FIFA 09 Review

By Tom Bramwell Published 3 October, 2008

Final score.

Version tested: PlayStation 3

The myth that EA makes the bimbo football game and Konami makes the cultured one is probably dead by now, but just in case, I have sent it to McDonald's at 2am to spill Joey Barton's pint. FIFA has long since put its dark, deformed days of knee-length grass and knee-deep gameplay behind it, and with this 2009th instalment it delivers solid, realistic football along with its trademark compellingly polished presentation. And careful, because it probably is trademarked.

What's more, it's got more good ideas than FIFA's dad, Sepp Blatter, has had in his entire career. There's Adidas Live Season, which allows you to download form updates for your favourite league, and benefit from them in exhibition, ranked online matches and Interactive Leagues. Interactive Leagues were a good idea from last year, you may remember; you pick your favourite team, and then play against people who represent your next real-life opponent. Worldwide results in these fixtures determine worldwide positions on the Interactive League table. (The game will also support the FIFA Interactive World Cup.)

FIFA 09 also allows you to define tactical presets, and then map these plans to a d-pad menu, so if you go behind late in the game, you could push your full-backs forward and press for an equaliser at the touch of a button, or if you're 2-0 up you could load the midfield. There are slider bars for all sorts of variables, and toggles for things like playing the offside trap. As ever, whether your team can do all the things you ask of them is down to their individual stats, and you still have the option to pick and tweak standard formations, set up man marking and kick takers, and drop Dirk Kuyt even though you love him, in the standard way.

'FIFA 09' Screenshot 1

Getting to grips with Be a Pro is like being on Faking It, but in time you can make a serious impact.

All of this comes in handy when you're playing with friends, and there's a new mode for that too. Lounge mode invites you to set up a league with up to 19 friends and then use "cheap shots" to give yourself pre-game advantages, like extra goals and reduced opposition performance stats. Or you can play them online in the 10-versus-10 games that rely on the "Be a Pro" mechanic introduced in FIFA 08, where you control one player for the whole match. Pre-release we couldn't get enough people together for this, but we wouldn't recommend anybody trying it out without practicing offline first.

Good thing, then, that there's a companion single-player mode, Be a Pro: Seasons, where you get four campaigns to try and rise through the reserves and first team to become captain of your country, as the game puts ticks and crosses against your name for moving into the right positions, completing passes and tackles, scoring goals and contributing to positive results. Online FIFA 09 Clubs allows you to set up a clan, effectively, and then compete for selection in Be a Pro online games. Whether online or off, you can use a typically robust character creation suite to define your player; from the name on his shirt to the sweatbands on his wrists. Well, that's just his torso, thinking about it, but you can also do how he looks, and whether he's got a stupid headband and poncy boots.

'FIFA 09' Screenshot 2

The PS3 and 360 versions both run smoothly, although the PS3 version lacks Trophies and seems to have Vaseline on it, while the 360 has more tearing.

Manager Mode, EA's attempt to compete with Konami's revered Master League, also returns in tweaked but not expanded form, even though it's not mentioned on the box or in the manual. It puts up another stern test, allowing you to play around with a transfer budget, field weakened teams in the cup and get turfed out by your board if you don't win enough games, which you control in standard fashion. Konami purists may feel it's a bit light next to their obsession, but it's buckets more shiny water in a vast, vast well here, which also includes licensed leagues from across the world (Premier League, Championship, League 1 and 2 and FA Cup from England), albeit with randomised fixture lists.

If this were old-days FIFA, we'd now moan that it's all very well having more options than Starbucks, but it all looks a bit indulgent when your football moves around on a secret network of arching conveyors and the score's 16-7. Not any more, of course, and FIFA 09 rams the point home with the emphasis on physical midfield battles and possession football, where teams hold their shape and press, and jostle with great effect, and it's up to you to exploit them by dragging defenders out of position, switching the play and paying attention to personnel. Slide tackles haven't much place here, and sprinting is best saved for decisive openings, or you'll run out and continually lose the ball as it moves a fraction out of control with every step. Meanwhile, pressing with two players at once - the default tactic for impatient defenders - does more harm than good, particularly as the refs are officious to say the least.

Along with the tactical presets on the d-pad (or analogue stick, if you switch them around), you also have a broader range of skill moves, accessed by holding a shoulder button and wiggling the right stick in prescribed patterns. The right stick also handles your first touch when receiving the ball, and elsewhere in the increasingly complex control system are various holding moves, jockeying options, fakes, dummies and shot or pass modifiers. As ever though, a player with a good eye for space and movement can get by with just a few buttons and no in-depth knowledge of the fancy bits, even if it never hurts to bone up.

'FIFA 09' Screenshot 3

Transfer details appear to be up to date, with Robinho at City, Spurs full of new face and Grumpatov at Man United.

FIFA 09 may want a certain type of passing football to succeed, then, but it's also built on a bedrock of good ball physics and realistic player behaviour, and it's not quite as mean around the box as PES used to be, so while the goals are hard to come by, they can be spectacular. Volleyed and driven shots are particularly fearsome, and while 25-yard potshots won't work as often as placement and good build-up, you rarely feel like the ball is caught under your feet when you should be in prime position to really murder it home. The only slight disappointment is how little joy we had from corners and wing play. Cutting inside to pass it to the striker was always a better ploy, as the physical presence of centre-halfs and the goalkeeper turfed us out of the box on most of the occasions the ball arrived in the air. Particularly strong aerial attackers, like People's Hero Peter Crouch, are exceptions, but it's odd to see the likes of Torres coming up so short.

Otherwise, there are only niggles. There's one irritatingly persistent bug that spins your player round when he's running onto a loose ball, which looks odd and often costs you possession, and there are other times when your team-mates apparently lose all sense of time and place, as well as the traditional football game grumbles of the player-select button selecting a player you didn't want, passes going to the player next to the one you meant, and button presses getting buffered for the next player on the ball, who passes it harmlessly into touch when you wanted him to run with it.

'FIFA 09' Screenshot 4

Watch out for everyone on the receiving team doing a little warming-up jig at kick-off. It's hypnotic.

On the whole though, the depth of choice on and off the pitch makes up for these things. FIFA 09 feels like a proper football game. It used to pretend to be football, dressed up in face masks and gluey boots, but these days football is exactly what it's computing. And the face masks are prettier too. Likenesses do vary in quality (Crouch looks like a tanned smurf, for one), but the animation is phenomenal, and there's so much subtle variation in the visual language EA's defined that we could swear they've even replicated stuff like Kuyt's shambling gait. But then perhaps we're just imagining it, or expecting it, because the game's otherwise very convincing. It feels like football, it rewards football, and it punishes football, for football reasons. It may not always be your brand of football, and you can ask for more, but only by degrees. The myth is dead. "Let's FIFA".

