Everyone seems to know the score.  They’ve seen it all before.  They just know.  Wait there’s more!

FIFA 09 is EA’s latest installment of its football franchise.  Developed by EA Canada, this latest release includes new online game modes, graphics, commentary and player animations.  Will these latest additions prove good enough to persuade all you football fanatics to buy FIFA 09 over Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer?

Graphics and Presentation

With several of FIFA’s latest releases it has been no secret that EA’s primary focus has been improving upon the graphics engine.  FIFA 09 clearly shows how far this series has come with one of the biggest graphical leaps this franchise has seen.

FIFA 09 contains over 20 licensed replica stadiums including the new Wembley, Old Trafford and Arsenal Emirates stadiums.  Each stadium contains a different playing surface, each with different lawn patterns.  EA have certainly tried to keep the game looking fresh as there are unique goal frames and nets for each stadium.

The day and night scenario may not be a new feature, but the way they have used the floodlights certainly is a step up from any previous release.  Each stadium casts its own unique true to form shadow, with players casting multidirectional shadows.  When it’s really sunny you will even notice lens flares making you really feel like you’re on the other side of the camera.

Graphical menus are kept very sleek and elegant.  Designers have really done a very nice job of making the menu interface as simple as possible considering the amount of options FIFA 09 has to offer.  Most menu items offer numerous levels of sub menus.  Menus are kept interesting and engaging by overlaying it over an in game backdrop a feature now seen in a lot of games.  In game pause menus are laid out very similarly to that of the main screen making it very easy and quick to make any changes necessary.  This is something you will be thankful for when playing online as you’re only given 30 seconds to make any tactical changes.

Sound

FIFA is well known for its music play lists, always offering some of the hottest and most played hits of the time.  This year FIFA is no different with over 40 tracks to choose from, including artists such as The Script, Duffy, The Kooks and Sam Sparrow.

Gameplay

FIFA 09 incorporates over 250 improvements to its game play.  One of the more noticeable features of the game is the Arena.  The Arena consists of half a pitch, the goal, the goalkeeper and you.  You can spend an unlimited amount of time in the arena and practice shooting, penalties, free kicks or just work on pulling off those difficult skill moves.  EA have made superb use of the arena by presenting you with it during loading screens.  Loading has never been such fun!

This release also incorporates the football with its own unique physics.  This allows you to curl the ball like a pro and can be incorporated into free kicks and penalties to reach those places you couldn’t quite get to before.  Once you do bend one in the top corner don’t forget to celebrate with one of the many new celebrations.  What will it be?  Crouches robot or the infamous knee slide?

There are several game modes to choose from when playing, you have the choices of Tournament mode, Manager mode, Lounge mode and Be A Pro mode.  Or if all you want is a quick game you do that too by choosing the exhibition match option.  This is nothing really new to FIFA 09 as these features can be found in earlier releases.  Most of the new game features in this release can be found in the online modes.

A new addition to FIFA 09 online is the introduction of clubs.  Clubs allows you and up to 9 other friends to play as one team.  Each member can either to choose to fill one certain position or take control of all free players as if playing normally.  Once you have named your team and have at least three members you can start playing online matches against other clubs.  Match results will effect your league position allowing you to battle for promotion or prevent being relegated.  The online mode really is FIFA’s stellar feature.  There’s nothing like playing online against real opponents and it really does exponentially increase the playability period of this game.

Another cool new feature to FIFA 09 is the Adidas Live season.  Adidas live season allows in-game player and club statistics to be updated depending on real world performances, keeping your game as up to date with the real world as possible.  This service is not free but some copies of the game come with a one year free subscription, allowing you to choose one league to be kept updated by this service.

Closing Comments

FIFA 09 certainly made a big leap forward with this release, graphics have had a major overhaul and many small game play features have been improved and re-worked.  Although every football fanatic will want to buy FIFA 09 for its updated squad roster alone, it also boats a few nice new features for the leisurely player.  Besides the graphics and the introduction of the arena, most of the new features are found online and once you have mastered the AI I’m sure this is where you will spend most of your time.  I’d advise any Pro Evolution purist to buy FIFA 09 and give it a try. You might just be pleasantly surprised.  This game really is a top buy as you can play it over and over again without it losing its entertainment value.

Ayden Thomas.