SEEL MEISTER
BACK TO GAMING HAVEN
The Fifa series, the money cow, the same game over and over, such phrases will often come to mind when mentioning the latest instalment. However, occasionally EA pulls something out of the bag. It seems that finally, after about 4 or 5 years, the advice of everyone has gotten into the HQ. EA has written a new game engine!! Yes! Could it be that we won�t see the same mistakes again. The same AI flaws, the crap goalkeepers�.
GRAPHICS
As usual, the graphics are ground breaking. Amazing player models, lovely stadiums, even the football looks good. However, it is hard to find a camera angle that suits, some are 2 far out, and others just aren�t any good for playing football. Hardly ever any frame rate problems, the occasional 1 or 2, but a vast improvement on its predecessors. The crowds are quite pretty, nothing ground-breaking, but nothing terrible. Over all, a very authentic polished feel, at some points just like watching Sky sports. 9/10
SOUNDS
Ah, the game does really well here. For starters, 6 or 7 good tunes that set the scene and gets you in the mood for a game. The in game commentary is amazing. Motsy and Coisty provide some great comments, and seem not to make too many mistakes. Not talking excessively, but not long pauses. One of the features that stand out is the way the commentary relates to the current league standing and form, commenting on the keepers recent performances, how the result will effect the table and the teams win/loss runs. Again, a very nice feel. 9/10
GAMEPLAY
This has been what killed almost every other Fifa game. Bad controls and horrible glitches ruined them, but the revamped engine has sorted almost all the problems. Passes don�t go astray as often, and the players have a much better feel to them. The ball control is refined, and the new EA freestyle control system, which uses the c stick to perform some nifty little touches, is a vast improvement. Of course, the game is stuffed full with licences, almost all the big teams and plenty of minnows. There are a few problems, but these are minimal. 8/10
REPLAYABILITY
Okay, it�s a football team. That alone means that plenty of matches are ready, and with the Fifa licence comes plenty of tournaments to enter. It is also the first GC football title to contain any club teams, so you can even get Man U to win a few games (which makes a pleasant change ;) With 4 difficulty levels and heaps of stadiums and time limits to choose from, there is plenty to return to, and it will take ages to beat all the game modes. 8/10
MULTIPLAYER
Much the same as the above, the wide range of options mean there are plenty of modes available. And with all the teams to choose from, you will even be able to beat you mates Real Madrid with your Dunfermline side.
OVERALL
Not perfect, but a very good effort. Feels like a lot of effort has gone into the making and most of the prevalent problems of the series are ironed out. A game that will keep you coming back for ages, unless you don�t like football. 88%