FIFA 09
Perhaps unsurprisingly this is more of an evolution in the series than a revolution, but that is ok, as the 2007 game was one of the most respected in the franchise and won more than its fair share of gamers away from Konami’s series (myself included). If you’re a regular then, nothing will really surprise you to any extent. The controls are pretty much the same, the game types are there-or-there-abouts, and the settings and computer AI aren’t that much different. So then, why should you buy it? You’ll noticed the tone of the previous paragraph inferred there was some change in most areas, and that is where the spark to FIFA 09 is; all the little changes have added up and culminated in a superbly rounded game that is accommodating to new players and keeps the old ones interested (whilst not messing with a winning formula). You can hook the game up to Xbox Live to get regular league updates to keep things relative and fresh via the new Adidas Live Season (it uses real-world data, so you can relate your virtual season to that of the current one). Personally, I believe the PES vs FIFA debate is an irrelevant concept in modern gaming as the main differentiator now is the aspect of realism. Whilst PES is still the most fun when it comes to multiplayer gaming, FIFA has taken the lead (at least in this reviewers’ eyes) when it comes to the single player ‘campaign’ side of things, with FIFA 09 only confirming this point. The RandomlyAccessed office was expecting a yearly update to an already good game, but the combination of the Euro 2008 engine and sparks of development flair, make it definitely worth a look in the run-up to Xmas. |
The perennial debate rages on in the gaming world; which is better, FIFA or PES? I know my personal stance on this issue, and so do every other football gamer this side of the end of the world, but leaving all this aside, is FIFA 09 a good game?