8 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (141) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • justsomeone #1 3 years ago

    can you make the footballers go away from your banner advertising now? i find their faces ugly, and filled with madness.

    please make them go away...

  • Huddy #2 3 years ago

    Another decent attempt by EA.

    After being stung on PES last year I'm gonna sit this out until the Konami title gets some reviews before deciding which corner to support.

    Although Seabass looks to have made a better job this time around judging by the demo.

  • Thamuhacha #3 3 years ago

    >can you make the footballers go away from your banner advertising now?

    Firefox + Ad blocker. Hooray.

    2009 might be a fifa year for me tbh. Although my PES loyalty could come back if they sort out the frame rate and the horrid crowds as well as some proper gameplay.

  • AusFreelancer #4 3 years ago

    Just bought this for PS3, after playing both PES & FIFA demos...CANNOT wait for online interactive leagues, that was the nail in the coffin for PES for me.

  • bad09 #5 3 years ago

    Payday can't come quick enough! I badly want this and have nothing to trade (which means it's gonna be an expensive October/November!) :(

    / curses the games industry for starving him through a lot of the summer and now giving him everything at once in the space of two months, yet again. (and they wonder why people download and buy 2nd hand)

    Anyway well done EA FIFA 09 is great from the demo.

  • t8yman #6 3 years ago

    I was hoping for a 9 to sway me. I'm still on the fence - not really been impressed by any football game for a while. All the buzz (hype) pointed at this being near flawless (as usual) and whilst 8 is still a great score - I dunno if I have the patience for it. Pure is gobbling my time massively.

    A 9 would have seen me sprinting down the shops. Fair enough review, and the score reflects the body of text.
    Tearing you say Tom - is it bad?

  • gaselite #7 3 years ago

    Crikey, what's it going to take for FIFA to get a 9?

    Not that it matters. It's absolutely outstanding, despite some minor faults.

  • don81 #8 3 years ago

    This has got to be a 9, even says it is brilliant, got to the score then an 8? ay? It's a 9 from the demo, i was a pro addict till they fluffed it this year, and from the demo of pro, they need to up their game, it's just pro 5 with up to date graphics, come on Seabass there should be a good overhaul. Fifa is again better this year, and i hated EA for bringing out crap games all the time, not this time. Best football game ever. Anyone else tried the demo of Pro, am i being overly critical?

  • RedPanda #9 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 14:31:59 28-01-2012

  • superjag86 #10 3 years ago

    PES 09 is definately ALOT better than PES 08 - but since PES 6 nothings really changed (and you could argue that since PES 2 nothing much has changed either).
    So this year it's FIFA for me!

  • Placebo #11 3 years ago

    Having spent a couple of days now with this it's definitely a 9/10 game, the only downside personally is that Manager Mode has no new additions since Fifa08 and actually has a couple of small things removed (no longer can assign squad numbers, players don't have traits, a few player stats removed, no free transfers available), funny how reviews don't spot those things eh? Also disappointing is no night games in manager mode, no seasonal weather changes in manager mode. Despite that it still urinates on the competition from a great height.

  • Les #12 3 years ago

    Is it possible to configure the controls just like PES (or have they done that in this iteration)? I tried out last year's demo but the controls were so completely counterintuitive that I just couldn't be bothered to invest any more time in the game. So I'm still playing PES 4 and loving it.

  • Paolo_ray #13 3 years ago

    @Les

    Yes! You can map the buttons to be the same as pes.

    I'm surprised this didn't get a 9. I was playing it for hours last night and it's as near a perfect football game as you can get.

  • lovely2cu #14 3 years ago

    Finally a review that rightly acknowledges Fifa as the new King as opposed to all those deluded copy and paste from 2004 review Pro Evo fanboy reviews that refuse to acknowledge the truth.

    And I don't want to sound like a tard but only 8? Didn't Fifa 08 get 8, an inferior game? Could be wrong.

    Anyway I've played the demo so can make up my own mind. This is a must buy, can't wait for poxy work to finish so I can get stuck in!

  • don81 #15 3 years ago

    @Les

    You can change the controls, but come the only controls you have to worry about are sprint and slow control, R2 and L2 or RT and LT depending on the system it's hardly a hardship for a massively better game than pro this year. Serious try it it's dead easy to get used to the different controls, you can change them to Pro controls anyway.

  • Placebo #16 3 years ago

    oliem2000 gameplay wise it's a huuuuuuuuuuge improvement over Fifa08, almost every aspect has been tweaked or significantly improved, jostling, tackling (the new collisions are amazing), heading (timing and strength make a big difference), shooting etc. etc. the only area where it's not an improvement is manager mode as I mentioned, although they have made a couple of small tweaks to it (players get much more experience when they play than when sat on the bench and players can earn negative XP points if they do really bad, for example come on as a sub and get sent off as happened to Franny Jeffers for me). All in all even if like me you don't play online and only play manager mode then the improved gameplay still makes it a far more enjoyable proposition than Fifa08.

    I don't recall the review mentioning you can adjust the game speed? That also makes a big difference as well, if like me you prefer Fifa08's slower pace you can play it on slow, if you like PES' uber unrealistic speed then play on Fast, Normal is in between and more akin to Euro 2008's speed.

  • absinthe #17 3 years ago

    I call a 9/10 too after a day of play.

    Strange review this, lots of small discrete sections and only gets to the gameplay meat at the end. No mention of the massive improvements to the physical play for instance. I just played a great online game where my small nippy striker was constantly bullied off the ball by the big bully centre half, and only once did my tactic of trying to release him down the channels work; he hit the post the idiot. But the point is, it feels a lot more realistic this time around. EURO got an 8 here and Kristan said it was close to a 9, so I'm somewhat perplexed by Tom's take. For me it's certainly advanced significantly since EURO; which itself was a great game lost to many no doubt. Captain Your Country was the best mode in a football game EVER! This Be a Pro Seasons thing isn't fit to lace it's boots.

    10 vs 10 is brilliant for me. I am crap 1 vs 1, but I know how to play the real game so the single role positioning aspect of 10 vs 10 I LOVE. I even enjoy playing in defence, but can I just say will you tossers pass the ball instead of running straight into trouble all the time!!!

    Anyway, enough waffle for now. Played the PES demo a few times and not feeling it yet. It's stopped feeling like a weighty football game and now it's more like Road Runner. Meep Meep!!
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/08 @ 09:24

  • bad09 #18 3 years ago

    I always have trouble using Pro buttons as a FIFA man so I feel your pain Les!

  • Bealsy #19 3 years ago

    Both play different games of football. FIFA is the serious game now, and PES, while not arcade to the core, definitely has a quicker, more arcadey approach.

