“Message to the club secretary, Mr. Mooney has left the stadium.” Just one of the many annoucements over the stadium intercom you’ll hear including those shaming racism. Pointless but, unlike previous pointless additions to FIFA over the years, actually improves the atmosphere. Yes, the new FIFA is here, right on time although, not enough time to know Ole Gunnar Solskaer had retired.
Just to start off with, I’m a PES man, pure and simple. I enjoy getting to to grips with “real” football, football with crunching tackles, hard fought battles in midfield and goals coming out of nothing from 30 yards out. FIFA has to me, been the long lost millionaire cousin whom, although is graphic superior to PES and licensed to death, looses more “new” features than it retains.
So, how has FIFA turned my head this year, or rather what, is the Be a Pro Offline training (yes, they have given it that full name when they refer to it). Basically, it’s PES’s fixed cursor mode, you are one player on the pitch. However, unlike PES, the player camera that goes with it is ACTUALLY useful. it dynamically adjusts so that you are running in on goal, it’ll will zoom in and capture the moment but it also zooms out when defending, particularly on corners, so that you can see player making runs behind you. Useful. However, worth a note that, with the PS3 version, the framerate seemingly stutters a smidge. Not enough for a lag time but enough for you to think it doesn’t seem to be moving all that smoothly. Nevertheless, I thoughts are with the whole idea that it’s a downsized demo. Another thing worth of note is that when in does zoom in, it’s hard to tell where the bylines are so you’ll need to sue you’re head and also, it indicates where you’re players are but not such about distance away but, these are more warnings than anything.
Contents are pretty good for a FIFA demo this year. Still only a 45 minute game (aka, you’re forced in playing for 4 minutes) and only 1 stadium but they do have about 6 or 7 teams which does improve the options you have. Like NBA Live 08 (another game to impress and enthrall me), it contains a nice little single player ronaldinho vs. keeper training bit akin to the “be a pro” mode instead of a boring menu screen adored with pros, which does make things interesting. Another thing that impressive is that it has each teams full rosster of players. I’m talking subs and reserves! For 7 teams! on a demo! Brilliance.
Tele cam, still not brilliant for playing at as you are too far away from the action but this is a personal view and some may prefer this over the, much better, dynamic game, which adjusts to the action.
From what I gather from the demo, it seems that rather than saving replay videos and uploading them later, you can upload them from the spot, which is nice unless you had the idea in you’re head that EA were going to allow you to edit you’re own video so you can erase that embarassing miss two seconds earlier.
One complaint I do have is the fact that, if you are a skills player, things may get fiddly for you. if you want to matthews feign, stepover, flip-flap and rainbow flick (yes, rainbow flick) to victory, then you need to spend some serious time studying. the game won’t allow you space as the defenders are too good for that (i was playing at semi pro so, i’m imagining defenders at world class to be niegh on inpossible to beat) plus some tricks (again, rainbow flick) are hard to do and will require patience.
Ah, hard defence was mentioned there. When FIFA was full unveiled by “proud” Leeds fan and FIFA 08 produce, Joe Booth, he mentioned the threat maps that calculate player moves and all manner of technical stuff. Long story short, defenders are a damn sight smarter than attackers. took me 6 games to stick the ball away with Rooney on the 35 minute (beautiful pass from Carrick set… ENOUGH! lol) but I’ve rarely conceded since getting to grips with R2 being sprint. Even then, Carrick wwas moving back to defend as soon as Rooney received the ball. Attackers don’t seem to look for space sometimes and tend to bunch up with each other, particular if using someone like Scholes who drives forward from midfield.
Fast players aren’t never nearly fast enough to beat their markers. It’s much better to get a strong man like Rooney to fend of defenders and stick the ball in the back of the net than Ronaldo and Henry. Again, if you like quick players with tricky feet, you’ll be fiddling with the controls alot, swapping between L2, R2(new sprint button remember) and the right stick.
However, issues of framerate and advanced thinking aside, a very good game in prospect and, to quote Alan Hansel on recent England performances, “the passing was good, the control was good, the defending was good”. Wallets at the ready Gents.
