Customer Reviews

FIFA Soccer 09

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I am not a hardcore gamer, but I love Soccer video games. When I was using my PS2 (stopped a couple of years ago), I bought into the hype of the Winning Eleven/PES series, and definitely enjoyed the games. Due to the conventional wisdom of the hardcore players out there, I avoided FIFA like the plague. Fast forward to now, and I have a PS3. I was itching to get a Soccer game, and figured I'd skip the '08 editions and wait for the '09 editions. FIFA '09 was released first instead of PES '09, so I jumped on it.

Not having played any recent-generation Soccer games, I can't quite compare it all that much to recent games, but I have been having a ball (no pun intended) playing FIFA '09. Gameplay probably isn't perfect, but it seems great to me. Everything is smooth, no choppiness, graphics are good, and it is simply a fun game to play. Passing, crossing, shooting, etc. are all pretty quick to get the hang of. Of course, I have a lot more work to do to get all of the gameplay down.

Frankly, I am in heaven having all of the big leagues and international teams, with the correct players, kits, etc. What I had to go through to get any level of team/player realism with Winning Eleven on the PS2... (we all know they don't have most of the licenses compared with the FIFA series). With FIFA '09, I can power up, choose Manchester United against AC Milan, and have Rooney, Ronaldo, etc. going up against Pirlo, Nesta, etc. with no issue. La Liga, Premiership, Serie A, and more. I love it.

There are a ton of advanced options and features that I won't go into such as seasons, online, etc., but if you have the time and passion for it, I am sure there is plenty to sink your teeth into with this game.

All in all, I am very pleased with FIFA '09, and have cancelled my preorder for PES '09 for the PS3. Good work EA Sports.

I've been playing FIFA since it first came out in the early '90's. Here in the states, FIFA was always the benchmark for football/soccer games, and it never let down because the games were great and had the whole football/soccer experience. The only or major gripe football/soccer diehards like me had was that you couldn't do player transfers. You had to wait until Pro Evolution Soccer/Winning Eleven came to the states. At around the same time that FIFA added the feature of being able to make player transfers, Winning Eleven/PES came to the states. FIFA was still great and maybe still the king, but now it had to compete and deal with the other big "player" in the football/soccer video games genre. FIFA put out some games that were just ok, missing a special something that I can't pinpoint while Winning Eleven/PES was putting out masterpieces until FIFA 2008 and PES 2008. With FIFA 2008, it seems FIFA was starting to get back on track and with 2009 it's back to its old self. I don't know what happened to PES 2008, but I guess they became complacent. PES 2008 was ok or maybe a little less than ok. Being used to Winning Eleven/PES high standards and works of art, I know a lot of us felt let down by PES 2008. FIFA 09 is a masterpiece while there's still room for some little improvement, but even the best video games, the ones that get perfect 10 or almost perfect reviews, have room for improvement. I haven't played every mode, yet, but be a pro and general manager modes are amazing. The way you can create a player and have him play for several seasons trying to accomplish some "goals" set by his team in order to be noticed and called by his national team and to be transfered to the big clubs in Europe is amazing. You can select a last name for your player that is in the data base of last names used by the commentators when calling a match. The graphics are outstanding. You can tell FIFA 2009 is a next generation/HD video game because of the graphics. Being a diehard football/soccer fan, I love both the FIFA and PES/Winning Eleven franchises, but I hope PES 2009 comes all out with all guns blazing because FIFA 2009 already did. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up!

FIFA '09 isn't a game of revolution but evolution. Anyone who played FIFA '08 will be right at home with the interface and graphics of the game but discover changes upon diving deeper into the game.

The graphics remain largely unchanged from FIFA '08. To it's discredit EA hasn't improved visuals in the stadiums and has neglected several larger venues altogether, instead opting for generic backgrounds. I was sorely disappointed to find when playing a huge rivalry match of Barcelona vs. Real Madrid at Camp Nou, the stadium was awash in generic colors. There was the odd red jersey here or there but nothing striking. Disappointing considering this was an issue raised by the fans in the last several FIFA games.