    Reading through that review I was expecting a 9, then that 8 shot out of nowhere. I've played both demo's now (I know, no real comparison as they are demos) but I think I'll get PES this year. Much as FIFA has improved and I think it plays a dam good game of football, when you have your mates over, sinking a few beers, I know which one will provide the most out and out laughs. And that's what a football game needs in my opinion. With PES you can watch it like a real game of footy, laughing at soft goals, watching the worldies screach into the top corner. With FIFA it just seems too much about the midfield hustle and bustle, and that doesn't translate to good watching.

    /gets coat before fifa fanboys dive in

  • bad09 #20 3 years ago

    OK let's stop this now, yes many of us thought it would get 9 from our play experience, but let's not go down the review score route again (/ flashbacks of MGS4 ). It's a good review and 8 is a good score - FIFA is good end of. Now run, buy, play.

  • t8yman #21 3 years ago

    Oh well, I bought it - more on the comments posted backing up the review (and more)

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #22 3 years ago

    Hi t8yman:

    "Tearing you say Tom - is it bad?"

    I had done most of the review on the PS3 version, which runs very well, but got a 360 copy in the post yesterday, so I threw it on for a few games (and did other Special Reviewer Things to compare the two, obviously), and it was noticeable a couple of times in each half of a five-minute games. I wouldn't say it was off-putting, but I have a relatively high tolerance for tearing so your mileage may vary. I expect the demo will be a good decider for those concerned about it.

    oliem2000:

    "Fifa 08 got an 8/10 so does that mean 09 isn't much of an improvement?"

    That's a good question: Does the same score for a series update two years in a row mean it has or hasn't improved? What I usually say to people is that it's improved sufficiently to sustain a high mark. Had it remained largely unchanged, it would have slipped a bit. I would certainly pay for it even if I'd bought FIFA 08 (which I did, come to think of it).

    absinthe:

    "No mention of the massive improvements to the physical play for instance."

    To be fair, I did say the emphasis is on physical battles. It's true all over the pitch. In terms of the score though, that felt slightly divisive - it's the sort of football that may not be to everyone's taste. Agree with most of your points though - terrific game - and in terms of the continuity with our FIFA 08/Euro reviews, Kristan and I felt much the same about 08 but I probably wouldn't have said Euro was close to a 9. I think this and that are pretty strong 8/10s.

  • Steroyd #23 3 years ago

    Is it possible to configure the controls just like PES (or have they done that in this iteration)? I tried out last year's demo but the controls were so completely counterintuitive that I just couldn't be bothered to invest any more time in the game. So I'm still playing PES 4 and loving it.

    Yes you can but it doesn't help, you're better off just adapting to Fifa's default controls.

    While Fifa's improved there is something about the game, that doesn't give me the impression that i'll be playing on it the whole year long, a couple of months and i'll get bored and trade it in without a second though, who knows online might change that, but i've been capable of playing Pro Evo offline for the full 12 months since PES4.

    While the animation looks fly and realistic, sometimes that can be detrimental to how the game plays which is what I feel at times, there are also little niggles like having a power bar for normal passes that creates a lag that ruins the crisp passing game I like in Pro Evo also, I can see why Eurogamer would slap an 8 on the game, the core gameplay still needs improvement in a few areas to get at where Pro Evo was.

  • Placebo #24 3 years ago

    Mugwum Can I ask please why you went into no depth at all about manager mode? You said it had returned in "expanded form" which isn't true.

    There are no new additions to manager mode since Fifa08 and there's actually a couple of things removed (as I mentioned previously), plus the fact there's again some pretty significant omissions such as no night matches in manager mode, no seasonal weather variations in manager mode, how come they don't rate a mention at all please?

    Thanks.

  • Darren #25 3 years ago

    So am I right in saying that FIFA 09 on the 360 has screen tearing but the PS3 doesn't?!?

    Why? :o

    One of the reasons I got rid of PES 2008 on the PS3 for the 360 version last year was because of the tearing (and slowdown) and now EA has decided to add it to FIFA? Good grief! I must say that I'm disappointed and may even trade in the 360 version for the PS3 one if that doesn't have tearing. I can put up with any graphical glitches but tearing annoys me. :(

  • HandOfBeadle #26 3 years ago

    Steroyd

    The power bar on the passing is actually one of the best parts about the game. Personally I've found from the demo that passing is extremely responsive and that the power bar only comes into play when picking a pass in space. I've been able to get some simply fantastic one-touch play going, and the power bar has made through balls in FIFA a real advantage over PES - Pirlo has hit some absolutely stunning 40 yard balls both along the ground and just above head height for me.

    I have to say online seems to be woefully overlooked, presumably because it isn't really in place yet. Surely, SURELY both PES and FIFA should have their online modes reviewed in isolation from offline once both are up and running? Online was completely broken on PES 2008 (and most would argue that the offline was just as dire) and is pretty much the tipping point for all the PES fence sitters, while FIFA 09 has included some quite revolutionary ideas this year - clubs as clans, 10 vs 10, massively multiplayer leagues.. Surely this is worth more than one or two very short paragraphs?!?

  • Bealsy #27 3 years ago

    @ Darren - no screen tear on the PS3 version as its covered in vaseline

  • JYM60 #28 3 years ago

    I got the game yesterday and played it all day. Game deserves more than an 8 imo. 8 is the score PES 2008 got last year FFS. I've never trusted EGs opinion on footy games anyway.

  • Vanmunt #29 3 years ago

    Bassically Pro Evo is going to get an 8 and then its up to you.... First FIFA game I have bought since the PS1, PES fan from then, and I don't regret it one bit. (especially as I can even play as the Mighty Ipswich Town and not bloody London Whites, or Man Blue!!!)

  • sifujames #30 3 years ago

    Looks good, actually might be enough to get me back into the world of console footy, though the mention of holding down a shoulder button while using the right stick fills me with dread... I just can't get my head (and fingers) around the controls in FIFA & PES anymore. I can do a million things at once on the controller when playing FPS games, but with footy it just doesn't happen for me.

    For all you guys who've played this already - can you have a fun experience playing this without having to get to grips with every single little nuance of the controls?

  • phoopipe #31 3 years ago

    @ sifujames

    Certainly,i barely used the tricks in 08 and in my brief play yesterday on 09...you could easily hold your own without heel flicks and 360 zidane roulettes.

    Bread and butter football is as much as you need.

    Think Hull vs Arsenal

  • Placebo #32 3 years ago

    Same here, I almost never use the tricks, can never remember the combinations! What I like to do to make space is use the shot feint, good way to draw a foul as well, it's simply charge up shoot then hold down short pass (whilst still holding shoot) and pull a direction to fake towards.

