I bought the PSM3 magazine which has a world-first playtest of the highly anticipated FIFA 09. I was curious to read PSM3 thoughts, using their own words “we have been FIFA’s harshest critic”.
I have recently started playing FIFA the past month for the first time in 10 years. I bought UEFA EURO 2008 and recently FIFA 08, as I prefer using club sides. Although, I must say UEFA is the best football title on any platform. I am looking forward to FIFA 09, if it’s going to be an improvement on EURO, it will be a masterpiece. This is from what the guys in forums would call a PES fanboy, being a football supporter and ex player, I want the best football experience, UEFA/FIFA hold that crown currently on next-GEN consoles. I want a successful PES and FIFA, I am a little ashamed in my ignorance towards FIFA titles in the past.
This is the key points I took from the review from PSM3.
They opened saying that they love PES and play every lunchtime, obsess over Master League, they even said their logo was on the advertisement hoardings on PES6. Real PES fanatics.
Why is FIFA on the cover? being their harshest critic?
maybe, just maybe, this is the year FIFA emerges as a legitimate alternative to Pro Evo, not only for casual fans but hardcore gamers too. Truth is, the process has already started, we have been playing a lot of UEFA EURO 2008 recently and warming to it more and more. And it’s not just us, several of our sister mags have abandoned PES entirely in favour of UEFA, although we are not at this stage yet.
Their first impressions were extremely favourable
it looks as good, if not better than last year, with sharp colourful player models, beautiful stadiums, lush grass and smart entrance sequences. The animation has improved. looking more realistic. Players are more physical when jostling for each other off the ball, tangling in a more lifelike way, than running on rails next to each other. Off the ball AI has improved, players sprinting more quickly into space, pointing where they want the ball played. Players are more responsive, positioning themselves more precisely for headers on goal and following up quickly for rebounds. The keepers are insanely good, able to dive at feet anticipating where people are going to be.
EA’s proudest invention is the customisable tactics system. Which wasn’t available to PSM3, apparently sliders will be used to incorporate key parts of the team, dynamic, aggression, mentality, positioning, etc. Will be able to create attacking or defensive tactics and everything in between and assign up to four of your own custom plans to the D-pad and switch them mid-match.
David Rutter, Lead Producer, FIFA 09
We wanted people to play how they want to play.
Be a PRO mode is going to be a 4 year Career Mode.
FIFA 09 is fun, with more precise passing than before, through balls are more accurate and easier to place, shooting stronger and more accurate, the tempo has went back to FIFA 08.
Being honest, FIFA 09 doesn’t reinvent itself, simply refines it’s gameplay. If you love the game, you’ll adore FIFA 09 even more.
Us?
Perhaps this year we’ll stop thinking of PES and FIFA as in competition, and embrace both. Not “Pes vs FIFA”, but “PES and FIFA”. Both we expect, will be very good indeed. And if so, then football, and yes, we’re actually going to say this, will be the real winner.
I am really excited about FIFA 09, this article from PES fanatics highlights that the title is going to be a winner for football fans. I agree, I want 2 excellent football titles, from PES and FIFA. My fanboy days are over, I want the best football experience, and hopefully both provide that in 2009.
Great article heraldo, I hadn’t seen most of that info - the customised tactics sounds mouth-watering (you’ll know by now that the d-pad tactics in FIFA don’t really do anything). In gameplay terms I’m pleased that they’re working on refining the existing engine rather than trying to make something completely new yet again. ISS/PES worked on its core engine for over 10 years, so should FIFA.
The mag’s stance and yours exactly mirror my own attitude to the big battle this year. I’m not 15 years old and I don’t want or need to be in ‘the best gang’, i.e. either PES or FIFA. If we get two great footie games this year it’ll be the best-ever year for computer football gamers.
Thanks Greg
I am excited by it, it sounds really promising. I think UEFA is amazing to look at, and if they can improve the game-play in both UEFA and FIFA 08 which are already good games, it is going to be one hell of a title.
The one thing I agree with a lot of FIFA fans, is as good as EURO is, I prefer the game speed of FIFA 08. I am glad they are keeping that.
FIFA has a couple of negatives, which again are being addressed in 09. The custom in game tactics which PES has had for years, the ability of switching in game rather than stopping game-play and going into a menu. Players faces, which we spoke about yesterday, oh my god, they are obscene in FIFA. I hope it is across the board rather than just the so called superstars, again another feature which PES has nailed.
Being new, there is so much to learn and take in with regards to FIFA, I am learning new things everyday playing, listening to guys like yourself and reading forums.
All I want is ultimately the best football experience, as I said hopefully both titles come up to the mark. I think they will. I agree 100%, this could be football gamers best year yet in terms of quality.
I wonder how d ps2 version look like. Hope its gonna be dsame as ps3.
I agree with ps2 fan. The fifa shoud also change their configurative botton to dat of pes.
fifa games are the best out there but if sony I meant playstation2 would include the camera angle like the have it at ps3 and xbo360 in fifa 08 it would have been a super susesful game . now they are going to include that feature in fifa 09 and Ibelive is going to be super susesfull