Game: FIFA '09
Price: $39.95
The ball goes soaring through the air, curving perfectly before blasting right by the goalie. It's almost as if you're watching your favorite team score on TV, yet even better because FIFA'09 from EA Sports puts the player right in the game.
Every detail, from wrinkles in the shirts, hair color, movement, shadows, ball spin, and even the enormous range of phrases the commentators say, is incredible to behold. It is so realistic-looking that at one point, while testing the game out, my father looked at the television and asked, "Who's playing?"
You can tell the creators intended this to be as close to playing an actual game of soccer, as possible, while still sitting in front of the TV. In fact, there is an 11-vs.-11 mode when using Xbox LIVE: 22 online people play in one game at the same time, each assigned to one player playing a position, just like an actual soccer game.
On FIFA'09 lies another incredible tie to the real world. The game features all the teams from almost every professional league, including U.S. national teams and a World team with all of the famous players who have ever played, both present and past. Each team also has the actual roster with each player's skills programmed in. This is all pretty standard for most sport games, but what makes FIFA'09 special is: the rosters for each team can be updated if any trades or roster changes occur in real life.
FIFA'09 features many modes to choose from during normal game play. In the standard exhibition mode, you can have up to four players at once. That's typical, but the other modes are more original.
When playing as a manager, you are in charge of a team for the season and do everything from playing games, fixing rosters, handling player contracts and even team sponsorships. You choose a team or create one from any league and are thrown in with a certain budget to try to build the team up to the best it can be.
In the 'Be a Pro' mode, you become a player in the league. When you are drafted to a team and play well you earn points, which can then be used to build up your player's skills. You can also be named captain of the team, and even pulled onto the national team.
While the game is loading rather than seeing a boring old loading screen you are put in a one-on-one game with the goalkeeper. It's basically like having shooting practice using one of your forwards. When the game is paused, a goal is scored or during halftime, the screen displays all of the games stats including the score, shots taken, saves, penalties and almost every other statistic taken during an actual soccer game. You can also adjust the playing formation and the roster. Making player substitutions can be handy, considering each player has a fatigue meter that goes down the harder they play.
FIFA'09 is a fun and very realistic sports game, and it's all yours for under $40. Somehow they've crammed in over 250 improvements from the last game (FIFA '08). Although FIFA '10 is set to come out in a few months, it is going to be pretty hard to improve on this year's version.
jshomar@syr.edu
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