    Because of the responsiveness in 09 you can actually beat defenders with a turn of pace and change of direction (hold down the skill button for extra close control).

  • Steroyd #33 3 years ago

    HandOfBeadle: The power bar on the passing is actually one of the best parts about the game. Personally I've found from the demo that passing is extremely responsive and that the power bar only comes into play when picking a pass in space. I've been able to get some simply fantastic one-touch play going, and the power bar has made through balls in FIFA a real advantage over PES - Pirlo has hit some absolutely stunning 40 yard balls both along the ground and just above head height for me.

    But the X passing power bar adds nothing, it's no different than PES's press X for short pass hold X for a longer pass, and PES 09 has modified the manual pass so you only have to push the right analogue stick in the direction you want rather than direction + clicking R3 down.

  • JaZzBrE #34 3 years ago

    Well, I think that the game is awesome to say the least. Sure it has some bugs still but not as nasty as last year's "can't change player when the ball was in the air" thing. That was perhaps the only one that really annoyed me.

    I played single player all yesterday afternoon and after a couple losses I finally realized that I have to play real football to get a way with it. Not so different (compared to 08) in the attacking part but in the defending part. The opponent strikers always stick to your CBs and when they break away they break away fast. I was constantly chasing the strikers down the pitch and got a LOT of red cards. So to be good in this game (against the AI at least) you have to defend good. I learned to use the pace control / jostle button very quickly and start winning matches with goals from all sides and for once defending actually started to fell awsome as well. Counter attacks, slow build-ups, even crosses, I scored from lots of different positions. I played on world class at first than switched to professional, after around 20 matches I will now switch back to world class because it became to easy for me.

    And I think that if Tom would play the game for a few more days the score would be higher, because it's hard to "get it" in a few days.

  • Eighthours #35 3 years ago

    Tom, were you reviewing this from the 95% complete review code or the full retail version? I ask because I haven't seen this through ball bug - is it a PS3 exclusive or something that got ironed out in the final version?

    By the way, from the PES demo Konami's game is nowhere near as good as this. 10 vs 10 is utterly hilarious mayhem.
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/08 @ 09:24

  • creepylizard #36 3 years ago

    I'd rather be stuck in a cabin bed-ridden with that woman out of Misery than play this

  • Darren #37 3 years ago

    Well you go ahead and do that if that's your thing; we'll play the game, thanks! ;)

  • Placebo #38 3 years ago

    So don't play it then, troll.

  • andywilkie35 #39 3 years ago

    played the PES demo last night and it convinced me to stick with it, even though I was impressed by the FIFA demo.

  • SteveB #40 3 years ago

    I didn't notice any tearing in the 360 demo. Anyone with the retail copy care to comment ?

  • phoopipe #41 3 years ago

    Never noticed tearing but only played six games in two different stadiums (360)

  • JaZzBrE #42 3 years ago

    I have the retail version and I haven't seen any tearing.
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/08 @ 09:42

  • kincaide #43 3 years ago

    "People's Hero Peter Crouch" - he certainly was last night. Play up Crouchie, Crouchie play up

  • septimus #44 3 years ago

    Definite purchase today, especially as you can find it for £30-35 quid everywhere (think some super markets it's £30).

    PS3 version me thinks. Didn't like using the 360 pad with this game for some reason, felt clunky. Hopefully NBA Live will be at least as good as this. The demo was pretty enjoyable.

  • The-Bodybuilder #45 3 years ago

    "but it's odd to see the likes of Torres coming up so short."

    Not suprising really, he isn't what you call on the physical side. Well that's what you get when you constantly use liverpool (obvious with kuyt & torres references), a team notorious for it's lack of width and wing play.
    Maybe you should try using the likes of drogba and adebayor for wing play.

    Will there be a seperate review for the online 10 vs 10 be a pro mode?

  • anamenos #46 3 years ago

    but because is not PES it gets 8 instead of 9...

    shame on you EG...

  • nickthegun #47 3 years ago

    Can someone please explain to me what the fuck 'Lets Fifa09' means?

  • chrisjm #48 3 years ago

    eurogamer home page has never looked so ugly

  • burns #49 3 years ago

    Surprised this didn't get a 9, it's such an improvement on last years attempt.

  • Eighthours #50 3 years ago

    No tearing in my version at all. But it seems that the tearing on 360 games can often vary based on the TV display setting, the TV itself, or the 360 model that's being used. I've got friends who insist that Force Unleashed was barely tearing at all on their telly, but on mine it was tear-city.

  • Steroyd #51 3 years ago

    OI! >:( Liverpool has width now thanks to Riera, but Benitez being insistant on using Kuyt on the right is crippling our attack use Babel ffs.

  • Steroyd #52 3 years ago

    Fifa 08 and Fifa 09 did NOT launch on the exact same day ffs.

  • The-Bodybuilder #53 3 years ago

    @ steroyd
    Even babel isn't a winger.

    I just found his criticism of no wing play faulty, considering he (although not certain, he does give hints) uses liverpool as a reference.

    As great as torrres is, when was the last time he scored a header?

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #54 3 years ago

    "Tom, were you reviewing this from the 95% complete review code or the full retail version? I ask because I haven't seen this through ball bug - is it a PS3 exclusive or something that got ironed out in the final version?"

    Retail PS3 for the most part, which had the spinny around bug. I haven't seen it in the 360 build (also retail) yet, but can check later.

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #55 3 years ago

    "but because is not PES it gets 8 instead of 9...
    shame on you EG... "

    This is absolute toss, incidentally. I haven't written about either game in a couple of years and probably have a higher opinion of FIFA at this point.

  • The-Bodybuilder #56 3 years ago

    So did you use liverpool a lot then, mugwum?

  • AusFreelancer #57 3 years ago

    I honestly can't tell where that vasaline theory came from on the PS3 version....sharp as a pin on my set-up. I thinks EG needs to break-out the windex on their ps3 tvs.

  • Eighthours #58 3 years ago

    I like the implementation of the offside rule. In one Be A Pro match, I was standing well offside when one of my teammates scored, but the goal was allowed to stand because I wasn't interfering with play.

  • JYM60 #59 3 years ago

    I've not noticed this 'bug' in the PS3 version, and I've played over 20 games.

  • JYM60 #60 3 years ago

    "Can someone please explain to me what the fuck 'Lets Fifa09' means?"

    OK.

    If you explain what "EA SPORTS It's in the Game!" means.

  • McFly55 #61 3 years ago

    After playing the PES demo extensively last night im gonna stick with it this year-but my mates are getting FIFA today so ill be playing plenty of that too!

