FIFA 10 Review

By Tom Bramwell Published 24 September, 2009

It's there.

Version tested: Xbox 360

In 1986, my beloved Liverpool were rampant: already 16-times First Division champions, FA Cup holders, four-time European Cup winners, with Ian Rush leading the line and Kenny Dalglish in a manager's seat embossed by our first ever double the previous season. The subsequent decline throughout the nineties was largely self-inflicted, but it didn't help that a sweary Scotsman had arrived at Old Trafford, and started making good on his promise to "knock Liverpool off their f***ing perch".

Pro Evolution Soccer finds itself in the Liverpool role these days. Demoted to second-best in 2008 after a few years of increasing stagnation, Konami will not enjoy FIFA 10. Conflicting embargoes mean that we can't put the two latest instalments head to head until our PES 2010 review on 15th October, but unless something dramatic has happened since last month, the gap is ever more significant. If last year saw FIFA knocking PES off its perch, this year it's chasing it around the birdcage with a plank of wood and a sledgehammer.

FIFA 10's 360-degree control is the key revelation. FIFA 09 still worked on diagonals - although not in such a pronounced way as PES 2009, to the latter's cost - but you don't realise how restrictive that was until you've played FIFA 10 for a few hours and try to go back. You can angle runs, shots and passes to your exact specifications, and it makes the world of difference to a game that was already a splendid simulation of the real thing. It's tempting to say that if FIFA 10 was simply FIFA 09 with 360 degrees of control, it would be worth that elusive ninth mark out of 10 anyway.

'FIFA 10' Screenshot 1

Snowy pitches are an early office favourite.

But that's not quite true - EA Canada did have some work to do, and while the range of refinements isn't all that sexy, it is meaningful. Ball physics remain excellent, with passes and shots accelerating and slowing with believable zip and inertia, but the ball is no longer so prone to ballooning over the crossbar, and cross-field passes are flatter and faster.

Balancing changes also have widespread repercussions. Pace is no longer as potent as it was in FIFA 09, for example, and this not only affects top-level strategy - you need to move the ball around to tempt players out of position instead, or use a bit of imagination and flair - but it closes off loopholes, so you can't simply rely on lofted through-balls, and winning a corner no longer leaves you so vulnerable to breakaways. At the same time, these changes are deftly managed, so fast-moving players remain influential, just not ludicrously so.

'FIFA 10' Screenshot 2

The refs now dodge the ball when it's fired at them, although not all the time.

Another key factor in settling last year's nearly excellent game down a bit has been programming in suitable margins of error. For example, in FIFA 09 a tall player who won a header in the box generally scored. FIFA 10 understands that he may be under pressure that puts him off scoring, or he may be poorly positioned to score, or he may actually be rubbish at heading despite his height (I'm looking at you, Former People's Hero Peter Crouch).

It's true of shots in general, but the flipside of the issue is that outlandish goals and delightful, long-range, last-minute screamers are also possible very occasionally, if the circumstances are right. Just as Neil Mellor will never score a more perfect goal than his Liverpool winner against Arsenal, which finally broke the back of The Invincibles, you may put down your friends in similar fashion. Knowing it can happen, even if it probably won't, is more than football games have previously been able to give us.

Elsewhere, the physicality that had grown to prominence since FIFA's 07 rebirth has been ratcheted up yet again, and it can be jarring to observe players like Lionel Messi, with his low centre of gravity, shrugged so easily off the ball by a lumbering centre-half. With that said, while a strong player can knock a smaller one almost completely out of contention, going in too hard is penalised by the referee, and the 'drag' on a fast player caused by someone at his side can now be mitigated by angling the analogue stick a few degrees further away - something that would have surrendered any advantage and perhaps even angled the ball into touch 12 months ago.

Despite its love of simulation, FIFA 10 is also sensible about where to draw the line, continuing to ignore handballs, inadvertent back-passes and other things for which the player can't be held responsible. It's even more lenient in some areas, like free-kicks given away by players sliding in after the ball has been played, which happened all the time in FIFA 09. In FIFA 10, the referee may play advantage, but play is rarely stopped completely unless the late tackle has a dramatic impact on the side in possession. There are some nice tweaks to the interface too, like the option to change kicker on dead balls using a drop-down menu. There are also quick free-kicks, although quick throw-ins would be a nice addition for FIFA 11.

Visually, FIFA 10's probably less of an upgrade than we're used to, but with the console lifecycle going deeper than ever, and the game already handsome, it's not too surprising to discover that spare processing cycles have been fed back into things like off-the-ball movement AI. As it stands, the likenesses are generally strong for anybody in the prestige leagues - Spanish, Italian and English - with Rooney particularly convincing, and weaker the further afield you go, albeit with some impressive howlers in the icing (Luka Modric, for example, looks like a Scream mask).

'FIFA 10' Screenshot 3

'Tutorial videos' might sound like a crap addition, but you might be surprised at some of the basic stuff you don't know.

Otherwise, production values are typically high. There are more licences in place than ever (including the elusive Dutch national team one), and the menuing's very slick and a bit more responsive. Commentary seems less repetitive than ever (put that on the back of the box), although allowing Martin Tyler and Andy Gray to improvise their rambling banter has mixed results.

Off the pitch, the one big new idea is Virtual Pro, not to be confused with Be A Pro. You design a player (who can even have your "Game Face", if you've uploaded one to EA's servers), as you would in Be A Pro, but rather than limiting him to one area of the game he's available in any offline mode, and Pro Club and ranked matches online. So, if you fancy blooding him a bit in random Exhibition matches, you can do that, and you can even gain experience in the Arena - the third-person perspective kickabout area that masks FIFA's loading screens. It's a long, hard road from a 65-rated nobody to top of your profession, but if Be A Pro: Seasons proved anything it was that these modes can work, and Virtual Pro is a thoughtful progression.

