FIFA 09

I downloaded the demo last night - and I was impressed, very impressed...

Gone is the sluggishness of FIFA 08, and you're players actually move towards the ball to pick up passes rather than stand aimlessly waiting for the ball.

It's similar to EA Sports Euro 2008 - which is a good thing. However, there are noticeable differences. It doesn't play quite as arcade like as Euro 2008, the passing is more refined, and the fluidity of the game is fantastic...

I was into Pro-Evo, however; FIFA has upped it's game every year for a while now where (in my opinion) Pre Evo has stagnated... Fifa 09 (based on the demo) is BY FAR the best Fifa so far and will probably be the start of Fifa's dominance of the football gaming market.

If EA sports keep improving these games by FIFA 10 the gap will be huge.

This game plays like a dream, and couple that with all the added features that will be in the full game - well, I think we have a winner... Well done EA for listening… more »

I downloaded the demo last night - and I was impressed, very impressed...

Gone is the sluggishness of FIFA 08, and you're players actually move towards the ball to pick up passes rather than stand aimlessly waiting for the ball.

It's similar to EA Sports Euro 2008 - which is a good thing. However, there are noticeable differences. It doesn't play quite as arcade like as Euro 2008, the passing is more refined, and the fluidity of the game is fantastic...

I was into Pro-Evo, however; FIFA has upped it's game every year for a while now where (in my opinion) Pre Evo has stagnated... Fifa 09 (based on the demo) is BY FAR the best Fifa so far and will probably be the start of Fifa's dominance of the football gaming market.

If EA sports keep improving these games by FIFA 10 the gap will be huge.

This game plays like a dream, and couple that with all the added features that will be in the full game - well, I think we have a winner... Well done EA for listening to the comments and criticism over the last few years and taking note!

Well, I've been a PES fan for as long as I can remember. Always rent FIFA for a few days to check that it hasn't finally got the better of PES but as yet I haven't thought so. I have to say thought that having played the demo to death this year I think it may finally have done it and to be honest I'll be pleased if it has in some ways as the online elements,live updates, fully licenced teams and players make for a much more comprehensive game. Shall be getting this on day of release for the 1st time ever and then waiting with interest to see if they have actually improved PES much this year. I have a horrible feeling that the answer is going to be no, they haven't released any demo,trailer or anything else on LIVE and seem to be reticent to show any details of the new version at all. This can only mean one of two things: They know they have cocked it up this year and don't want to admit it, or they have improved on last years game by a mile and don't want to give the game away.… more »

Well, I've been a PES fan for as long as I can remember. Always rent FIFA for a few days to check that it hasn't finally got the better of PES but as yet I haven't thought so. I have to say thought that having played the demo to death this year I think it may finally have done it and to be honest I'll be pleased if it has in some ways as the online elements,live updates, fully licenced teams and players make for a much more comprehensive game. Shall be getting this on day of release for the 1st time ever and then waiting with interest to see if they have actually improved PES much this year. I have a horrible feeling that the answer is going to be no, they haven't released any demo,trailer or anything else on LIVE and seem to be reticent to show any details of the new version at all. This can only mean one of two things: They know they have cocked it up this year and don't want to admit it, or they have improved on last years game by a mile and don't want to give the game away.
Guess the next few weeks will tell us but in the meantime I'll be playing 10 v 10 online on the new FIFA! (Although I can see that being a HUGE lag issue unless everyone involved has a spanking connection!!!)

Well, I waited with great anticipation for Fifa 09 and I must say I am slightly dissapointed even though there is a big improvement with gameplay.

Firstly, the Bugs! Well I Started a Be A Pro : Seasons and when I played my first game as Drogba I scored, but after that I was immediately given the red card for nothing! Then it happened again in the second game. Next Bug was Dissapearing players and then the daft crowd with dissapearing and reappearing flags, it's like their in slow motion. I also noticed that like Fifa 08 players like Tevez(Man Utd), Frings(Bremen), Anderson(Man Utd),Martins(Newcastle) have a defect with their heads, their faces morph into a different shape when they start playing. The graphics compared to Fifa 08 aren't exactly the greatest either, players look really poor at times, they even look too small when on the football pitch. The ball physics are a bit strange too, sometimes there is far too much swerve and floating for my liking.

In the seasons… more »

Well, I waited with great anticipation for Fifa 09 and I must say I am slightly dissapointed even though there is a big improvement with gameplay.

Firstly, the Bugs! Well I Started a Be A Pro : Seasons and when I played my first game as Drogba I scored, but after that I was immediately given the red card for nothing! Then it happened again in the second game. Next Bug was Dissapearing players and then the daft crowd with dissapearing and reappearing flags, it's like their in slow motion. I also noticed that like Fifa 08 players like Tevez(Man Utd), Frings(Bremen), Anderson(Man Utd),Martins(Newcastle) have a defect with their heads, their faces morph into a different shape when they start playing. The graphics compared to Fifa 08 aren't exactly the greatest either, players look really poor at times, they even look too small when on the football pitch. The ball physics are a bit strange too, sometimes there is far too much swerve and floating for my liking.

In the seasons mode of Be A Pro, I started with Drogba and found that Chelsea wasn't involved in the Domestic cups like the F.A. Cup or the League Cup or even a European Cup. I must mention that Drogba and Essien amongst others cannot play in National Games when in the Be A Pro Mode.

I must say though when Joe Cole floated a ball over the defence for me(Drogba) and I volleyed over Almunia into the back of the net I was highly impressed although without a PC there was no option to save the replay, another flaw there, shame it was a stunner aswell, the way Drogba or any striker with high Volley attribute strikes a volley in Fifa 09 is amazing. The gameplay is alot more fluid overall compared to Fifa 08, passing is more accurate, You actually feel like your fully in control when shooting which has been a problem for ages in the Fifa Series, scoring goals is alot better to do but slightly harder to master 30 yard stunners! The same old Big defender catching Shaun Wright-Phillips when sprinting down the wing was there, no matter how first a winger is an average defender will still catch him. Through balls are miles better though, playing through that final ball and finishing with a nice chip over the Keeper(much improved) is very satisfying. The Goalkeepers do react better to shots but they seem dodgy if you shoot straight at them from outside the box, it's like their not sure what to do at times.

The Adidas Live season is a great little feature, this is a weekly peformance update that reflects how a player is playing in the real world to ingame gameplay. This is available for 6 Leagues and you do have to pay for this with Microsoft Points.

The commentary from Tyler and Gray is really rubbish though, I would of loved to hear more classic banter from them two. "He bought a ticket and nearly won the raffle" great stuff.

Overall the Fifa series has took a massive step forward as regards to the gameplay and I mean a MASSIVE step, but there is a few really bad flaws in the game which is why I have gave it 3 stars. If EA had came out saying, we want to spend more time developing the game, so you will have to wait a few more months, it could of been the best Fifa and more importantly best Football game out ever. Unfortunately that wasn't the case and I still feel that EA rushed this years Fifa out in time for Christmas instead of putting maximum effort into it, Still worth the buy though, I still really can enjoy the game at times. EA could benefit by realeasing a patch to sort out the bugs though. Maybe I am just too hard to please?

With Regards to Fifa Vs. PES battle I am Looking forward to seeing PES 2009 with their Official Champions League Feature but I don't think it will be as good as Fifa 09.