  • Emth #62 3 years ago

    This game is fab but damn it's hard. While i've had some 4-0 and 3-1 wins, I got beaten 5-0 by Bayern (as Juve) on world class, and 4-0 by Chelsea and 5-2 by Liverpool on professional. Defending well is really a big deal now and you get super punished for playing too offensively.

  • HandOfBeadle #63 3 years ago

    Steroyd

    I assume you're using Auto passing mode. If you use Semi passing mode the power bar becomes more prevalent in dictating the level of power in your pass. I also find that you can to some extent indicate whether you want to pass to the the guy right in front of you, the man in the middle of the pitch or the man right at the opposite end, though it's not always obvious. The biggest strength of the bar admittedly is in through balls, but with practice you find there is a bit of a difference in normal passing to the PES (and FIFA 08) alternative.

    I appreciate that PES has reverted back to not having to click the right stick in for a manual pass, but it's hardly as if that's an ideal solution is it? At least when you used R3 you could aim the stick and then release the ball - now you have to get the passing direction spot on in the exact number of milliseconds required when your thumb has spent most of the game nowhere near the right stick. It's doable, but it's not easy. Similarly, FIFA's manual passing is instead of, rather than alongside, auto-aimed passing, though thankfully the through ball is a lot more compliant in terms of going in the direction you'd intended rather than that which the computer enforces.
    The best solution would be if you could play a manual pass with the same level of control over when to release the ball as a normal pass - for FIFA I think all manual passing/shooting/crossing should have been available by holding L2/LT to activate manual mode in the exact same way you press shift for upper case letters.

    Back on-topic, I genuinely don't notice any detriment to the passing play. True it's less twitch-sensitive than PES but then PES has become far too pinball-esque with its passing compared to its own glory days. An intricate passing move in PES simply doesn't feel like football; it's far too robotic and sterile. FIFA 09 is far more organic in feel for possession play in place of PES 2009's stiff animations, dull AI runs and perfect straight line passing/running. In FIFA 09 I've had a huge number of passing triangles going in a 5 yard-square area without losing anything to the power bar and Pirlo has been immense in unleashing the killer ball at times.

    I will probably buy both, but I cancelled my PES order on the strength of a few hours with the demo. I'll get it when someone doesn't want it anymore and goes on eBay/Play.com.

  • Yossarian #64 3 years ago

    "If you explain what "EA SPORTS It's in the Game!" means."

    It's a puncyh shortened version of their original slogan, which was "If it's in the game, it's in the game." [i.e. if it is a facet or factor in the sport we are emulating with our vidoegame, then it will be in the videogame; our games are realistic and true to life]

  • bad09 #65 3 years ago

    "EA SPORTS It's in the Game!"

    My heart lifts everytime I hear it. Loving the return to form apart from FN3 I haven't spent on EA sports games for a few years now.

    / hugs Tiger, drools at FIFA, longs for FN4, contemplates NBA - not madden tho, egg chasing for girls!

  • Physically_Insane #66 3 years ago

    Totally agree with the score. I think a lot of you were exaggerating how good it was in the FIFA thread. Might buy it when it falls in price.

  • Eighthours #67 3 years ago

    My bugbear is very minor: I wish you could skip through the splash screens. There are far, far too many of them. A ridiculous amount, in fact.

  • LeD #68 3 years ago

    re: tearing on the 360 version

    Haven't seen any during my extended play yesterday.

  • sifujames #69 3 years ago

    @ Eighthours

    Splash screens are the bane of my life too. What ever happened to the good old days when all you got was the publisher's logo and then went straight to the title screen?

  • Eighthours #70 3 years ago

    Splash screens are the bane of my life too. What ever happened to the good old days when all you got was the publisher's logo and then went straight to the title screen?

    Another reason (if it was needed) to love Braid.

    The game could be loading behind the scenes, of course, but I fear it isn't.

  • gaselite #71 3 years ago

    I think I've experienced the bug that Tom is describing, both in defence and offence, where the player doesn't go to the ball and just sort of circles around it or tries to shield it without attacking it. Frustrating but not a gamebreaker by any means.

    The most frustrating aspect of the game in my experience so far is the reluctance of the referees to play advantage in so many situations where advantage would make sense (and probably would've been given in 08). I think it's the result of the overall increased physicality of the game, but it's a bit annoying.

    Had an awesome experience playing my first be a pro game online earlier. Only 2 v 1, the dude on my team wouldn't pass it to me at all in the first half (I was controlling the striker, he had the rest of the team), at the start of the 2nd half we were down 2-0, at kick off I took the ball from the centre circle, went on a solo run and scored. It was brilliant. In the end we won 4-3 and I had 2 goals and 2 assists. Absolutely brilliant.

    Something else I love about the game is the way heading has changed. It requires timing and an element of positioning instead of just pressing a button and waiting for an animation to kick in, or your player will just leap hopelessly into the air. Takes a bit of getting used to a first but you soon get the hang of it and it makes successful headers feel that much more rewarding.

  • JaysonG #72 3 years ago

    PES 2009 won't be good enough to get a 9/10 so giving Fifa 09 a 9/10 would be saying it's the better game. Thats a very controversial thing to do.

    Safe 8's all round methinks and to be fair to Tom neither game is the Pro Evo 4 or 5 of today really.

  • Moonprince #73 3 years ago

    Tearing on my 360 version. Sucks but oh well...

  • Retroid #74 3 years ago

    /Looks at picture on front page

    Is this the new Shrek game?
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/08 @ 11:32

  • JaysonG #75 3 years ago

    Then again he could give PES 2009 a 7 if it is poor and really throw the cat among the pigeons.

  • miiiguel #76 3 years ago

    Tearing: I obviously don't understand the "tearing" in technical terms, and though I thought those reports I read here in EG were somewhat biased, as I can't, almost never, notice them in my house. in FIFA none, zero. But, yesterday at a friends I clearly nioticed. Can the TV by itself, have some effect on the output (tear-wise) ?

  • bad09 #77 3 years ago

    "Is this the new Shrek game?"

    LOL, Shrek is better looking! Mind you I guess Ronaldo does look like a donkey....

  • JYM60 #78 3 years ago

    Oh look P_I turned up to laugh because PES 2009 will probably get the same score. The score matters nowt. Actually have EG ever reviewed a football game, giving it a score other than an 8.

  • JaysonG #79 3 years ago

    Pro evo 4 and 5 got 9's loads of Fifa's have scored lower than 8.

    As I said before no football game has been completely devoid of issues hence no 10's and as good as Fifa is is it as good as PES4 or 5?

    Doubt it.

  • sonmi451 #80 3 years ago

    played both demos and impressed with both, but PES wins it purely on gameplay. It feels far more responsive, and you feel like you really create a goal rather than there being a big element of luck helping you.
    Difficult decision though, if the Fifa demo was longer it might win me over, as I'm an old PES hack so know how the game works.

    tricky.....