Should you choose to venture online - whether using a Virtual Pro or not - it's as robust as it was last year, although there's room for improvement. You still can't select your team's line-up and formation before being paired with another player, for example, which usually adds a couple of minutes' set-up to any encounter. With few people playing online before release, it's not possible to gauge how well new features like Virtual Pro integrate into Pro Club mode, sadly, and it's also important to note that EA doesn't have a spotless record fixing exploits, despite FIFA's vast popularity, although with any luck the improved core gameplay will prove less vulnerable to things like last year's Custom Tactics mischief. One good bit of news is that Be A Pro matches can now be set to have five human players rather than 10, so you can use an AI defence.

The third pillar of FIFA, if you like, behind Exhibition and online ranked matches, is Manager Mode, and FIFA 10 had promised to finally show it some love, although EA's ambition to achieve a base level of authenticity will have to wait at least another year. With my first 2009/10 season as Liverpool barely six games old, Manchester United were rooted to the bottom of the Premiership and I'd re-signed Xabi Alonso from Real Madrid in the same window Rafa Benitez sold him (I was perfectly happy with both scenarios, naturally, but it's not very realistic). Exotic, completely ridiculous signings (Fabregas to Fulham!) are less prevalent, and there's better menuing, but there's still a long road ahead for EA's designers.

The Set-Piece Creator, accessible through the back-button menu in Arena, is also a bit of a work-in-progress. You select a section of the pitch near the opposing goal and can record elaborate routines involving multiple runners, but your plans are often upset by the fact you seldom earn a free-kick in the exact position you planned for. Moving even a few feet away can upset timings and positions, and while defensive players adapt, your colleagues generally don't.

'FIFA 10' Screenshot 4

Arena now comes with options for practice matches. Yay bibs!

What's more, AI-controlled teams are still a bit too risk-averse for my liking - you'll never get Rio Ferdinand trying to scoop the ball over a Manchester City striker in the last minute, even though recent form suggests he might try it once in a blue moon. And as with every football game ever, there are a few patterns starting to emerge (the ball hits the post less often, thank goodness, but chip shots which the keeper tips round the post are a prominent fixture), and legacy issues familiar to football game fans still linger, like buffered button-presses punting the ball away just when you really need to keep it.

There's more for EA Canada to do, in other words. There can always be a greater variety of outcomes to any given situation, control can always be tighter and more agile, with greater degrees of flexibility, and the holy grail of a believable football season using real clubs and players, with just the right level of unpredictability, is still a ways off. But, having convincingly overtaken its main rival last year, FIFA 10 nevertheless consolidates its lead with great authority. Last year, I said FIFA feels like football, rewards football, and punishes football for football reasons. The difference between FIFA 09 and FIFA 10 is that the latter knows exactly where the former fell short of that, and makes up the distance in almost every case.

9 / 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 (130) 2 years ago

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

  • superfurryanimal #1 2 years ago

    hello

  • El-Dev #2 2 years ago

    Fifa vs PES
    I'll leave it to Andy Gray to sum up,

    "Game over, sandwiches?"

  • harzo #3 2 years ago

    Nice review, very balanced opinion. Pro Ev has a LOT to live up to this year I just don't think it can match FIFA....

  • Aretak #4 2 years ago

    Hopefully the supermarkets will be doing some good prices again this year on launch day.

  • hiddenranbir #5 2 years ago

    Loved the demo on the 360. The matches between my friend and myself had such a natural fluidity to the game. It was great. The 360 degree movement isn't a glare out feature, but the subtlety of it has really allowed some less rigid play.

    Good to see the final copy is as strong as the demo impressions.

  • beastmaster #6 2 years ago

    Bring on 2nd October. Can't wait for this!

  • Rodchenko #7 2 years ago

    Nice

    Edit:
    the ball hits the post less often, thank goodness,

    Super-nice!

    Edited by 1 at 24/09/09 @ 18:47

  • funkyd #8 2 years ago

    \o/ Can't wait!

  • PeacockDreams #9 2 years ago

    So Fifa is better than Pro for another year, looking forward to this immensley

  • andijames #10 2 years ago

    Nice review. Enjoyed reading that one! FIFA 10 is fantastically fluid and i think i'll be heading over to Tesco to pick this up for £30 on release day!

  • Eraysor #11 2 years ago

    If they made Ultimate Team compatible with it, I'd buy it in an instant.

  • Jay-ITFC #12 2 years ago

    Great review. 9/10 is a great score for a series that has come a long way in 2 or 3 years. I feel the urge to pick this up on release day for the first time in a decade!

  • Galathorn #13 2 years ago

    Can't wait! I hope ultimate team will come back soon...

  • RMXtreme #14 2 years ago

    So Manager Mode is still incredibly easy? :(

  • f13tch #15 2 years ago

    After years of PES I'm finally turned. The 360 movement did it for me.

    Like the sound of My Live Season - just ashame they don't support Championship sides (it's only the the fifth best supported league in europe!! - according to steve claridge anyway.
    Edited by 1 at 24/09/09 @ 18:50

  • Jay-ITFC #16 2 years ago

    Pretty sure Ultimate Team is being released as DLC early 2010, is that right?

  • figgis #17 2 years ago

    Why do all the footballers on the cover look like they are being taken up the arse?

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #18 2 years ago

    I'd like to pay credit to Eurogamer's Dan Pearson, who picked the screenshots to go with my captions, for his selection on the first one. Inspired.

  • Skoptsie #19 2 years ago

    "Tek a boo, son!"

  • Buenos_Estente #20 2 years ago

    Is manager mode more of a long term propositiion this time? the ridiculous results and player improvement was a bit disapointing!

  • dnbuk #21 2 years ago

    No online tournament mode? 2v2 lobby?

  • Eraysor #22 2 years ago

    Do we have to buy Ultimate Team again though?

  • DUFFMAN5 #23 2 years ago

    Sounds great but this is my opt out year. I will be back to get Fifa 11, until then 09 will do.

