"Finest Football Sim Ever to Grace Consoles"
The game feels as much like the nworld's favourite sport as I've experienced in videogames. It seems EA have listened to the criticisms of previous titles, squaring away the flaws while keeping the core gameplay of the recent titles intact. And if any of EA's default settings are not quite to your liking, nearly every aspect of the gameplay is customisable, from the speed of the game, down to how much assistance you are given with shooting and passing.
There's also an embarrassment of riches in terms of modes to show off your skills. When you first start up FIFA 09, you are greeted with an almost overwhelming amount of menus. There's leagues, tournaments, 'Be A Pro' mode allows you to take control of one player through a four-year career, moving from your favourite club's reserve team up to the international stage. There's also a wealth of online match-ups , including the stunning 10 vs. 10 mode, where 20 gamers each take on a single footballer in a match. You can even form your own club with pals and take part in matches against other teams from all over the world.
As a package, FIFA 09 is utterly irresistible. The sheer amount of game modes and authentic teams is impressive enough but it's held together brilliantly by the all-important action on the pitch. Presentation, as always from EA, is immaculate. Even the team strips from League Two are designed down to the stitch. The game moves with superb fluidity as you sweep the ball across the turf, enhanced by the stunning animation as players jostle, shimmy, tackle and shoot in each compelling match. It may have taken a few years, but FIFA has finally taken an undisputed lead with possibly the finest football sim ever to grace consoles.