The Wonderful World of FIFA!
I have played every single addition of FIFA since 1996, I have always been an avid Football fan and so these were the games in which I could fulfil my desire to play as the best players in the world. So then lets talk about EA's game this year, well I will start of by saying that this is the best one yet, its seems that every year all they do is make minor changes to the formula set out years ago and release it, however this years game seems to be a lot more polished a lot more fast paced and a lot more fun.
The visuals have been overly improved as with every new addition, certain superstars have almost lifelike appearances but the more unknown category of pro's look a bit like generic dummy's, Team kits look great and adding the improved textures and visuals really make you feel like you can reach out and feel the material they are made with. The pitches look great, from sun beaten and finely cut grass, to a snowy covered winter lawn or end of season worn field makes you feel like there is some serious football being played there.
Animation also are much improved this year, its a lot more believable in which the way players move around the pitch, there is more shot animations, header animations, passing, celebrations, skill moves and they all add to the realism of the sport.
The Career mode has been revamped; you can now choose weather to undertake you career as either a player, manager or player-manager, each with its own differences. In player mode you can either play with your created pro or an existing footballer, you get picked by the manager and work your way up eventually to the clubs captain, although I must voice my frustration over the fact when once you become a key player in the squad, your manager with play you every game, now this may seem good, but if your pro doesn't have the sufficient stamina required, then you spend most games knackered!
However there are various accomplishments for your pro to tuck into to, and you find the fist season or so is full of end of game accomplishments, then you really have to knuckle down and work towards them. Eventually you will get to a point where the only way for your pro to progress is to do the Gold accomplishments, to achieve them you either have to play on line, or on at least World Class difficulty, it seems a shame for the game not to cater towards the more casual of players, it basically means that if your not very good at the game, your pro wont progress much. Not good.
I have been playing on World Class for a while now at this is the biggest downside of the game. It seems that the computer AI makes almost inhuman moves with the ball and all that you do is ending up fowling them, you can play a team of much lower class players only to find that they will still outrun everyone of the current Barcelona team? Seems strange how the difficulty can affect individual player's stats. High difficulty games are most frustrating time I've had playing this game.
Online I great and competitive as usual, although I have only played 10 or so matches it seems to be a great addition, the various mode you can play such as head to head, vs friends. There is also Pro clubs, this is where you take your pro and join a club with your friends pro's, its fantastic fun.
Overall this is a really great addition to the series and arguably the best one yet, its not without its minor flaws but they should in no way hinder your choice to purchase it. Brilliant game!