  • the_dudefather #24 2 years ago

    Wayne Rooney is probably a decent footballer (wouldn't know TBH), but he doesn't suit game covers, they try to make him look 'intense' but he always comes off looking like a disgruntled hobgoblin

  • Cataferal #25 2 years ago

    IRT Duffman5 - I agree. You can't lose playing the waiting game. :p

  • RandyKleen #26 2 years ago

    Sounds like more of the same, which is disappointing as FIFA09 was a bit crap really.

  • rutter #27 2 years ago

    Nice score! - good work FIFA team ;)

  • db3 #28 2 years ago

    Back of the net!

    The demo was stonkingly good, can't wait to pick this up.
    Thank god it's not published by Activision they'd have RRP at £60 ;)

  • BTBAM #29 2 years ago

    When they say you can take your 'virtual pro' online, that isn't in normal ranked matches, is it? I imagine there's a separate online section for the virtual pro mode, as I am not interested in playing against people who are Real Madrid but with a forward at 99 in all online games. Hopefully that isn't the case for the ranked matches, though.

    Anyway, fantastic review. I'll be picking this up on release day, for sure.

  • Hantheman #30 2 years ago

    Goaaaaaaaaaal

  • Situacao #31 2 years ago

    Kinda disappointed with the demo.. It seemed way like a Fifa 09 1.5, which is really bad, as Fifa 09 was not that good imo.. Bring back the Fifa 08 engine, where you can actually defend, and I'll buy it in the release date.
    Edited by 1 at 24/09/09 @ 20:53

  • sargulesh #32 2 years ago

    @rutter

    Are you the Rutter?

  • ozallez #33 2 years ago

    manager mode sounds good, maybe not completely decked out with all the fixes we want. But the screens i've seen look like an improvement in depth. Will miss the stat growth even if it was excessive.
    Been playing manual passing on the demo which feels a lot better, and will stick with that after playing 09 on semi. Shooting tho i'll still stick with semi assisted. Screwed too many easy tap-ins wide on full manual.

  • Gazza_UK #34 2 years ago

    Cant lose the waiting game?..... DEATH?

  • romanista #35 2 years ago

    Finally. Oranje

  • absinthe #36 2 years ago

    FFS Rutter!!!

  • Setaro #37 2 years ago

    Jesus Christ, Wayne Rooney is ugly. He has a face like a shaved baboon with Down's Syndrome. He even beats George Bush in the 'most obviously thick as a post' face contest.

  • layleeloo #38 2 years ago

    As I wrote in a letter to Peter Moore himself, im sorry but it isnt advanced enough to warrant shelling out on Fifa for a 4th consecutive year. Perhaps they should adopt the MMA and fight night strategy and only do one every 2 years. Imagine how much advancement they could make if they worked on each game for two years instead of just makin half assed improvements every 10 months?

  • Darren #39 2 years ago

    Kudos to EA Canada for coming such a long way with the FIFA series this generation since it debuted on the Xbox 360 with the awful 2/10 EG rated FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup. Only four years ago people would have scoffed at the idea of a FIFA game being awarded 9/10 by a reputable review site yet here we are: FIFA is the football game that's good and Pro Evo Soccer is the football game that's, well, not so good these days. Well done EA.

  • antforce #40 2 years ago

    What a disappointing review. Did you sit together with EA to write down the list of "new features" or did you just copy it of off one of their press releases? Not a single mention about any of the actual gameplay that fans are wanting to hear about. Nothing of the bugs pointed out in the demo. Nothing more on the goalies other than "chip shots which the keeper tips round the post" - which was rarely the case in the demo if you so much as cared to play it. And what's with false information about Be a Pro?

    "One good bit of news is that Be A Pro matches can now be set to have five human players rather than 10, so you can use an AI defence."

    Did you even play FIFA 09? Doesn't really sound like it.

    I love Eurogamer for their technological insides that no other site is providing, but I guess those are the only articles worth reading.

  • Lonestar #41 2 years ago

    The main problem with Manager Mode is the opposition attacking AI on the pitch.

    Going by the demo (does it differ in the review / retail version?), it still seems lackluster with the AI obsessed with chipping the goalkeeper to score, there's no finesse or panache when they shoot, particularly when they're one on one with the goalkeeper.

    There also seems to be a complete lack of individuality from high skilled (dribbling) players compared to the PES 2010 demo where that had the likes of Messi doing step overs, feints and 360 roulette to get past my players.

    So while I think while Fifa 2010 will be fantastic to play against friends or online, the single player experience - specifically Manager Mode - will be another hollow experience sadly.

  • hiddenranbir #42 2 years ago

    To be fair, EA have the Fifa Manager game for srs managing stuff, right?

  • immateriaux #43 2 years ago

    Going on that review, for me, this reads like perfection

  • The-Bodybuilder #44 2 years ago

    >Why do all the footballers on the cover look like they are being taken up the arse?"

    Just had another look and nope, ashley cole aint on it.

  • gammonbanter #45 2 years ago

    Gonna wait for the Pro Evo review on the 15th October before shelling out (just to be on the safe side).

  • ruttski #46 2 years ago

    @rutter and @sargulesh
    I'm on here as Ruttski. My brother is about but I think he's rutter78. So I dont know who rutter is...but he's got a great surname :)

  • coderkind #47 2 years ago

    Downloaded both demos and still preferred PES. Hate the way player control feels a bit floaty in FIFA. I will give the demo another chance, but PES's player control has always felt much tighter to me.

  • sargulesh #48 2 years ago

    @ruttski
    Ah, ha! I don't know what to say, really - your game is seriously amazing. Keep up the great work. :D

  • Slo_Mo #49 2 years ago

    Best football game since pro evo 5.

    In my MM mode I have yet to see anything silly, Everton are struggling fourth from bottom but the premiership bottom three are Wolves, Stoke and Pompey 7 games in.
    Edited by 1 at 25/09/09 @ 01:13

  • Pro_Gamer #50 2 years ago

    Geez. Just what the world needs... More sports sequals. To those of you MONKEYS buying the same SHIT every year, I have this to say: W_T_F?? o_0

  • Shikasama #51 2 years ago

    Why don't EA just put all of their games as a subscription service, divided by sport.

