I started playing FIFA games in 1999,with FIFA 99.It was one of my first
favorite video games.I enjoyed FIFA in the last decade,every year,with
every new game,I stood proud near the FIFA series under the assaults of
Pro Evolution Soccer.Ten years after the magnificent FIFA 99, FIFA 09
has come along,to make all football fans or fanatics happy.
In the last couple of years EA hasn't improved much their FIFA games.All
the games in the FIFA series from 2006 to 2009 on the PC are
identical.I was always a PC gamer and played all my FIFA games on the
PC.FIFA 06 was very good,bringing many improvements over it's
predecessors,then FIFA 07 was the same thing,identical.FIFA 08 just like
FIFA 06,the same 2 year old rubbish.FIFA 09 on the PC does bring small
new features but it's not even close to the console version.
FIFA 08 on the PC was rubbish,but the consoles got a great game,one of
the best FIFA games in recent memory.It had good and solid
game-play,nice graphics and the best online play for a football video
game.
FIFA 09 has everything that FIFA 08 had before it,and a lot more.It
still plays well.It's the most realistic football simulator money can
buy.
The PS3 and XBOX360 version of the game are almost identical.The game
has the same menu the last game had.It was a difficult thing for me to
get used to the consoles version of the game,and the menu was one of the
toughest things to get used to.I still think the PC version has a
better menu,more user friendly and it's easier to use.Maybe it's just
because I'm used to the PC version,but anyway the menu is the same,and I
don't like it.The Arena is still here,you can now change your Arena
player.For those of you who don't know what the arena is,it's sort of a
training mode,where you control only one player and get used to the
controls.It's nothing spectacular anymore,it was last year when I first
saw it,but now it's not that new anymore.A new addition however is the
fact that before you enter a match,you play in the arena,while the game
is loading,after the game has loaded,the arena converts into the stadium
you are about to play the game in.You'll just have to press start to
begin the game,but controlling only one player,on a full stadium is
really cool.This is one of the most interesting small things in the
improvements list featured in the game.
The game plays almost the same,but with small improvements over FIFA
08.It's more fluid,the players move more realistic than ever before.It
almost seems sometimes that players interact with each other.Sometimes
they will point you where to pass the ball.Even if this does always look
the same,it always looks good.Also if a thick player tries to stop an
other big player,he'll be more likely to stop him than a thin one.That's
because,EA says,the players now interact with each other,and their
weights and heights are being considered at impact.This sound cool,but I
wasn't sure this works,until I saw it with my own eyes.I may have
miss-seen but apparently,a small player like Messy will easily be
stopped by a tall and stocky player like Staam.I did see this and I
thought this may be a sign that EA isn't lying,but I'm not sure.
There so many game modes,that it will be difficult for me to even remember them,but I'll try.
So there is,Be a Pro-which just as last year,lets you play as a single
player in any team you wish.You will gather experience points for
completing objectives like scoring a certain number of goals,having a
certain number of passes and stuff like this.These experience points
will add to your fame,your ultimate goal being to become the captain of
both your club team and national team and becoming a legend.The main
difference this year is that you can play for four seasons,and also
switch clubs.So,yet again,FIFA 09 has the same things as 08,but a lot
better.
Another game mode is the Manager Mode in which you'll take over a club
team and make your way to become a great manager.It's the same deal
since FIFA 2004,spawning 15 years of career.It hasn't got many additions
but it's probably my favorite game mode.
Lounge Mode is also pretty interesting as it will let you and up to 19
other friends to compete for ultimate bragging in offline multiplayer
challanges.Basically,you'll make some scenarios for how the games will
be played,like starting in the last ten minutes of the match,3 goals
down,and win by two goals.Stuff like that.It's a good mode,and offers
pretty high pleasures and thrills.
The Kick-Off Mode is the same thing since 1994 so nothing new to talk about.You pick two teams,and head into a friendly match.
The best part of the game though,is the online play.There are so many
online game modes,that you'll just be amazed after playing one for a
while and than discovering a new one,which is as good as the first
one,maybe even better.
The best mode however is the Be a Pro Mode,in which up to 20 players can
build up two teams and play against each other in unranked matches.
Another great online feature is the Adidas Live Season,which let's you
stay in touch with the improvements of players during the football
season.These updates aren't however free of charge,the cost is around
five dollars per league and there are 6 leagues in which you can use
this feature.You will have to download updates for teams every week to
stay in touch with player transfers and form changes.This feature is
basically just for the hardcore fans,but for those eager to have an even
more realistic experience,this feature is well implemented and works
well.You can however use Adidas Live Season updates just in the Kick-Off
Mode,Quick Ranked Online matches and Interactive League matches.
FIFA 09 Clubs is another interesting online mode.You can set up your
very own FIFA 09 club and play matches against other teams.You team is
based on a real team,and you can scout for other players and make them
come in your team.This is a great addition,just like the clan modes in
shooter games.
FIFA Interactive World Cup is a mode that let's you play in online
matches,to gain experience points and ultimately become the best FIFA
player in the world,it is quite difficult,as most of the players using
this mode are usually very skilled.I played four games,lost three and
won only one.You will have to play many games and qualify for official
EA FIFA tournaments and become the best player in the world.It sounds
great and it really is.
A new feature in this years FIFA is the Custom Tactics in Team
Management.You can customize the defensive and attacking play of any
team in the game.It works well and you can see differences in how the
team plays by making them go all in offense or by making them play the
offside trap.This new feature has a little of EA's FIFA MANAGER in
it,and it works well.
Another important thing in the FIFA games has always been the soundtrack
and this year,the game has a good soundtrack,but worst than its
predecessor.FIFA started having good soundtracks in 2004,then in 2005
they had a very good soundtrack.2006 saw probably one of the best
soundtracks I have ever heard in a game,2007 being just as good as 2005
and 08 being well,fair.09 is also,fair,but it hasn't got any good songs
that you'll remember the game by.I remember 2004 for Paul Okenfold's
song,or whatever his name was,then 2005 for the crazy japanese song and
the Franz Ferdinand song,06 had Ceasars with Jerk it Out,which probably
is the best FIFA song to date.FIFA 09 hasn't got any great songs,and
it's a pitty because FIFA used to have a great soundtrack.
The commentators are the same since 2006,but they do seem to have more
speeches up their sleeves,they know more names and also know more about
rivalries between teams and things like that.The game features
commentary in more languages than just English.English is the foreign
language I speak best,but I use French because it feels more live than
in English,and besides that,French sounds splendid.
I haven't found many problems in the game.Probably because I only saw
the good things,the game-play is very addictive,and it will just suck
you in.The graphics are good,and the online play as good as it can
be.All in all,the game is very good,and if you're even a small football
fan,you have to get this game.It seems like EA has won me again with
this great game.So after the great FIFA 08 after which I thought EA
couldn't do any better,they just did with FIFA 09,wonder what they'll do
next year...
