FIFA 10 Reader Review

It's the final twenty seconds of the match between Man UTD. and Leyton Orient. It's been United all the way but the one-nil score United have could have easily been eight! Some terrible passing thanks largely to the games tendency to pass the ball to the wrong player. One example was Berbatov had the ball, Rooney was clear but for some unknown reason - facing and directing the pass to Rooney instead passed to Gibson. Gibson? Why Gibson? He's the only player with more defenders his way then in the whole of the Portsmouth team when they get relegated!

So for the hundredth time let's compensate for the poor passing this game possess. Okay so it's L-button to change players and Ferdinand is nearest to the counter -attacking Leyton Orient; simple really hit L to change to Ferdinand, tackle, and just keep possession of the ball for the last seventeen seconds of the match. Right, L. No wrong player! L! Wrong man. L-button, L-button, L-button! Now Orient have the ball, and have gone past Ferdinand the last defender; which finally selected after five attempts with the L-button. None of my players can Stop this counter attack and now Leyton have scored. One-one. Darn it." These two teams facing each-other may not be a familiar sight, but the sloppy passing and the poor player change are an all to familiar sight in what would otherwise be an essential football purchase. So much silly things mar this game. Why is the game so slow? We understand it's a DS game but if the DS is anything like the power of the Nintendo 64 then Fifa 2010 should look better and play faster. Why does the lock on well, lock on to the wrong player so consistently? Why is passing the ball to a specific player so difficult that even facing and directing the D-Pad in his direction often doesn't help? Why is free kicks limited to stylus only? It's cool that free kicks can be controlled that way, but to remove face button controls makes the game feel less accurate and comfortable to play; sometimes it's just more natural to use buttons rather than the touch screen. Why are computer controlled team mates generally speaking dumb? Examples running down the wing most of the times no one will try to get into a position in the box for a cross, leaving the winger having to hold up play, search for another pass and use that option.

Having said all that there is still a lot of football modes to be had in this years instalment, even for the DS, even if it isn't as much as any of the three consoles. Team customisation is still there, as is player customisation, transfers, season modes, be a legend mode and just tonnes more.

Fifa 2010 also supports Nintendo Wi-fi, local play and a pretty neat amount of options including off-side, commentary, instant replays etc.

In the end the small niggles this game has is simply too over powering for this game to be enjoyed in long bursts except for the most hardest of football games. The online play is an excellent inclusion in what to us seems like 'a decent game with flaws'.