    Sign up for EA Football for 40 quid a year and get all of the Fifas delivered to your door. Fifa games are far mor elike expansion packs than new games.

  • UberFrog #52 2 years ago

    Same shit, new shirts :)

  • Vedfolner #53 2 years ago

    PES is still the better game. Try shooting from outside the box in both demos and feel the true weight of the ball in PES. FIFA has just never got the ball physics right.
    Edited by 1 at 25/09/09 @ 07:40

  • Nephirion #54 2 years ago

    Goal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Rodchenko #55 2 years ago

    PES is still the better game. Try shooting from outside the box in both demos and feel the true weight of the ball in PES. FIFA has just never got the ball physics right.

    The true weight of the ball in the PES-demo must be around 6 pounds. That's why none of the keepers can hang on to it. Oh, and when it's a goal-kick it magically loses about 5.99 pounds of weight temporarily. Those are physics Einstein would have had a problem with explaining.

  • rutter #56 2 years ago

    ruttski - I'm just rutter sans 78 on here mate :)

  • bad09 #57 2 years ago

    Another top FIFA then. Might get this, I thought 09 was a massive boost for a series that had gotten stale on current gen. Still got to try the demo, might give it a bash this weekend.

  • andywilkie35 #58 2 years ago

    Sold, glad I've preordered this and not another god awful version of PES. This'll be my first FIFA since FIFA99, and what a return it'll be

  • Camorrista #59 2 years ago

    First time I'm adblocking an EG front page image. Now I'm afraid Rooney will be coming for me while I sleep.

  • Freelancepolice #60 2 years ago

    Tried both demos and PES was complete trousers. There's a good article about the sound on fifa here - http://ww w.telegraph.co.uk/technology/vi...

  • Shadders #61 2 years ago

    Whilst this is undoubtably the better game, I still think PES wins when it comes to recreating the real players, not just likenesses but the whole personality of a player, the way they run, the way they pass and shape their body for a shot. Playing the PES demo I was scoring goals with Torres and Gerrard that looked and felt just like real goals that they've scored, and as someone has already mentioned, the flair shown by the AI often recreates things you might expect to see from real life players, Messi in particular going by the demo.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #62 2 years ago

    Former People's Hero Peter Crouch

    How can you say that after that fabulous backheel goal?

  • Ace_McCloud #63 2 years ago

    Here's one question that I need an answer to - it may be anal but has dramatically affected my enjoyment of FIFA every year:

    When you score a goal, do the crowd roar straight away, does the net ruffle, basically do they get it right? In previous iterations I've found myself wondering whether I'd scored for a fraction of a second, leaving me a bit bemused, rather than jumping up and shouting "IN YOUR FACE" at my mate.

    This is one minor (but important) area PES seemed to do better. Hope they've fixed it.

  • Canyarion #64 2 years ago

    Why are all these voetbal players always shouting on the box art? Won't these games sell without shouting people on the cover?

  • Beek4257 #65 2 years ago

    Only buy a football game once in every two years or so. Looking forward to re-enter with this one.

  • scowat #66 2 years ago

    @lord yep, neither FIFA or PES will ever be as good as SWOS... ahhhhh halcyon days indeed :)

  • andywilkie35 #67 2 years ago

    Just re-read it, literally can't wait.

    What I want to know most of all is when I score a typically robust 30 yard screamer with Wayne, will Andy Gray be shouting "TAKE A BOW SON!" - if he does then this game is officially the most realistic football game of all time.

  • JahB #68 2 years ago

    Why are all these voetbal players always shouting on the box art? Won't these games sell without shouting people on the cover?

    because they like pretending they're manly - right until somebody touches them in the slightest, then they'll roll around on the floor for minutes like they got hit by a freight train.

  • Retroid #69 2 years ago

    Good god Rooney is an UGLY man.

  • The-Bodybuilder #70 2 years ago

    >"Here's one question that I need an answer to - it may be anal..."

    Ashley Cole says "Hello".
    /really needs to stop with the cashley bumhole jokes.

  • sneetch #71 2 years ago

    @Retroid
    He may look like an ogre's scrotum but he gets the job done.

    As for the game, are there any driving or shooting sections or is it all football? I (half genuinely) think that they should do a GTA style "life of a premier league player" version. :)

    I think the 2002 World Cup edition was the last one I played, might be time again.

  • Colliers #72 2 years ago

    Just like last year, I'm very impressed with the gameplay improvements. And the animation system is still one of the best I've seen in any sports game.

    Also, for PES players that hate the arcade passing and easy controls. Try putting game speed on slow and the controls on manual. That turns it into a completely different game. This gives you more freedom and every pass and shot depends on your skill again. Highly recommended.

  • marcgiu #73 2 years ago

    nothing is more frustrating than the PES fellas who can't see the game is being left behind. Played PES since SNES up to 06 on the 360 and thats where it went wrong. FIFA is progressive and is trying new things all the time. I can't see PES ever catching up now with the resources EA have

  • laudy #74 2 years ago

    @ donnie

    I agree +1. Myself and a mate are relentless on master league, plus i like unlocking classic players etc. Here's hoping the full game is better than pes09.

  • thedaveeyres #75 2 years ago

    Eat my goal! The goalie has got football pie all over his shirt.

  • BabyJesus #76 2 years ago

    Can't wait!

    :D

  • Turrican #77 2 years ago

    Having bought the last 4 I'm on the fence about this one, will have to look around for more reviews of the Manager Mode and whether you can play 2 v 2 online from 4 seperate locations.

    The free direction running does sound tempting though...I just wish they would release the game every 2 years.

  • Lionheart #78 2 years ago

    Haha the first comment got OWNED with negitive's... excellent work.

  • ChaK #79 2 years ago

    great EA good job, improvement past 3 years is phenomenal





    NOW DO THE SAME FOR NBA FFS §§!11!!

  • Vedfolner #80 2 years ago

    PES is still the better game. Try shooting from outside the box in both demos and feel the true weight of the ball in PES. FIFA has just never got the ball physics right.

