Since EA’s return to greatness last year with FIFA 09 on the PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii, EA Sports has raised its game to an even higher echelon with FIFA 10. A few years ago EA Sports’ FIFA 07 tumbled from its regal position atop the soccer game throne to the previously second place Pro Evolution Soccer by Konami. After years of careful planning and not great game making, EA Sports has struck gold once again.
The PS3 version offers gamers a wide variety of modes and technologies. As always there is the Exhibition Mode which enables either single or multiplayer matches. To boot, there is the newly revamped Be A Pro Seasons mode which allows you to take any real player (or one you create) to the pitch for a realistic experience as you try to become the best in the world. If one championship isn't enough for you, take on Manager mode which tracks your success over fifteen seasons.
In terms of online play there are a few different options. There is the standard 1 vs. 1 team club mode. There is also a new cooperative mode were as many as 20 real people can be playing in one match. The new Pro Club Championship mode pits your virtual pro up against those of the other online gamers in a massive Be A Pro mode.
Lastly, there are the Online Leagues where up to 31 gamers can create a league and go for it all.
New features improve on the franchises already smooth gameplay and bring added dimension to the game. The biggest of these innovations is the 360° Dribbling, which replaces the older 8-directional system. Although it brings greater realism to the game, it creates difficulties when trying to dribble straight. Another long lost addition to FIFA 10 is the reutilization of customizable set pieces. Used in past FIFAs, it was inexplicably cut out of some of the more recent versions. It allows the gamer the freedom and versatility to create effective and unique set plays to be used in game. Due to this feature there is a greater sense of control over how the game turns out.
The graphics of FIFA 10 are an improvement over FIFA 09, but lack the vibrance and boldness of the yet-to-be-released Pro Evolution Soccer 10.
There is one problem that has really taken hold of the newest FIFA: Heading. In general, defenders consistently back off of the approaching balls allowing the CPU to freely take it and no player can score on headers. Players can either control the direction of the headed ball or the timing of the jump (which determines the power and height of the ball). The problem is that every time a ball is headed on target it seems to go skyward or weakly bounce into the goalie’s hands, while a ball off-course is usually hit with power and the correct height.
For a few years now, FIFA games have had a "lag" problem between the controller and the game, a delay that led to errant passes, late slide tackles, and a general uncertainty of what is going to happen next in the game. For example, when you are about to take the ball from your opponent and you are holding the tackle button, the game can misread that same command as a pass, thus giving the ball immediately back to the other team. At last the problem has been fixed. EA has done a great job minimizing the irritating delay.
FIFA 10 for the PS3 scores with a fluid, realistic, back-to-basics soccer game.
The much more kid-friendly Nintento Wii version of the game brings a more stylized, simplified, and friendly atmosphere to the serious FIFA franchise. There are still some of the same game modes, like exhibition and manager, but the focus ends up more on the creativity and ease-of-play than on the usual soccer realism. In fact, EA decided it was not even worth incorporating extensive player attributes and managerial duties. Player attributes have been condensed into four major catagories. For the field players they are: speed, tackling, shooting, and passing. This leads to the best real-life players being perfect at skills they do not have. For example, Lionel Messi is a 20 (pefect) in the game, but in order to accomplish this rating he has a 5 (max rating) on tackling, something he is not known for in real life. Also, the lack of diversity in attributes leads to defenders and strikers having the exact same stats. These ignored managerial obligations refer to having control over ticket prices, scouting new
players (which don’t even exist), scheduling team events, hiring better staff members and increasing stadium capacity. Virtual Pro and Be A Pro modes are nonexistent in the Wii version of FIFA 10.
The gameplay allows three different ways to play. One is with the classic handheld controller, second with just the Wii remote, and finally the Wii in tandem with the nunchuck. Stylistically, there is more appeal to using the Wii remote and nunchuck than there is with the other types of play because it offers a unique gaming experience not offered on any other next generation console. FIFA 10 Wii is a prime example of the lesser graphics of the Wii in comparison to those on the next generation consoles. There are many times during the game where it is possible to see pixels, compared with the lifelike graphics of the PS3 and Xbox 360. As is often the case with Wii games, FIFA
10 lacks the intricate details required by hard-core video soccer fans looking for the ultimate in realism, but the simplicity of the game allows for a great group gaming experience.
Although the Wii and PS3 versions of the game are significantly different, EA has done an impressive job of crafting experiences that draw on the strengths and styles of the respective platforms. - Matthew and Daniel Weinstein