  • JYM60 #81 3 years ago

    "but PES wins it purely on gameplay. It feels far more responsive, and you feel like you really create a goal rather than there being a big element of luck helping you."

    So wrong it's untue.

  • Darren #82 3 years ago

    Well I've decided to pick up the PS3 version of FIFA 09 from Tesco at lunchtime... I'll trade in the 360 version at GAME next week after I've checked it out tonight. I'd rather have vaseline smeared visuals then tearing, thank you very much!

  • Physically_Insane #83 3 years ago

    @JYM60

    I could post about how you're almost crying about your fanboy game only getting an 8/10 when you probably think it should of got a 10. But I chose to say that I agreed with the score. And guess what, I also said that I might actually buy the game! Calm down yeah.

  • Physically_Insane #84 3 years ago

    FIFA fanboys are the worst. PES fanboys can admit that both games are good but they prefer the gameplay of PES. But when a FIFA fanboy reads the post they'll rip into him for not liking FIFA. FIFA fanboys can't say one good thing about PES.

  • Eighthours #85 3 years ago

    FIFA fanboys are the worst. PES fanboys can admit that both games are good but they prefer the gameplay of PES. But when a FIFA fanboy reads the post they'll rip into him for not liking FIFA. FIFA fanboys can't say one good thing about PES.

    In my experience, most articulate FIFA fanboys used to be PES fanboys. Which says something, does it not?

  • ZuluHero #86 3 years ago

    8/10 is more than enough for yet another iteration of the football genre... regardless of who made it.

  • miiiguel #87 3 years ago

    completly off-topic: I heart Arsenal.

  • Bennicus #88 3 years ago

    I didnt know mcdonalds served pints at 2am

  • Bosh_Factory #89 3 years ago

    Word on the street is that the PC version doesn't have the 10 vs 10 online mode. I'd find this surprising as IMO it's the PC, and not the consoles, that tend to have the mightiest online setups (eg, Battlefield's 64-player servers, also an EA franchise). Maybe it has something to do with Xbox Live et al having dedicated central servers or something.

    Still, PES won't have 10 vs 10 on any version so this isn't really a deal breaker for me.

  • SteveB #90 3 years ago

    FIFA 2009. 8/10.

    http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=65134

    http://worldofstuart.excellentcontent.com/swiz2/swiz2.h tm

    Sorry, I couldn't resist.

  • secombe #91 3 years ago

    I wish someone like Nintendo would make a serious football game so we could say goodbye to these average yearly updates from EA and Konami, both games have their faults which makes me not want to buy either of them. They are just not up to the job of giving us a AAA football game.

    How about PES 2008 on the Wii? I'm still playing it, I would find it very very difficult to go back to a 'normal' football game now. Sure it's not perfect, but for a first attempt it's bloody good, if they iron out the minor niggles (which they've already mentioned as 'being worked on' for the next version), it will be a winner.

  • mikll #92 3 years ago

    Dear EG,

    Surely this game deserves a 9/10? last years got 8/10 but this years is way improved!

    Got to say EG, your scores have been a bit odd lately.

    Played the pro demo last night and thought it was alot better thatn last time round but still not right. This is coming from a pro devotee..i have now switched to Fifa and this year will be another fifa year for me!

  • MikkyX #93 3 years ago

    You know what I miss? The indoor 5 a side mode that disappeared sometime around World Cup '98.

    How are people getting on with 10 vs. 10? Any lag problems to speak of? Is it just 20 people chasing the ball around? :D

    Got it on my desk...... roll on 3:30 so I can go home and play it!

  • Zander #94 3 years ago

    I played both demos back to back last night.

    Fifa was the only one that felt changed (apart from PES feeling a little less clunky on the PS3) from the last time round. EA have definitely been the ones pushing forward (well they have been number 2/ underdog for a while now) in terms of searching for improvements.

    We can't really have a go at PES until it has been properly released and reviewed but if EG praise it for staying close to its original formula, whilst holding it against fifa 09 for only marginally improving over 08 then I won't be happy (but i'll survive).

    I am a long time PES fan myself but i am a little disappointed that Konami haven't made many changes, to freshen it up (something Fifa were always accused of not doing) :-( so i'll be going for fifa this time round.

    Who knows maybe Konami will listen to us PES fans moaning and actually do something about it!

  • sifujames #95 3 years ago

    @KingsXKing

    360s for £100... I'm guessing that's the basic pack yeah? Hmmm, may have to pay a visit to Sainsbury's on my way home...

  • Apologie #96 3 years ago

    i aint gonna buy another PES for a long time after the last instalment... right now, FIFA is by far the best footbal game, no doubt.

  • YoshiIsland #97 3 years ago

    I just bought FIFA09 (360 version) on the strength of the demo. Played both demos (FIFA and PES) and PES just feels like more of the same, with slighly updated graphics. I have not played a FIFA game since the days of the Megadrive and am really looking forward to this. Got it from Gamestation so can take it back to trade for PES if I am disappointed but something tells me that I wont be....

  • dsmx #98 3 years ago

    I'd probably get fifa this year but I'd miss taking that unkown 17 year old and improving him to being a god among ordinary footballers. Master league still kicks ass.

  • Fab4 #99 3 years ago

    The 360 for 100 quid is the Arcade version.

  • Quint2020 #100 3 years ago

    Ugly bugger isn't he Mr. Rooney?

  • dom6918 #101 3 years ago

    Guys 360 or Ps3 on a 1080p tele?

  • miiiguel #102 3 years ago

    My boss just bought an Arcade and FIFA, at lunch - he called it "an expensive desert". 189 Euro in Lisbon.

  • sifujames #103 3 years ago

    @Fab4

    Thought so, but still quite tempting. I can buy a 3120gb HD for £80 from Play.com, and as I don't care about the wireless controller or the headset, then it's a pretty sweet deal (IMO anyway). That trip to Sainsbury's is looking more likely by the minute...

  • welshben23 #104 3 years ago

    I'm sorry but this is one of the worst reviews I've ever read. It's so gushing and full of praise then only gives the game 8. The way it was written it looked to me that it was going to be a 10!! Anyway, I'm loving this game and it's definitely a 9.

  • BTBAM #105 3 years ago

    I've spent the last six hours on it as I'm ill and idle and quitting smoking, gonna take it online later and can't wait.

  • stevencole7 #106 3 years ago

    PES2009 players look much better...
    Check this link out!

    [link url=http://www.pcaction.de/?menu=browser&artic le_id=662144&image_id=912948
    ]http://ww w.pcaction.de/?menu=browser&art...[/link]

  • fifalife.com #107 3 years ago

    Yes,this time FIFA 09 is much more better than before.