    The true weight of the ball in the PES-demo must be around 6 pounds. That's why none of the keepers can hang on to it. Oh, and when it's a goal-kick it magically loses about 5.99 pounds of weight temporarily. Those are physics Einstein would have had a problem with explaining.

    -> Well, I guess that's better than a ball that weighs 0,01 pounds all the time.

  • jimbo118 #81 2 years ago

    I have the demo and the chip shots seem very prevalent among the A.I.

    But THANKFULLY, the A.I now score from outside the box. Klose scored a 25-yard screamer against me in the demo. I'd still like to see some more individual realism. Mess driblling more, Lampard taking shots from everywhere etc :(
    Edited by 2 at 25/09/09 @ 16:45

  • Nostrus #82 2 years ago

    Anyone else think that picture makes it look like Rooney is an extra from Star Trek.

  • superdelphinus #83 2 years ago

    I've played the demo quite a lot. The gameplay reminds a little bit of late ps1 era pro evo - very flowing gameplay. I can't really notice any obvious effect of having 360 degree movement though - have i got some settings wrong? you notice a bit but most of the time they seem to knock the ball along one of the 8 directions unless you are moving very slowly

  • superdelphinus #84 2 years ago

    i also agree that it doesn't feel a lot different to 09

  • kebab1701 #85 2 years ago

    FIFA > PES once again i think

  • goldgin #86 2 years ago

    What a disappointing review. Did you sit together with EA to write down the list of "new features" or did you just copy it of off one of their press releases? - Couldn't agree more, you need hours and hours of play to review this game, this guy just rushed into it. No respect.. ts ts ts

    The latest Fifa games are quite better than PES but still fail because of:
    - Bad framerate issues... resulting in controller lag. Street Fighter veterans expect 60fps, soccer games should be no different.
    - Single player - On easy you play with your d*ck and score, anything above normal you usually lose on semi-final from Crapville
    - EA's infamous online handicap system (also cleverly used in single player when you are too high in the league) to keep noobs thinking they are good and go buy the game: After an infamous update of Fifa09, veteran players were beaten to death by nOObs using an intricate handicap system. (EA has admitted doing this for their American Football series to help newcomers)

    So, after reminding you of the reasons why you broke that PS3/XBOX360 controller? are you still buying this game?

  • kobashi #87 2 years ago

    this game has been getting sick reviews everywhere. EA have nailed it again!

    Yeah MM needs improving but we know that rutter & co are working on this and have a vision on where the game has to go. MM will get the full works next year guys.

    FIFA 10 is a must buy for me no doubt. Use to be a winning eleven nut but them days are long gone. The direction Seabass is taking that game is not for me. Shame as WE/PES use to be great but the game is still stuck in the PS2 era.

  • dom6918 #88 2 years ago

    "i also agree that it doesn't feel a lot different to 09"

    The poster who said that needs to play the game on manual controls...EA has completely changed the game..its amazing..ive never played a demo more than i have this...its amazing!
    Edited by 1 at 25/09/09 @ 21:17

  • duckncover #89 2 years ago

    @goldgin

    What the hell are you going about?!

    You don't need 60fps to enjoy a game. There are plenty of excellent games running at 30fps, I hope you haven't avoided such gems because of this idiocy?

    Too easy? Play it on a harder difficulty level. If you are getting beaten online by people using easier settings, then practice manual controls more because you will be able to do things that you can't on these easier setting and rip people apart with it.

    Handicap system?! WTF are you going on about? Maybe they did something in Madden, but that doesn't mean it is done here.

    Go back to the PES forums and wait for a review of the game you are probably more suited to playing. A nice simple arcade like experience that require any time, patience or understanding of the beautiful game.

  • harhol #90 2 years ago

    EA doesn't have a spotless record fixing exploits

    That's like saying George W Bush didn't have a spotless record for political speeches. Nobody is worse than EA when it comes to post-release patching. Just look at the ongoing Fight Night stamina debacle for instance, or their history with the Cricket series.

    After playing both demos I'll be buying PES this year as usual. PES2009 was the best in the series so far (for those who think otherwise, trying playing the older games and see how they compare - it's a real eye opener) and PES2010 seems to have made as many improvements as it was possible to make without making anything worse. I like FIFA, but it's still feels wrong in key areas and there's no way I'm buying two football games in one year. You can still tell that FIFA isn't made by football fans... it's telling that the reviewer in love with FIFA 10 is a glory supporter ;)

  • goldgin #91 2 years ago

    @duckncover

    Obviously you haven't:
    - Read my post carefully, you are under the impression that I am a PES fanboy, fps whore, and fifa beginner...
    - got any idea of the difference between 60 and 30fps, (and YES I've played ocarina of time at 30fps, it was great! it would still be better at 60! ask anyone)
    - played any single player on normal difficulty for more than the first 2 matches
    - searched google about controller lag, the online issues veterans have with after the fifa09 update, the bubble effect in defense, too many goals hitting the post/referee or incomprehensible passes/misses when the game just wants you to lose...

    P.S. I am on manual, I'll play you any time. But playing all on manual is not even recommended by veterans, a good config is semi on shooting, semi on long pass, assisted on pass, semi on through ball. (that tip was free m8)

    Peace

  • smelly #92 2 years ago

    "- Bad framerate issues... resulting in controller lag. Street Fighter veterans expect 60fps, soccer games should be no different."

    That's both the funniest and dumbest comment i've read on here in a long time! Well done!

  • dom6918 #93 2 years ago

    Soccer...its football

  • marcgiu #94 2 years ago

    the biggest handicap for this game for some people seems to be the fact its made by EA - they are no where as near as explotive as they used to be. Plenty of bang for your buck these days :)

  • goldgin #95 2 years ago

    dom6918, let's call it PEF then

  • tinners #96 2 years ago

    Good review, about time it got a 9 i thought 09 was good enough for that but this really is a lot better!!!!

    One question EG, 2 v 2, is it sorted now? or do i still have to hope and pray that i manage to get 3 ppl in at the same time and READY up before it becomes 10 v 10? :?