There are positive notes in the graphics department, however. First the "shiny" look of players from FIFA '08 is gone. Player animations have improved and are smoother. Also included for the first time is the ability to control player celebrations with some simple button presses after scoring a goal. Cartwheels, running slides, and more subtle celebrations help immerse the player into the game.

On the gameplay front things are much better. Ball physics are greatly improved over '08 and the ball doesn't feel as magnetic as it once did. To EA's credit the controls are completely customizable so everyone can tune the buttons to their individual preference. I did notice some that on the higher difficulty levels the game can still cheaply score or miraculously tackle the ball every time.

As usual the soundtrack to FIFA offers a unique, wide ranging sampling of music from different corners of the planet. It's always enjoyable discovering new artists first in FIFA and adding their tracks to my iPod. The crowd sound effects remain largely unchanged from '08 which isn't a bad thing. Commentary maintains its high standard as well.

Best of all in '09 is the ability to really manage your team in detail. On the field tactics adjustments are back and don't require a pause in the action. Off the field, fine tuning adjustments can be made to everyone from the build-up to player aggression on offense and defense. It's really a whole new level of player control to FIFA. Another great feature is that fine tuning adjustments can be saved and applied to specific teams. So if you're playing an offensive powerhouse you can load up your more defensive minded tactics and presto, you're set to play!

All in all I am very pleased with FIFA '09. As I stated it's not a revolutionary change from FIFA's past but an incremental improvement. Now if EA would just up the ante on the stadium and crowd effects we'd have a real champ here.

I've been playing FIFA since the mid-90s and this is probably the best edition yet that EA has come out with. Compared to last year's PS3 version, this game has much better gameplay and graphics, especially when it comes to the players. What truly sets 09 apart from previous editions is that the gameplay is much more realistic (including the ball physics)and the passing system is soooooo much better than 08. I was really frustrated by 08's passing, but 09 is great. It takes some practice, but you can really weave together some great passes, little deft touches, one-twos, etc. I also am a really big fan of the custom tactics as well. My favorite team is Inter and I went in and tweaked their formation and tactics and I could really tell a difference. You can play several different variations to keep things fresh. I also like the fact you can edit individual players and their roles within the formation. That was something I had really been hoping EA would add. Kudos to EA for some of the new wrinkles they added and, of course, having all the players and leagues is always great too. Oh, and the soundtrack is great as always.

The only negatives I can come up with is they could stand to add a few more stadiums, there are still some unrealistic aspects that need to be worked out (for instance, defenders being just as quick as attackers), and the graphics for the crowd are pretty subpar. Beyond that, a really great game. I've thoroughly enjoyed it so far and haven't even gotten completely immersed yet.

I am an experinced FIFA 08 player. I have played 09 for 2 weeks now. Unlike most of the reviewers that liked the game, I hated it. Maybe I am doing something wrong. Here are the reasons:

1. More than 50% of the attacks end up with an offside flag. Are there any teams in the real world that use offside trap so effectively? In FIFA 09 all of them can.

2. It is almost impossible to pass a defending player with the ball. All defences are overrated. Meanwhile if you are C. Ronaldo and if you can avoid getting close to the defender you can basically outrun all defences while you are dribbling. OK this guy is good but come on. All Barcelona defenders end up 4 meters behind him while he is running with the ball???

3. The right stick you use for the first touch pushes the ball at least 1 mt away from you. So basically you can not use it like you use it in FIFA 08.

4. It is easier to score with long distance shots which is fine but seems much harder to score with free kicks and corners. I belive FIFA 08 was more realistic in that sense.

5. The graphics are great. But mandatory replays make it a more boring game.

6. While playing you get a feeling like the ball always slides on the pitch as if there is a thin layer of ice on the surface. And ball control is much harder than 08.

7. While you are controlling a player, the other players are too static. For example, Eto is with the ball and Henry and Messi are basically waiting somewhere within the defence. No runs etc.

8. I can not find out how to touch the ball while it passes so close to one of my players that I am not controlling at the time being.

Basically all controls are the same with FIFA 08, but dont let this fool you. The game experience is totally different. And interestingly FIFA 08 experience may be an advantage in certain situations but in many other positions it is a disadvantage. Because defenders will get the ball from you in 90% of the cases that you would be able to pass them in FIFA 08.

