First Look At Fifa 09

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 9:31 am

Zlax45 wrote:I am underwhelmed by the Demo....might wait for Pro Evo to come out.

Ditto, and I still can't explain why. But it looks like i'll be sticking with FIFA 08 and waiting for PES 09. I hope Konami doesn't disappoint this year.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 1:48 pm

MACTEPsporta wrote:I found that if you play FIFA immediately after NHL it feels a lot slower.

Macca, I recently realized, once I saw the name of your created player in NHL, that it was you reviewing the UEFA game. This isn't very timely, but - great job!

I played Fifa after NHL one night and it was very slow and just didn't have IT!

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 2:17 pm

Anyone have a fact sheet on what leagues/stadiums in the game?

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:36 pm

FIFA 09 UK Review
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/913/913467p1.html

Keepers have been improved, and they now feel more.... human.

The attention to detail throughout never fails to impress, whether it's the score boxes that are tailored for each different league, the excellent commentary track from Sky Sports's Andy Gray and Martin Tyler or the improved player likenesses. Each major team has its fans chants reproduced – find yourself in command of Chelsea and you'll hear 'From Stamford Bridge to Wembley', and bring Manchester United out at Old Trafford and you'll hear a chorus of 'Glory, Glory, Man United'.

For all the action on the pitch, FIFA 09's biggest strides have no doubt been taken in the online arena, with the game taking a multi-faceted approach to embracing the connectivity of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Its greatest innovation is the Adidas Live Season, a feature that brings in statistics from the real-life football scene on a weekly basis to keep the game fresh. Joined by a host of multiplayer modes, the greatest of which is surely the implementation of 10 v 10 online play, it all adds up to a game that's well ahead of its competition in these stakes.

Wet weather returns from EURO 2008, bogging down the pitch with puddles and slowing the play.

Closing Comments
FIFA 09 returns to the pitch full of swagger, and it does it’s very best to deliver on EA Sport’s promise of creating the definitive football title. An exacting game on the pitch and an overwhelmingly comprehensive one off of it, it’s still got a number of minor niggles that blight the play. But when the package is so vast and offers so much, it’s hard not to be impressed. Is it better than PES? It’s certainly different, and which game you go for this season ultimately depends on what you want from your annual dose of football.

8.0 Presentation
Menus are slick, but with so many they're a little cumbersome.

8.5 Graphics
Hardly an improvement, but still a step ahead of the opposition.

9.0 Sound
The commentary and crowd noises conspire together to create an authentic experience.

8.5 Gameplay
So exactingly realistic it can be off-putting and not without a few gripes, it's still the best FIFA yet.

9.0 Lasting Appeal
The Adidas Live Season will keep it fresh for the next 12 months, and the online modes are a triumph throughout.

8.9
Great OVERALL
(out of 10 / not an average)

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 7:59 pm

When is this released again? Doesn't it come out in Europe this week?

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 9:36 pm

Zlax45 wrote:When is this released again? Doesn't it come out in Europe this week?

Europe this week - though some stores in several countries have been selling the game early.

Mid-October release for North America - not sure why we have to wait but at least it's not the old Konami policy of a Spring release!

Best wishes,

Doug

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:16 pm

So we should have some impressions this week

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 4:38 am

Zlax45 wrote:So we should have some impressions this week

I might well pick this up on Friday, so will get some out over the weekend.

TheTruth · Post by **TheTruth** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:20 am

Messed around with the demo this weekend. Scored a goal that got me pumped. Will try to embed the video. I used my phone so quality may not be best.

I really enjoy the demo and can't wait for the release.

Can't get google video to embed..here's link

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 2699&hl=en

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 11:01 am

http://www.videogamer.com/ps3/fifa_09/review.html

Another very complimentary review. After playing the demo a lot more, I do agree that the beauty of the "almost sluggish" controls as the reviewer calls them, is that you really have to think about what you're going to do next. That slow build up is really rewarding when you get it just right.

Looking like a day one purchase for me along with PES2009. I'll let them duke it out for a a few weeks

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:59 am

I've been playing the PC version. My impressions so far are the following. The new front end looks very nice and finally looks modern. It has that FIFA Manager 08 look to it. The FIFA soundtrack is just incredible. Why can't the other games like Madden and the NHL series take a clue from the FIFA team?

Graphics:
Nice update to the visuals, finally but they still are not on par with the PS360. The consoles still have the edge. I was surprised that my out of date PC could run this game with all graphics update. It runs very good at MAX settings without having to turn down any graphics options.

Sound:
Again nice update as the game is loud and the atmosphere is great. The team specific chants are a great touch as well. Commentary in this game are done by Clyde and Andy Gray.

Gameplay:
It's better but still has the nagging AI issues of past FIFA games. IF you don't take full control of your defense the AI will fall into stupid lapses where you'll give up a goal.