  • tinners #97 2 years ago

    As for the PES debate im struggling to see if your a football fan, what PES does better than FIFA??? back in the golden era of gaming Fifa was like a dirty word you could never band around our gaming office unless you wanted a verbal beating!!

    Konami/Seabass should win an award for keeping the same engine from the PS2 all the way up to next gen consoles, with all this tech, what did they do?.......... Fuck all!!! now under pressure from EA they finally are making an effort, too late tho!

  • Slo_Mo #98 2 years ago

    @harhol

    Ur an ASS

    LOL at the PES trolls. Wierdos

  • PeacockDreams #99 2 years ago

    Why should konami be commended for keeping the same game engine from PS2? That sort of laziness as cost them the number 1 spot in the battle against Fifa, it was this arrogant attitude that pushed the PES fans (myself included) into the arms of Fifa

  • merton81 #100 2 years ago

    completely agree with the review, as i had a go on the game and manager mode in Canada. Dont know why so many PES supporters are on this article and saying PES will easily win the year, as almost every reviewer out there has said FIFA will be the better game this year, and the number of games bought last year and number of awards blows PES away! Just liek to say i think your a tad harsh on manager mode, as i found it much improved in many of the key areas the fan asked for. After playing i was also given a list of things to expect in it:
    • Real seasons (winter, summer etc)
    • Night matches for cups
    • Other team intelligence- league tables real, transfers more real, squad rotation real
    • New growth system and stats
    • You can choose stadium when starting, bernabeu now available
    • Club budget and wage budget separate when signing transfers
    • Board of directors can fire you- can get a new job as well- can raise your budget if you do not get some silverware you get fired if you are inexperienced. This means you cannot start out at a top level club
    • Friendlies available (pre-season) -chosen by assistant manager
    • When buying a player you have to convince the club with money, then player with prospects of Europe and league win/cup.
    • Edit kit numbers
    • Transfer rumours
    • Rival matches are very different
    • Pitches change over the season (bad ones!)
    • Players wear long sleeves and gloves in winter and short sleeves in summer.
    • New commentary (massive)

  • fisherpot #101 2 years ago

    All I can say is that fifa would be no where with out pro as over the last couple of fifa's might get the bigger scores but that would never have happened if it did not start copying the game and tweaking it there way (slowing down play and cross/kick button opposite sides) Like I said fifa might edge it again this year but it would be no where without ISS/ Pro evo! Why go with a copycat when you can have the real deal! Pro all the way! lol
    Edited by 1 at 28/09/09 @ 01:35

  • marcgiu #102 2 years ago

    fisherpot - whether FIFA has copied good ideas from PES or not ,if its a better game NOW why would you still loyal to a series which is getting left behind??
    I appreciate all the PES games before 06 but would not continue to buy an inferior product out of blind loyalty
    Edited by 1 at 28/09/09 @ 12:10

  • blackbriar101 #103 2 years ago

    KUDOS to EA for winning two years of competition but the KING IS BACK,PES FOR INDIVIDUALITY,PES FOR BALL PHYSICS, (FIFA is played on the moon).In Pes the AI is based on reality,Barcelona play like Barcelona,Italy play like Italy,FIFA just doesnt get the depth factor,it should be called Tony Hawk soccer showdown,or some other nonsense.Pes 2008 was terrible,pes 2009 was boring,but im sorry if i offend those who played the pes 2010 demo for 2 mins and switched it off,its better graphically,doesnt have the tricks that Tony Hawk soccer showdown has but its more enjoyable,its more of a challenge,players resemble their real life counter parts,it feels good when i score.Call me a fanboy whatever,FiFA had its chance to bury PES but the shooting is still terrible,i mean whatever about robotic running animations in Pes,if ball physics are crap then for me the game is void.If you play or watch and love football buy PES 2010,if you like soccer and think it should be played in quarters and needs an extra time face off bonus round power play then buy Tony Hawk soccer showdown.(FIFA 10)And don't start with 'i played pes since ISS on the snes and bought FiFA for the first time last year',its time to switch back.

  • Eurolamer #104 2 years ago

    Still looks a bit... funny. Too many players still look like gorillas. Should be a minor point but seriously, why are so many player faces so awful? Can it be that hard to get right? The generic faces (ie for less known players) are straight out of 2003.
    Edited by 1 at 28/09/09 @ 16:53

  • timberwolf #105 2 years ago

    EA are slowly watering down the sport into it's base components. i notice "dirt 2" also got a high score. is it just me or do people want a simulation of the actual sport, not this watered down american crap?
    Edited by 1 at 29/09/09 @ 04:50

  • Slo_Mo #106 2 years ago

    Pathetic PES trolls LOL

  • sargulesh #107 2 years ago

    timberwolf, FIFA is a simulation.

  • andywilkie35 #108 2 years ago

    At the end of the day, I'll go back to PES if PES overtakes FIFA. But this year after playing the demo of PES, I've decided I've had enough of paying for that abortion so this year I'm FIFA all over. The demo of FIFA reminded me of Pro Evo 5, when the series was at its height - i.e. pure football simulation. Can't wait to midnight tonight so I can get my copy

  • TheGoose126 #109 2 years ago

    I have pre ordered pro evo (£26 on the hut with staff discount) but as fifa is £25 and out tomorrow I am in a pickle! I thought the pes demo was better so may stick with that!

  • johnrobbo #110 2 years ago

    @blackbriar101- couldn't put it better myself!!!

  • frazzl #111 2 years ago

    Having downloaded and played both demos I made a pretty easy decision to go with PES this year. And no it has nothing to do with brand name loyalty (that really is only for suckers). I simply prefer PES2010. In my opinion it plays a better game of football than FIFA '10 (which I'll get when it is cheaper for online play).

  • aidey6 #112 2 years ago

    Well as Tesco are selling this at £24.97....