  • kungphu #108 3 years ago

    I got this yesterday its the first Fifa I have bought since 2003 and I am very impressed, the gameplay is great, the animations and ball physics are good as is the collision detection. I have had every Pro evo since ISS pro evolution 2 on the ps1, I was really dissapointed with the jerk fest that was pes on ps3 last year and the poor goalies (the fifa goalies are as athletic as a gymnast), the commentating on fifa is just on another planet in comparison.

    I played the pes 2009 demo on ps3 last night and its definatley steps in the right direction, I think the players actually look more convincing on pes myself, but the demo didnt give me the impression it was overhauled in anyway, it had a nice slower pace similar to pes 5, the grpahics seemed to have a lot of jaggies but its only a demo.

    Overall though as I have not bought a Fifa in a while it made more of an impression on me, I would give it a 8 as well (9 if the online is good not tried it yet)

  • superdelphinus #109 3 years ago

    reads like a 9/10

  • Eighthours #110 3 years ago

    PES2009 players look much better...
    Check this link out!

    Which formats are those shots taken from, because I can assure you that based on the demo of PES the players aren't better looking at all.

  • itsfuzzy #111 3 years ago

    I am a Pro Evo fanboy and even i have to admit that the Fifa 09 demo pisses all over the PES 09 demo. Gutted with how bad the PEs demo is. So im finally going to give EA my money that Konami have been getting every October for the past 10 years or so. Konami should be ashamed of themselves for the lazy lazy updates each year. Pathetic

  • stevencole7 #112 3 years ago

    @Eighthours

    PES2009 & FIFA09 mucker!
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/08 @ 18:17

  • Steroyd #113 3 years ago

    I assume you're using Auto passing mode. If you use Semi passing mode the power bar becomes more prevalent in dictating the level of power in your pass.

    I've used every settings, every mode of everything, I even changed the controls to PES type controls to see if I can adapt to the Fifa demo quicker I played the damn game longer than I've probably played full retail games. :o, the only thing I haven't changed is the difficulty which is set at max.

    Lets forget through balls, I'm talking about the pass you use 95% of the time pressing X or A or whatever the Xbox 360 equivalent is, and right now I'm not seeing the difference between having a bar there and not, looks like we'll have to agree to disagree here.

  • Steroyd #114 3 years ago

    I am a long time PES fan myself but i am a little disappointed that Konami haven't made many changes, to freshen it up (something Fifa were always accused of not doing)

    No Fifa always had a new gimmick year on year, the ball never had it's own physics and you couldn't move the players for poop (okay I've probably made the last part up afterall Fifa 05 was the last Fifa game I bought, it was only until they moved to PS3/Xbox 360 that they gave the ball it's own physics.

  • dynarama #115 3 years ago

    10 v 10 is flippin' tremendous.

    I've never had so much fun playing as a left back - Ronaldo was in my pocket all game as Man City crushed Man Utd just now.

    Awesome game.
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/08 @ 20:19

  • Ves #116 3 years ago

    Have to agree with the score it got. It's a nice edition but still misses a few minor things.

  • BTBAM #117 3 years ago

    I found the 10v10 to be shite and annoying. Fed up of always playing as a cunting right back, too. I went on a run and scored and it was great, but no one cared. Pricks. And the thick twats don't understand offside.

  • smelly #118 3 years ago

    I think i'll wait until next year.. or maybe the year after that.

  • smelly #119 3 years ago

    >going for £100 you can get three for the price of a Sony LOL

    The rate they break down at - You just might need to do that. :-)

  • CristiMAN #120 3 years ago

    So you gave PES2008 8/10 last year... meaning you Konami and PES really have some kind of influence in videogames sites... sahme on you!!!! What's next? 9/10 to PES2009? From the demo I can only say it's as bad as last year's terribles PES...

  • Bosh_Factory #121 3 years ago

    It seems that the PC version of FIFA 09 is just a port of the PS2 version (ie not the next gen gameplay engine) with smartened up graphics. Here's the debate - [link url=http://forums.electron icarts.co.uk/fifa-09-pc/339391-paul-hossacks-response-ng-deb ate.html
    ]http://fo rums.electronicarts.co.uk/fifa-...[/link]

    I'd be interested to know how much the differences would impact the score. Anyway, leaves the door open for PC PES 2009!

  • Darren #122 3 years ago

    I've played around eight 20 minutes games on FIFA 09 tonight across the excellent Be a Pro: Season (my favourite) and Manager modes and the game is superb. It really does feel so much better to play than previous installments with better animation and improved A.I. I see that EA have also eliminated most of the slowdown that plagued the cinematics and replays in the earlier current gen versions of FIFA too and overall the game feels very slick and polished, the best one so far IMO. There's so much stuff in this game it's daunting really. Graphically the game doesn't look much different from last year but the player models are more human-like and facial likenesses seem better. There's a lot of jaggies though but once you start playing you stop noticing them. I'm really loving it so far. :)

    P.S. I've not seen any tearing in the 360 version so far, only the odd rare framerate stutter... playing at 1360x768 on a 32" Sony LCD HDTV.

  • beastmaster #123 3 years ago

    Been playing FIFA whist downloading the PES demo. I just gave that a go. Oh dear. Looks (and plays) primitive in comparison. Perhaps they should do a COD and get 2 sets of developers working on it. If they spend 2 years on it (or not release one for a year) then perhaps it'll be a cracker.

    So (for the moment) FIFA wins out. Unless the PES reviews start coming in and it gets 9 and 10s. But it seems to be that most reviews are reluctant to give PES a bad review (such as a 5 or a 6). All the previews seem to be gearing up towards that kind of score. But they won't give it. Be a case of read the review and ignore the score.

  • MrE26 #124 3 years ago

    First FIFA i've bought since FIFA 96 on the Saturn!
    Been into Pro Evo since the PS1 ISS Pro days & the demo yesterday sealed it. It was just the same old Pro Evo, nothing new or fresh about it.
    Saw this for 35 & picked it up & so far, it's been a breath of fresh air. Fluid, playable football with amazing presentation & options to match.

  • smelly #125 3 years ago

    >Saw this for 35 & picked it up & so far, it's been a breath of fresh air.

    Yeah.. But you have to ask yourself - if you bought LAST YEARS version, would it be a breath of fresh air?

    That's what reviewers have to think about.

    Do they mark this as a brand new game for people who've never owned a fifa game before? Or do they score it for those who bought it last year - i.e. do the improvments REALLY justify the asking price (or would a downloadable patch done the same thing - ala Burnout Paradise!)

  • Fab4 #126 3 years ago

    Played the demo last night, and it still has the 'feature' that sometimes, when you are in control of a defender and tracking back, the active player is switched to another defender who is nowhere near the ball. For that reson alone I wont be getting it.

