactics. It’s more than enough for those who just want to change their formation and get in the game.

Likewise, the game offers a range of different game modes to accommodate for different players and the experience they want to draw from FIFA ‘09. For those who just want a quick challenge against the computer that can go on indefinitely there’s the incredibly basic Practice mode with options for skipping straight to free kicks or penalties. Those who want something even quicker than that though can just hit the instant match button.

Stepping things up a notch, if you’re looking for a game which is a little more developed then there’s the usual array of tournaments and challenges. Different cups to compete for, different leagues to run in – this bit is pretty much as you’d expect, but has more options than a shelf of instant hot chocolate.

FIFA '09 FIFA '09 - Gameplay

If you’ve got tastes which are a little more eclectic however, or want to get a little closer to the realism of the game then you can switch over to the Be A Pro game modes. Here you can create or adapt a football player of your choice and play the game from a single position. If you want then you can even play online and fill the rest of your positions with your friends, though it inevitably becomes a hugely chaotic affair.

There are some downsides to playing the Be A Pro match though, especially if you’re playing it singleplayer. Although this game mode tries as hard as it can to keep players interested by giving you targets to aim for and a shorter four-season game length, the fact of the matter is that it is still pretty boring. In any one game you might find the ball in your hands (or feet) for no more than a minute or two.

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