  • PeacockDreams #113 2 years ago

    @blackbriar101

    That is the biggest amount of guff I have ever heard spouted out in one sentence, you cleary have no idea what you are going on about. The last two PES games have been almost offensive, and although from the PES 10 demo it seems to indicate improvements, its still a fair bit behind FIFA 10. And then you make yourself look like a complete shaft, by saying people who like FIFA would prefer the game played in quarters and if you play, love and watch football you would get PES, well guess what, i do play love and watch football and i got FIFA 10, im actually willing to bet, from the crap you have been going on about, that you have hardly a passing interest in football at all, have never played it, apart from getting knocked over in the playground, and the nearest thing to loving football you will get is the warm feeling inside you when you open up and play your copy of PES 10 and dispite knowing deep down you have bought the inferior product, you will still have more fun posting on message boards trying to justify your decision of sticking by PES because you werent brave enough to jump ship and generally being a PES fanboy

  • db3 #114 2 years ago

    Tesco selling at £24.97!!!!
    Wow, I thought I'd just picked it up at a bargain £26.71 from ASDA.

    I'm sending back the copy I purchased online at £34.99. Games should be under £30. Publishers take note that at these supermarket prices people don't feel the need to trade-in to justify the price. If you want to make profit from every game sold then you need to get the prices down so people start collecting.
    Edited by 1 at 02/10/09 @ 09:57

  • dom6918 #115 2 years ago

    yup bought mine from tesco for 24 quid this morning!! (well last night ;) )

    i wonder how much the supermarkets will charge for COD MW2?

  • golden28 #116 2 years ago

    Be sure to wipe your mouth after you get up off your knees Tom.
    What's it like being EA's bitch?

  • golden28 #117 2 years ago

    Media police. Great.

  • golden28 #118 2 years ago

    PES10 'feels' like football again. Back in the day (PES05) It really felt that Konami had shrunk real players and put them into my TV screen. It felt like playing with exact, miniature replicas of the real players. That disappeared a little over the last two years but the PES10 demo, wow, just wow. You really get that feeling that anything can happen.

    Although I fully appreciate what FIFA is trying to do it just doesn't give me that wow factor that PES can. The players all feel a little too similar and don't play like their real life counterparts. The game feels too scripted.

    It's a bloody close one this year but I think PES will nip it for me. Didn't buy any football game last year but looks like PES has drawn me back in.

  • xcelcius #119 2 years ago

    WHAT PES DOES BETTER:

    PES is a proper simulation, as in you press a button and something immediately happens, unlike FIFA, where you press a button and it takes half-a-second for something SCRIPTED to happen. It has a feeling of pre-scripted play, not real-time play. I got FIFA10 thinking all this would be a thing of the past (I've been on PES for the last few years) but the issue is still there.

    I can understand why people love FIFA, it's just so easy to look like you know what you're doing. But you have no REAL control over what's happening. It's a strategy game, not a simulation game. A good comparison would be Shenmue's time-based events where you press A quickly for a scene to happen, or B for a different scene (long winded but I think a few of you will get what I mean)

    Btw, I think PES is completely stagnated, and needs some serious rethinking..but the real-time engine is still there, and still (almost) flawless.

  • Placebo #120 2 years ago

    Bug list JUST for manager mode, 55 items long so far: http://is.gd/3ZZqj needs uber patching, shame the reviewers all seem to not be touching manager mode when they review.

  • otto #121 2 years ago

    @ zxzxzx

    Please note that English is the working language of this site, and while there's nothing stopping you posting in another language we'd prefer it if you'd use English if you want to contribute to the discussion. In particular, it helps the moderators know whether or not you're saying something naughty. ;p

    I don't think any of us read Arabic - do we? I don't.

    edit - oh, and someone else has already deleted. NM.
    Edited by 1 at 06/10/09 @ 11:15

  • goldgin #122 2 years ago

    What I don't understand about these games is why there's no restart option during a game. I am in the middle of losing a game (fifa/pes) and there is no restart option.
    I mean, my aim is to win,lets say, the cup, so I HAVE to win all games and reload anyway if I lose, it would be a waste of time to start over the cup just because of one lost game.
    So the game MAKES you, LEAVES YOU OF NO OTHER OPTION other than to:
    1. Quit the match (loading, please wait)
    2. Say NO to save game and then YES to are you sure. Repeat this 2 - 3 times until you reach the title screen (loading, please wait)
    3. Go through slow moving, unnecessary, unresponsive, painless menus to reach the title screen (loading, please wait)
    4. Load your last save (no comment)

    Now why don't they just replace all that with a restart option? YOU MAKE US RELOAD ANYWAY! JUST ADD IT!

    P.S. ( Bonus Game Enhancement ) You have to repeat these steps around 7 times. 6 of those you will lose the game by a single goal at around the 89th minute. After losing 6 times the game finally LETS you win with a stunning 6-0 or more. (This happens mostly in PES though ...)

    (please don't go "Oh but it's more realistic", if I wanted realistic I'd just put it on World Class mode)

  • curtlikesmeat #123 2 years ago

    In my opinion this really needs a re-review as Tom couldn't have played it for any length of time (or isn't that familiar with football games) otherwise he'd have come across the huge list of bugs which are currently all over the Fifa forums:

    [link url=http://foru ms.electronicarts.co.uk/fifa10-launch-feedback/821145-feedba ck-issues-manager-mode-13.html
    ]http://fo rums.electronicarts.co.uk/fifa1...[/link]

    It's like a beta.

  • Placebo #124 2 years ago

    Exactly, I'd found about 10 of the bugs from the list in my first 2 hours of playing, how long did you try out Manager Mode for Tom?

  • Stupot21 #125 2 years ago

    Pre-apologies for the monstrous post!

    I have now read this review twice, the first time I read the review was before I purchased the game and I felt at that time that the review vindicated the things I had been hearing about this game in the months leading up to its release. For the first time I let a review colour my judgement and decided to make a game purchase based solely on a review. The second read through came just before this comment, to check that I had not misread anything and keep myself sane.

