I have increased the difficulty level from these group of fixtures to World Class due to storming into a 18 point lead and unbeaten in the league. Although the majority of games were close, I was dominating the majority of these games. I like a real challenge in my football games, I don’t mind losing or 0-0 affairs. I would rather have this than winning every game. That’s my preference.
I read on various forums that people found the jump from Professional to World Class is a big leap in FIFA 09. That the AI performs their famous dribbling and possession skills. I don’t mind this as the way I see it, is that I must find a way of combating it. Like real football.
It was interesting from the first game. No longer could I run with David Villa past the defenders at will as I could on Professional. No longer press A/X and win the ball from the AI at every tackle. I was glad of this as I thought that maybe it was a weakness in 09. Instead of attack, attack, attack as I was doing in matches recently, I now had to revert back to maintaining possession (more often than not losing possession) and await openings. I love how FIFA requires you to do this. Many people don’t, but we all get different kicks from computer games.
There was a dramatic increase in the AI, they are now tighter in defence, more of a threat in attack and take ALL of their opportunities one-on-one with the goalkeeper rather than running the ball straight at them and just like I read they do indeed keep possession now for LONG periods. I have definitely found my level with 09 against the AI, from these games it WILL be a while before I crack World Class difficulty. That, there is no doubt.
Disappointingly in the first match against Almeira I threw away a 2 goal lead to draw 2-2. The next 2 matches also ended in draws 1-1 (Recreativo) and 2-2 (Malaga). I won the next fixture luckily against Villarreal 1-0 who had the lions share of possession and chances.
Crazily in a way I was glad that the next 2 fixtures seen my long unbeaten run in the league come to an end. Losing 2-0 to Deportivo and 1-0 to Majorca. It has proven that World Class is the correct level I should be playing at with one win in 6 games.
With my unbeaten run coming to an end and no longer can I run past defenders at will with David VILLA. I am now playing the type of football that made me switch to the FIFA series in 08 after a 10 year absence. Slow, methodical build up. Real football emulated in a computer game. Happy days.
It highlights that I have been kidding myself on playing on Professional, thinking that I was a decent player. My early impressions of World Class on FIFA 09 is that it is a BIGGER step up than the same level on FIFA 08. I finished FIFA 08 on Legendary level and I would say that World Class on FIFA 09 is on a par with that.
Could I lose the league from an impossible situation? Now that would be funny. It could happen 6 games remaining and holding a 10 point lead.
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