    I also played the PES demo and they wont be getting my money either, because now they are just taking the piss...real evolution is faster with change.

    So no footy for Fab4 this year.

  • MrE26 #127 3 years ago

    >Yeah.. But you have to ask yourself - if you bought LAST YEARS version, would it be a breath of fresh air?

    Well, probably not, but i was speaking as an old-school PES player coming over to FIFA after years of swearing i never would. I actually totally agree with the review & the score.

  • jimbo118 #128 3 years ago

    Got it for Ps3 yesterday.

    I have noticed the bug the reviewer speaks of with players turning around etc.

    So far I have the same first impressions as with Fifa 2008. It's not as frustraing once you get into midfield as that game was but I still have the same problems as with that game.

    Still feels unresponsiveness and ball phsyics floaty(switching play to either full-back f.e with a long ball). Lofted through balls(using manual btw) seem to hang in the air forever. Also I never feel there is enough power in any form of passing even if I fill the power ball all the way. It's aggravating when you spot a gap for a runner. You really can't 'ping' passes. I don't mean PES pinball style but it would be nice to be able to drill passes into feet.

    I agree with Steroyd about the power bar for short passes. What's the point if you have the through ball option with a power bar. I agree they should have had the PES style 'press X for short pass to nearest player, hold X for short pass to further player.'

    Players still ball watch when passes are played to them allowing defenders to nick infront of them. Is there a way to manually move your player, L2 f.e?

    Corners are also tricky, why the game doesn't include a trianing mode is beyond me?
    Edited by 2 at 04/10/08 @ 12:48

  • paulf #129 3 years ago

    goal celebrations ! loving the robot - first footy game I've bought in this gen of consoles and I'm loving it

  • praetorian #130 3 years ago

    it still has the 'feature' that sometimes, when you are in control of a defender and tracking back, the active player is switched to another defender who is nowhere near the ball.

    Tried setting the player auto switch slider to the left?

    It seems that the PC version of FIFA 09 is just a port of the PS2 version (ie not the next gen gameplay engine) with smartened up graphics. Here's the debate

    Only the first (official) article is worth reading. The rest of the 'debate' is, for the most part, a bunch of 10-year old kids flinging insults at each other.

    I've been playing FIFA 09 for a bit and while I like it in general, fatigue in manager mode seems a little harsh. Playing as a League Two side (I want to work my way up to the Premiership), two games in and my players have red stamina bars before the start of the game and my goalie has a yellow bar. These are supposed to be professional footballers and they can't play more than two games in two weeks at the beginning of a season?

    Edited by 2 at 04/10/08 @ 19:47

  • MrSpew #131 3 years ago

    8/10 my arse, it's slow, slow-down-ridden shit.

  • oreillymj #132 3 years ago

    Played PES for about 5 minutes last night and immediately went out and bought FIFA. In PES, any sliding tackle = a yellow card, even if you get the ball. The crowd animation and sounds in PES are laughable, then annoying. The crowd chants "Liverpool, Liverpool, Liverpool, Liverpool,Liverpool" endlessly in a monotone sort of way that sounds like a bunch of robots.
    FIFA's crowds may stand up and sit down in unison, but they look better and the commentary/chanting is miles ahead of PES.

    Generic crowd noise would have been better. It wouldn't have drawn so much attention to the games failings.

    As for gameplay, I liked FIFA better, but I'm no expert. I've only bought 2 footy games in the last 5 years as they don't seem to improve that much.

  • oreillymj #133 3 years ago

    @dudeguyRox
    wayne rooney looks ugly in the ps3 version of fifa 2009

    You got Shrek on the cover.

    In Ireland, we got Donkey a.k.a. Richard Dunne.

    We also got the Irish Eircom league, oh the excitement.

  • Luckz #134 3 years ago

    @Bosh_Factory "Word on the street is that the PC version doesn't have the 10 vs 10 online mode.", "It seems that the PC version of FIFA 09 is just a port of the PS2 version"

    Yup, and it's been that way for some while - which is why you can't compare PES with the shitty PC/PC2 FIFA.
    I suspect it might have to do with the "EA HD" label that the 360/PS3 versions come with.

    I can't decide if I want to buy this or not :(
    The formation options still seem to suck incredibly hard compared to PES, even if they now have a few awesome FM-style tactics sliders. But seriously, those default formations just hurt.

  • Darren #135 3 years ago

    I tried the PC version of FIFA 09 over the weekend and while it isn't up to the standards of the PS3/360 versions graphically, it is far from being the usual PS2 port. Which is nice to see. I hear it has a much better Manager mode than the current gen versions too.

  • prolific8 #136 3 years ago

    "The crowd chants "Liverpool, Liverpool, Liverpool, Liverpool,Liverpool" endlessly in a monotone sort of way that sounds like a bunch of robots."

    No, that's what they actually do. Only with more hideous accents.

  • Collie #137 3 years ago

    I was impressed when I played the demo of this on my mate's PS3. The series has certainly improved a lot over the years. The last version I played was '06 I think. Possibly '05. Played two matches and never returned to it.

  • superdelphinus #138 3 years ago

    This game is brilliant.
    From what i've played of PES 09 it should get 6/10 if this got 8. What the hell has happened to PES in the last few years? It used to be the only football game worth buying but since the jump to the next gen it seems to have got very arcadey and crap. The sound effects of boot hitting ball - wtf?!

  • tinners #139 3 years ago

    Something tells me EG were late on getting a copy of this or are smoking crack...... 8???? erm....how????

    i mean 10 v 10 is enough to make it a 9 alone, not to mention the fact you can play any variable of that e.g. 2 v 2, 3 v 3 i mean come on thats what we have wanted for ages and its here for everyone to enjoy. played a 2 v 2 last night with my mate and it was football sex!

    Manual passing destroys any other game in terms of the different ways you can ping the ball about, not even a mention of how good it is compared to having it on Auto, which is what your forced to play on pro.

    And the sheer amount of different animations you get, no game seems the same and you need to play quite a while to see this, giving it an 8 makes me think theres no time to review this properly, lets play it safe and give it the same score as last years even tho its better in every single way, as for pro i hope konami realise they cant be lazy anymore and i bet it gets an 8 like FIFA just to keep both camps happy. FIFA is a 9.... plain and simple.

  • mlacking #140 3 years ago

    Ive been a die hard pro evo fan for years and have never been swayed by fifa, but fifa09 in outstanding! far better than previous versions and if your a pro evo fan go and buy fifa and give it a go, it really is fantastic, its that good i wont be buying pes anymore!!! And i mean that !!!

  • dom6918 #141 3 years ago

    Game of the year for me...only game im still playing months after buying it!