I do not want to judge too quickly but if there is something I am missing with controls, tricks etc please let me know.

FIFA 09 is probably the best soccer simulation available. I've been playing Fifa since Fifa 94'(yes, 1994) and this is best version to date. It far surpasses previous versions of Fifa, because it has better game mechanics and graphics.

At first I debated whether I should get 09, but after playing the demo and comparing my experience to 08, this is definitely worth the 60 bucks. Plus, these games hold their value remarkably well. If you buy it and sell it a few months later, you're probably gonna get at least $45, if not more.

The game plays very much like Euro 2008 which was a very large break from previous versions of Fifa, including Fifa 08. Some of the main improvements in Fifa 09 are custom tactics settings, tighter passing and higher AI intelligence. You may be annoyed at how good the computer is at first, but once you realize the arsenal of weapons Fifa 09 provides you, you'll delight at tearing the computer's defense apart. A lot of emphasis is placed in Fifa 09 on ball placement and passing- learn to find seams in the defense. The controls are nearly identical to Fifa 08, so you shouldn't have too many adjustments to make.

Graphically, this is no doubt the most immersive soccer experience available. Many of the poor animation issues in Fifa 08 were resolved: stadiums are alive, filled to the brim with cheering fans, Old Trafford never looked better, and someone passing a glance at your tv might mistake the Fifa 09 Wayne Rooney for the real one.

All in all, great game. It's loads of fun and definitely makes for a great time when played with friends.

The developers say there are over 250 "improvements" in the latest edition of FIFA, but you won't notice even 5. What you will notice are the glitches that make your gaming almost unbearable at times. For example during aerial through balls, either attacking or defending, the user-controlled player "crab walks" and loses sight of the ball, thus giving the advantage to the opposite player. Another thing is that the referee decides to give you advantage play when you would rather him not, and not give you the advantage (stopping play) when you are one on one. Overall the graphics are awesome, as always, there are a bunch of stadiums that are inspired by how soccer is played in different parts of the world. Rain has been added once again, as well as the coolest snow effect you have ever seen, but thanks to a bug manager mode is weatherless and always sunny.

FIFA Soccer 09 - Hours of entertainment on an intense, nearly 100% tactically customizable world of soccer. If you're all about making the gameplay unique, this is the game for you.

Some background - I've never been a hardcore sports video game fanatic, but I always enjoy playing them. I started out with the original Playstation and have stuck with Sony's systems from that beginning. My most recent FIFA games were both 03 and 04, so this was a big step up from those. Like I said, this game is incredibly intense. On more than one occasion I've pulled all-nighters playing this game with friends and plan on doing so in the future. We're talking about 12 hours straight of FIFA (with the exception of bathroom and pizza breaks). In fact, I had a rivalry going with one other guy - we were both pretty equal German teams and continuously rematched for about 7 of those 12 hours with the same teams over and over and over again. Although boredom usually sets in after a few hours of repetitive gaming, this game, on the other hand, will allow you to have a different outcome and have a lot of fun every time.


And now for the technical stuff (keep in mind, this is the PS3 version):

This game has incredible graphics and totally utilizes PS3's intense processing system. The fields look realistic, players feel like you could reach out and touch them, and the gameplay follows the same way. Graphically speaking, the only thing that could be better would be the fans. Like all sports games I've seen so far, the crowd atmosphere, fans, and stands are only so good. However, they ARE getting better. If you think back about 5 years, the crowds were only flat, rather inanimate figures. They've gotten better, but their sense of real is not quite there yet. However, how much are you actually going to look at the fans anyway? The soccer match and the participants in it are the focus of the video game, not so much the people watching it.

Another big point as I already said - customization. There is a full arsenal of tactical plays and ways to change the game to your liking. There are, from what I can tell so far, a number of different ways to pass, chip, shoot, cross, defend, goalkeep, etc etc etc. If it can be done in a real soccer game, it can be done in this game, and that is my favorite part about the game so far. Of course, the more variety you try to use, the more time it's going to take to become adept with those different skills. Quick example - it's harder to learn when to do a through pass to lead a player than simply always pushing X and passing to the player you are pointing to. However, the rewards for learning how to do the through pass well are exponentially greater than just using the basic pass. This is also applicable for learning how to use the right analog stick and also L2 for quick, controlled tricks. Like I said, if it's possible in soccer, it's possible in this game; it'll just take a little time to learn how to do it right.