    After the first two hours of playing the game I was convinced that this review was a plant, some paid for piece of tripe that was spewed onto the page after the guilt of being treated like gold by EA Canada had achieved its psychological effect on the reviewer. I decided check out my other usual review sources and this is the strange part, they all seemed to be suffering from the same blindness.

    This comment is not intended to proclaim that this is a bad game; however I do intend to proclaim that it is a mediocre "simulation" of football. Simulation is the important word here; FIFA 10 sets out to be a "game" but comes across completely as a flat, lifeless simulation, akin to flying the real time 2 hours 35 minutes from London to Paris in a private Messina aircraft in the latest incarnation of MS Flight Simulator. There was nothing joyous about scoring a goal in FIFA 10 in the entire 15 hours of playtime I have slogged through trying to get somewhere in the "be a pro" mode, this mode made me feel the real world disappointment of a 18 year old pro struggling to break out of the reserves into the full side, gimped and pegged back by all of the rank rotten AI players playing with me. That would be fine for a simulation where the game is trying its best to take away all of the glamour of the beautiful game and show you what the warts and all reality of playing professional football is actually like. In this mode I was playing as a left winger, not something I wanted to be but I was determined to play through the mode properly so I stuck with it, beating player after player on that left wing was boosting my rating right up but my inch perfect crosses were costing me rating because my awful AI team mates could not get on the end of a cross if their name was Jesus Christ. At first I was of the opinion that it was something I was doing but time after time my AI team mates were in the area jostling for the ball but they never won it, which resulted in a rating penalty for my player.

    Not only this but I have noticed countless bugs many of which have been mentioned in other posts as well as on the official forums. One specific instance, which I have yet to decide if it’s a bug or just the developers oversight, is that the actual offside rule "IRL" states that two players have to play the man being passed to onside, you see IRL the goalkeeper actually is a real player that is actively involved in the game so when you get instances where the opposition puts a cross into your box and your shitty AI goalkeeper comes to claim it and misses and then an opposition player passes to the striker standing on his own in the 6 yard box with only one lone defender standing on the goal line, he is actually offside, just because the guy on the goal line has an outfield strip on does not mean that the striker is onside he needs at least two players beyond him for that.

    I could go on but I believe the "done thing" is to keep these comments short, which clearly I have not.

    This game is clearly not a 9/10 and I specifically have not mentioned PRO EVO because this wasn't about comparison it was about a bad game wrongly reviewed. 7/10 at best.

    I apologise again for the length of this post, I also apologise for the over use of "quotations" and the word "which"

  • blackbriar101 #126 2 years ago

    @PeacockDreams

    Read my post properly before you burst into flames.The majority of people who buy FIFA now instead of PES like to play offline modes such as MM, FIFA's equivalent to Master League which according to FSB has 60 plus bugs and counting,5 of which would ruin the experience.I am a complete Pes fanboy but my words are fact.FIFA 10's fluid animation transition,pick up and play and online deserve 9.5/10.I like EA, I think they now deliver quality games and i believe Activision have taken the shithead mantle.Now for a hardcore offline gamer and taking into consideration FIFA qualitie's the reviews of this game have been rushed.I don't think its funny that a game people have been anticipating so highly is clearly broken and wont be patched fully if at all until after christmas.IF you own an Xbox 360 the game is a 7.5/10,IF you own a PS3 the game gets a 7/10.PS3 visuals are way off,and not because of the 'Moore's ties with MS' conspiracy because like the reviews the game was rushed.Another month would of been sufficient to iron out the bugs,but like Pes 2008 in this day and age its unacceptable.I hope for people who love FIFA its fixed soon.As for PES 2010 watch this space.

  • Ant1975 #127 2 years ago

    @blackbriar101

    Scripted passing eh? tried manual on fifa by any chance? I tried to find this option in the Pes demo but they didnt have one. it was either ping a perfect pass to a player or use the right thumbstick to manually pass which is the strangest implementation ever unless you have three hands.

  • Placebo #128 2 years ago

    Is there any way to contact Tom? I'd like to know why he didn't try manager mode when reviewing the game.

  • blackbriar101 #129 2 years ago

    @Ant1975

    I think you're replying to post #135 dude and it wasn't written by me.

  • Monty9002 #130 2 years ago

    PS3 FIFA 10 is brill.. however? i started of in mm with liverpool and played 2 seasons winning everything and built up my reputation. then at the start of my 3rd season my budgets went crazy!!!! my wage budget went down to somthing like £85k and my transfer budget went to a mind boggling -£2,400 billion overdrawn so i couldnt buy players or upgrade anything!! up till that point i was thinking best fifa game every!!!! so now i have started again from scratch and just hope it dont happen again.
    anyone else had this prob?

    Cheers

  • Gariputo #131 2 years ago

    I bought this game a few days ago and have been playing a ton of it. It is a fun game in general but it is no PES. When I hit pass, PASS THE DAMN BALL! why does it wait two steps sometimes and pass immediately others? The next touch should be a pass every damn time, not the next touch, the second touch or the third touch. The fouls are called entirely at random. I or the CPU can make horrendous tackles and get away with it 50% of the time and yet both get called for clean tackles at least 3 times a game. Here is a tip for unlimited money. Max out your scouts, scout forwards non-stop. Sign them for 3 million and sell them for 6 to 8 million. Should this really be possible in 2010? No doubt it is fun as I am sick of PES 2009 and I need to fill the void until PES 2010 but Fifa makes me want to hurl my controller at my TV more often than any game should.

  • electrolite #132 2 years ago

    Possibly the strangest comments thread ever, full of PES fans hopelessly clinging on to some hope of their game being the 'best'. Frankly, if you were into playing football games rather than some bizarre, misguided allegiance to a computer game, you'd just want to play the better football game. Which this year, FIFA is. And I say that as someone who preferred ISS/Pro Evo to FIFA every single year from 97/98 (N64 versions) for the next 10 years (PS1/PS2 versions) to FIFA. Sad but true.

  • fifaquestions #133 2 years ago

    I agree with the reviewer, great game. BUT fifa11 will be better, just check http://www.fifaquestion s.com to see why!