New to this year is the difficulty for the Goalie AI. I didn't see any sliders for the rest of the game. On offense the AI seems to do it's job a little better in trying to find some space but the AI is still not as fluid as Konami's game.

Manager Mode:
It's much improved as you try and create friendly matches prior to the start of the season. The AI here is a little more cunning as you will get turned down if they have no interest in playing you, conflicts with their schedule or if they feel your much better than they are. I was turned down 3 out of 4 friendlies. Sheffield Weds is my team btw.

Be a Pro Mode:
It's new to the PC this year bit haven't gotten around to trying it out. I'll do that later today.

Overall:
This is the best FIFA Football game for the PC, no question. It's more polished, the AI is better, has newer animations and the graphics and sound update helps it along.

I'm still reserving final judgment until I can compare it to PES 2010.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 3:17 am

Another good review from Eurogamer

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?ar ... 921&page=1

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:26 pm

I haven't seen a torrent yet.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 5:30 pm

Why does the US have to wait until the 14th? I don't get that. It's not as bad as Konami, but confusing.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 5:34 pm

JRod wrote:Why does the US have to wait until the 14th? I don't get that. It's not as bad as Konami, but confusing.

I'm guessing it's so that the EA servers will only be FUBAR for 6 weeks or so rather than the 12 weeks that would result from Europe and NA all burying them at the same time

MACTEPsporta · Post by **MACTEPsporta** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 5:54 pm

RobVarak wrote:
JRod wrote:Why does the US have to wait until the 14th? I don't get that. It's not as bad as Konami, but confusing.
I'm guessing it's so that the EA servers will only be FUBAR for 6 weeks or so rather than the 12 weeks that would result from Europe and NA all burying them at the same time

Yep. NBA LIVE releases on the 7th, so they are trying to keep a lighter load on the servers. I still don't understand why FIFA isn't released in August, since NBA, NFL, and NHL all come out 2-4 weeks before their respective seasons.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 6:10 pm

MACTEPsporta wrote:
RobVarak wrote:
JRod wrote:Why does the US have to wait until the 14th? I don't get that. It's not as bad as Konami, but confusing.
I'm guessing it's so that the EA servers will only be FUBAR for 6 weeks or so rather than the 12 weeks that would result from Europe and NA all burying them at the same time
Yep. NBA LIVE releases on the 7th, so they are trying to keep a lighter load on the servers. I still don't understand why FIFA isn't released in August, since NBA, NFL, and NHL all come out 2-4 weeks before their respective seasons.

I don't know about servers but I didn't know live was out today. That's why FIFA is released a week later...not to cannibalize Live sales.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 6:49 pm

Out of curiosity what are FIFA's sales like in the US?

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 6:50 pm

MACTEPsporta wrote:
RobVarak wrote:
JRod wrote:Why does the US have to wait until the 14th? I don't get that. It's not as bad as Konami, but confusing.
I'm guessing it's so that the EA servers will only be FUBAR for 6 weeks or so rather than the 12 weeks that would result from Europe and NA all burying them at the same time
Yep. NBA LIVE releases on the 7th, so they are trying to keep a lighter load on the servers. I still don't understand why FIFA isn't released in August, since NBA, NFL, and NHL all come out 2-4 weeks before their respective seasons.

Thought about picking up one of the NBA games - but with Fifa just a week away and the number of good games already in hand there's just no way I'd have the time to play them.

Best wishes,

Doug

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 2:35 am

Any deals on this game besides TRU?

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:27 pm

Wow, it looks like it's awfully hard to decide which footie game to get this year! Can anyone simplify the choice for me? I tend to favor the more "fun to play" game over the more "realistic sim" game, if that helps any. I tried both demos and still couldn't decide. I have preferred PES/WE over the years, but this year's FIFA seems like the best ever. The sluggishness of the controls is almost gone and the new fancy moves you can do with the left trigger and right analog and nice. PES seems solid too and it is definitely the more responsive game. They both are graphically pleasing. It's a real tough choice!

On a side note, when will they make the control of a soccer game with the analogs? They could devise a control scheme similiar to NHL09's where your foot = the right stick. PES started it with the passing with the right stick, but it's way too inaccurate to use all the time. If EA could somehow translate the fun and control of their NHL game to FIFA, I would be all over it like white on rice.

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:26 pm

I dont know which game but i do know you should be eating brown rice instead of white.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 2:17 am

I am also torn on this

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 4:41 am

Zlax45 wrote:I am also torn on this

Me too. PES 2009 seems much improved over last year and FIFA 09 seems to be much like FIFA 08 with tweaks.

seanmac31 · Post by **seanmac31** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:53 am

Rodster wrote:
Zlax45 wrote:I am also torn on this
Me too. PES 2009 seems much improved over last year and FIFA 09 seems to be much like FIFA 08 with tweaks.

Yeah, I couldn't turn down PES for $40 at Amazon, but I'll trade in a few and grab FIFA as well. Basically, it just means I'm passing on NBA 2K9 until it's about half price on ebay.