FIFA 09 (Platinum)

Right lets get something straight: In an age of high definition gaming, some people maybe expecting too much graphically and feature wise from the PSP. If you have a game on the PS3 and it's ported over to the PSP, don't expect miracles.

Secondly, I'm don't want to open a PES vs. Fifa debate here. That has been done to death so many times on every football forum around. However it's quite simple.

Fifa used to be the best football game around, but they got greedy. Started releasing a new game every year with very little change to them. This is where Pro Evolution took over. The would make major leaps every year with game-play, and pretty much coming close to making the perfect game with PES 6.

Now what is happening, is PES has peaked. They are not making changes that justify brining out a whole new game, with nothing but a new cover and menu. It's back to the drawing board for Konami.

Now, Fifa has come back in. And for me, who bought PES 2008 and was heart broken that it had betrayed my trust in it, done some soul searching and bought Fifa 08, which I swore would never happen. Well I have been won over.

And now with Fifa 09, you have the best little pocket of joy you could ever wish to carry in your pocket.

Yes it has flaws, most notably that bug that surrounds the commentary by Andy Gray. You would be leading at Half Time, Andy would come on and say well they are getting beaten and need to try harder, or the fact that every challenge you make, Gray seems to comment that your player has injured himself.

The animation isn't perfect, but it doesn't need to be. Because the game-play is top notch. The ball mechanics are great, and any little thing can affect the direction of the shot. You really have to build up your play too. No more running the length of the field ala Fifa of old. No, this is PES game-play.

That's not all, when you look at the tiny disc that you fling into you little handheld, it's remarkable how much they have fitted onto it. From the vast array of competitions and teams, as well as challenges, there is also and quiz section to fill up time when you need a break from the impressive manager mode.

I'd have no doubt recommending this, God knows, I spent enough time mulling it over in the shop when I bought it. Fifa 09 or PES 09, I thought.

No competition. Fifa wins this leg.

There are lots of additions to the new version. Having high strength actually makes a difference - in a tussle for the ball a stronger player will win it, when going in for a tackle, if the players bump into eachother the smaller one gets knocked over - same with headers - all much more realistic.

Not many changes to manager mode, still far better than any nintendo fifas although wages can sometime be unrealistic.

The new "be a pro" feature has been a long time coming - has been on NFL games for the last 4 years but it is kind of worth the wait. It is clever and the controls are easy to learn however the zoomed in camera angle makes the graphics look worse.

On the subject of graphics, much improved however still not great - much better on ps3 but that is expected. To get a higher quality of graphics you have to simply zoom the camera out.

The new transfer feature outside of manager mode which means you can transfer a player without paying a transfer fee is clever.

Online gaming has been improved as well.

All in all, much improved and a very good game though cant wait for PES.

Hope you guys find this useful

This is a great game because its grapics hav improved and has a great manager mode

I think the mark of a succesful football game is just how much emotion it engenders - and Fifa 09 has had me absolutely clenched with rage and frustration as a last minute goal is scored leading to defeat, and absolutely elated as a long hard and important match comes to an end with a well deserved victory. Its made me cheer, its made me laugh, its made me smash my head against the wall - in short it plays a great game of football, with all the joy and frustration that the game entails.

Theres a lot crammed onto the UMD here, suprisingly so. The commentary is always a welcome addition, although as usual it mixes the sublimely apt with the completely random - Andy Gray continuously prattling about slide tackles and injuries and half time issues regardless of the context takes the shine off, but generally commentary is well done, with a good varied use of team and player names and the odd bit of banter which helps to bring the whole thing to life.

On the pitch, theres a wealth of controls for those who want to take charge of every physical nuance, theres a ton of tactics to apply, and theres a simplified control mode for those who want to just play without any real investment. Visually, its all rather nice. The stadia and pitches are well drawn, the animation is generally spot on with players running and reacting in a realistic fashion. Crowds however are dismal, consisting of flashing sprites - a shame but not a deal breaker.

Sound is fairly good - commentary aside, the chants and cheers of the crowd are fairly convincing. Theres the odd moment when a cheer is slightly delayed or played at the wrong time, but its mostly very atmospheric stuff.

Opponant AI is a tricky business. At Semi-Pro level once you get the hang of it, you'll be sliding 7 goals past every game, but upping to professional level whilst providing a far sterner challenge occasionally can feel a teeny bit false as teams or players who have spent the match shooting wide or giving away silly balls, suddenly and inexplicably tighten up and start carving big holes in your defence. Defence can prove tricky with the odd occasion where tackles simply don't work, allowing an opposing player to waltz through 6 defenders and score. Its awesomely frustrating at times, but generally a bit of patience allows for more succesfuly defence. Other issues are still present from previous Fifas where players are slow to react to loose balls, refuse to head up field or are simply facing or running the wrong way at a crucial time.

Niggles aside though, FIfa 09 recreates the atmosphere, ebb, flow and sheer excitement of a decent game of football amazingly well for a handheld format. Occasionally an exercise in frustration, it becomes massively addictive with that enjoyable 'just one more match' sensation that sucks you right into the game.

Well worth a go.

this is a good game, but its the only fifa in the history of the world that doesn't have create a player its annoying