FIFA 09 Hands-On

[RaychelSnr]

We have just posted a hands-on preview for FIFA 09 after our very own Chase Becotte got to have some time with the game. Be sure to check back all week as Chase got to see several other games last week and will be posting other previews on them through the week!

"Since moving over to next-gen, FIFA has struggled to create an experience that relies on skills and creativity rather than exploits and “money” tactics. Whether it was the ping-pong passing down the field or the bang ball up the sides of the pitch, FIFA has struggled to make itself seem like the real thing. The organic nature of soccer is certainly hard to re-create, but the developers of FIFA have taken strides with FIFA 09 to not only remove “money” tactics, but also create an experience that finally lives up to the promises of next-gen gameplay."

[kerosene31]

The shooting and goalies sound much improved.

However, as for stealing the ball, does it still take two defenders to strip the ball away from most CPU players?

If you get in good defensive position, do the CPU players back off and look for other options, or just plow forward and try to run over you all the time?

[ChaseB]

Played human vs. human games, so can't say.

[spit_bubble]

Re: FIFA 09 Hands-On

From what I've read about FIFA 09 so far, two things stand out to me:

1. As mentioned in this preview... The tactics. This has a chance to really make FIFA shine... Though it's not really clear if each team has sliders, or if it's a game by game thing that you need to adjust each time, depending on who you're playing. Whatever the case, the more teams play like they do in real life, the better.

(edit: just reread the part about tactics. I guess there are slots that can be assigned to a team pregame?)

2. I read elsewhere that the animations are better and a lot more responsive this year. Tighter controls would certainly be a nice addition.

[ChaseB]

Re: FIFA 09 Hands-On

From what I've read about FIFA 09 so far, two things stand out to me:

1. As mentioned in this preview... The tactics. This has a chance to really make FIFA shine... Though it's not really clear if each team has sliders, or if it's a game by game thing that you need to adjust each time, depending on who you're playing. Whatever the case, the more teams play like they do in real life, the better.

2. I read elsewhere that the animations are better and a lot more responsive this year. Tighter controls would certainly be a nice addition.

1. You can save them outside the game, and they stay like that for next time.

2. Animations are way more impressive this year because they are more free-form and natural. Couldn't say yet if the controls are much tighter or not yet -- though I thought they were already pretty good in Euro.

[spit_bubble]

Re: FIFA 09 Hands-On

Here's where I read about the tighter controls.

"...You don’t find yourself desperately pressing buttons to make a winning play only to discover that by the time the game has got around to executing it the opportunity has passed... ...And you don’t find yourself closed down by lunging defenders while you simply wait for the player and ball to get their **** together so you can pass the bloody ball..."

**** yeah I mean ******* ****.

[coach422001]

Chase: Thanks for the review. I know you played human v human, but would you happen to know if they have included CPU v CPU this year?

Thanks

[ChaseB]

Re: FIFA 09 Hands-On

Chase: Thanks for the review. I know you played human v human, but would you happen to know if they have included CPU v CPU this year?

Thanks

Sorry, no I don't.

[spit_bubble]

Re: FIFA 09 Hands-On

From what I've read about FIFA 09 so far, two things stand out to me...

I should've made myself more clear... Two positive things...

And on the other hand... From this OS preview:

"...The one area that perhaps isn’t seeing a ton of improvement is the hit-or-miss approach when it comes to stealing the ball. When a player is dribbling and a defender meets him head-on, it still seems like either the defender wins the ball or doesn’t, with little middle ground in between the two binary choices..."

This aspect really contributes to the constant back and forth action of FIFA, along with defending players closing down too fast in the midfield area and not playing enough positional defense.

ChaseB... If you can answer this from your time with the game... How is the overall team defense in the midfield area? Would defending players try to channel players properly, and close down more methodically like they should?

[ChaseB]

Well I was playing human vs. human games. But there's some new defending controls this year which should help you better keep the flow of players to specific spots. Whether you press a button to more or less contain a player, or another combo to close down harder, there's more ways to defend now in the midfield area. I'd say in my play time there probably wasn't quite enough time spent in that middle half of the field.

[sportsdude]

Re: FIFA 09 Hands-On

Another big addition this year is team tactics. There will be various sliders to help tweak not only the style of the human players, but the CPU teams as well. This means if you want a CPU team to be more aggressive and foul you more that’s entirely possible by tweaking the particular slider. If you expect Arsenal to make short little passes all the way down the field (slicing up your defense in the process) then tweak the necessary sliders and there you have it. The menus are a bit laggy when tweaking these sliders, but otherwise it’s seamless enough. You can also set up four custom quick-select tactics that you can change on the fly in the game. So if you want to change from a quick-passing offense to a more long-ball oriented offense, then just have two different custom slider sets in place. Also, since the EA Locker is in the game this year, this means you could re-create the entire English Premier League tactics-wise, then upload and share those tactics with everyone else in the world. There’s a limit to how many tactics you can save, but there are enough slots to at least make the entire EPL if you choose. Basically if you think EA didn’t do a good job creating the way Chelsea plays in real life, then change it, end of story.

giggidy.

[spit_bubble]

Re: FIFA 09 Hands-On

Well I was playing human vs. human games...

Ah, I see. Thanks for the answer.

How the AI closes down at different parts of the field is paramount...

Though these tactics sliders make it sound as though maybe you can effect this. I hope so. I'd love to kick PES 2008 to the curb sooner rather than later.

[Krebstar]

Re: FIFA 09 Hands-On

Chase, did you notice a decent amount of fouls? Or at least if you see a pretty rough hit with a rough animation that looks like a foul, was it called?

[EXboxur]

Re: FIFA 09 Hands-On

There’s a limit to how many tactics you can save, but there are enough slots to at least make the entire EPL if you choose.

It would be nice if we could save tactics like roster saves or settings. So, if we can only save say 20 team tactics, then I could have an EPL set, Serie A, Bundesliga, etc. I'd like to have a bunch and load them in as I need them for the proper teams/leagues.

[[Icy]]

Re: FIFA 09 Hands-On

I wonder why did EA decide to limit the "Be a pro" mode to only 4 seasons, when the NHL09 mode is going to last 15 seasons (more like real life players careers).