A big plus for some - Downloadable League updates allow you to stay in sync with your favorite teams. There are numerous different leagues to download, minus the MLS which I find somewhat odd. Don't forget to bring your credit card though - they cost a few bucks each.

In 09, they've also brought in a new "Be a Pro" mode where you can create a player and simulate a real career. It's pretty enjoyable, but probably could be worked on in the future. As far as I can tell so far, there aren't the normal "Amateur, Semi Pro, Pro" settings, and I've won every game I've played, one game 10-1. It's fun to win, but without a challenge, it's somewhat boring. Also, don't forget, you're only going to be playing your player - the rest of your team will be computer players that you can tell to play defense or pass.

This game is also great for both advanced players as well as beginners due to the Assist system. This is all set up via the Controller Configuration interface and allows you to turn help on or off, or even semi if you're trying to advance your skills. This way the AI will help those that need it to keep the game fair, fun, and enjoyable.


Finally, a few things for work on in the future years:

Like I already said, the fans could use some more personality, but that'll come with time. Also, although the goalie AI in this game is pretty great, sometimes the goalies seem a little stupid and don't charge the ball when they should. This is quickly fixed by manually telling the goalie charge by holding down triangle. Other than those two, shooting seems a lot harder in this game than past ones. This may just be that it, too, is more customizable than previous games and I just need to learn how to place my shots better than before.


All in all, my opinion is that this is an amazing game. If you want an enjoyable, customizable, lifelike experience where you control the players, this is the game for you... until FIFA '10 comes out.

Happy gaming.

I have really been only playing FIFA since FIFA 05....(I had some old FIFA on my game gear but I wouldn't count that) and before that I played World Cup 98 on my N64......I played a good amount of FIFA 08 last year and I can say that was an amazing game that never grew old with me.

FIFA 09 does not dissapoint after playing FIFA 08....The graphics are a LITTLE better but the physics are vastly improve. I love the running jockey (L2 + R2) and the new slide tackling animations.

I skipped the amateur and semi-pro modes and won my firsg game 3-0 on Professional. My next two games were 1-1 and 2-2 draws so it is not too difficult to score goals (which makes the game all the more enjoyable).

The online play is great and will at times have you wanting to break your controller knowing another virtual footballer is beating you.

other notes:
-Goalkeeping vastly improved
-Celebrations are cool
-Response tmie when passing is still a little slow (sometimes player takes extra touch)
-Christiano Ronaldo is too good... (although he is in real life as well)
-Shooting similar to FIFA 08 (good thing if you are used to it)
-Through balls are a little harder than in previous FIFA because you have to hold down the button longer...
-AMAZING GAME!

my user name is TheRareCreature if anybody wants to play with me!

So, its more realistic gameplay with plenty of depth. passing as in any football game, is key. u can no longer make unrealistic X button passes offbalance. giiven the six-month gap between euro 2008 and fifa 09, it's no surprise that the two games play similarly. however, the pace has quickened over fifa 08, plus now passes need to be directed with even greater accuracy! player weight and speed are now a vital part as u jostle for posession. goal keeper has been improved he doesn't stand there ball watching or make impossible saves and defenders are not dumb now to be drawn out to the ball. ofcourse when playing against the computer its tough anyway. u have to be at ure creative best to carve out openings now. no longer can u just run by the side line and hope to get an easy cross in and score. graphix are top notch, the plasticy look is gone.

that said still a couple of niggles. ref can be a nuisance at times...not giving the right penalty or giving straight reds on bad tackles. some time if u don't time ure through balls right the player u pass it to may change directions at the last moment. still some shuffling of feet when receiving some passes especially under pressure. if u are not used to the timing of the game (which no one will be to start off with)...u may notice a second or two lag in ure player responding to ure button presses. so overall i think its a slight improvement only over EURO2008. still better than fifa08.

online lag can be frustrating - even if you have the best internet connection. hopefully patches will reduce this as we go forward. otherwise not much wrong with this game - i recommend it surely