First Look At Fifa 09

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 12:14 am

Jared wrote:I'm not going to do an overview, but it's essentially Be a Pro mode for Winning Eleven, with you starting off (usually) on a 2nd division J-League team. Progression is relatively slow (i.e. you're not on ManU at 19), which is actually fun, as you work your way up. I remember my first season on last year's game, I had some three and four game stretches with no playing time, and lots of coming off the bench (like Freddy Adu at Benfica/Monaco). Was a LOT of fun, as I think that the WE/PES engine works a lot better for Be a Pro-like modes than FIFA.

Jared,

I was asking Macca.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:49 pm

PC Demo for FIFA is available

http://www.gamershell.com/download_32458.shtml

I'm very impressed with the PC demo - The PC version of FIFA is light years ahead of last years. Gameplay, graphics, and ball and player physics are looking really good and if I wasn't going to get the 360 version I'd pick this up in a heartbeat. PC only players are going to get a treat - especially if they have a decent rig to run it.

Best wishes,

Doug

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 6:41 am

The 360 demo is up now as well.

Best wishes,

Doug

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 7:17 am

Just played a couple of games of the demo to try it out before I head off to work...

WOW, just WOW! The rails of Fifa 08 which was one of the weaknesses of that game (which was good) are gone. I have to say that if the full version fulfills the promise that the demo shows that I may not play any other game for quite a considerable amount of time.

Player responsiveness appears perfect, pace of the match was extremely good, the physicality of the interaction of the players is spot on, and the AI appears to be just about where it should be - thought I'm not sure which AI level the demo is set to. The game asks about your experience with foot games at the start and it may set difficulty based on that.

Really, I cannot wait for the full version of the game to come out. I've not really played around with the team tactics either. This is just two games with the demo so there may well be some weaknesses in the game I just haven't noticed yet - but there is nothing really glaring yet.

Best wishes,

Doug

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 7:34 am

Can someone tell me if they are bringing Martin Tyler back?

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:22 am

This is very early for a demo. Game doesn't come out for another 4 weeks right?

Great to hear such positive impressions. FIFA 08 was so chunky on the controls it killed the 1p experience for me, so I am very hopeful for this version.

I'll DL tonight, but may not really dive into it because game is still a ways off, and NHL and RB2 this week.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:37 am

Will have to download the demo for the PC. Sounds like good stuff.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 10:42 am

fsquid wrote:Will have to download the demo for the PC. Sounds like good stuff.

Just to clarify,

the one I was raving about in the following post was the 360 version. It's going to be a long month waiting for that game.

Best wishes,

Doug

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 11:06 am

Awesome:

http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox360/fifa- ... 3536218032

MACTEPsporta · Post by **MACTEPsporta** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 11:29 am

Downloaded it this morning and played one game before work. As a result I was late to work, but who cares?! It's not like I was partying with Rob and Zeppo last night.

Anyway, on to the important things. Referees - check, more animations - check, skin tone and faces more realistic - check, responsiveness - check, improved passing - check, no rails on through balls - check, no more buldoser effect on defense - check, no more chestdowns - check, more realistic runs by fullbacks - check, midfield players are now involved in build-up play - check, goalkeepers better - check (this one will need more playing time to fully review, but initial response is that they've fixed some of the goalie annoyances).

Here is what I didn't like. Game is too fast, which I believe undermines some of the changes. I am sure most people will like the fact it's more arcadish than 08, but I enjoy those moments of isolation with the defender, and the quickness with which the help comes now ruins it for me. Shots are too floaty, I though they got the long shots down in the 08 and Euro game messed with what wasn't broken. Some of the AI behaved strangely during the demo. For instance, when my winger was tackled and stayed on the ground rolling around in pain the opposing AI developed some sort of sadistic glitch where it took the ball and continiously smacked it against injured players head. Three or four bangs later he suddenly developed compassion and just dribbled around him.

Jenny Craig is sponsoring this year's game. This is neither good or bad, but FIFA seems to have gone the other way with player models this year. Last year they all seemed big and stocky, this year they are overly thin.

Overall the game has improved, undeniably, but I am really upset about the pace, to fully appreciate all the other improvements.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 3:26 pm

Well I come away with a little different take than Sporta...

What happened to the controls. The feel only slightly better than FIFA 08 and much more rudimentary than UEFA EURO. It's not like players feel heavy they just felt unresponsive.

I only played one game before I had to leave at lunch. I saw a lot of things in a two minute demo that I never saw in FIFA 08.

The contact system I think could be a huge boost to the game. Okay let me rephrase that there isn't a true contact system where dribblers take on defenders. But the tackling engine seems much improved. I was Chelski against Real and Robben made a horrendous red card late tackle on my winger. I had the advantage and was able to play but quickly lost the ball. Whistle blew and sure enough here comes the ref.

That impressed me!

I also saw more fouls in a two minute demo than in 100 games of FIFA 08. That impressed me!

I didn't get any more time with it to dig into the AI and teammate AI, two big flaws in last year's game. It looks like you can adjust team tactics so I want to see if I can mess around with the AI's tactics.

From the little I played, other than player control, if felt very much like WE9. Granted this is one game of two-minute halves. (As most of you know WE9 was my holy game grail.) I'm hopeful FIFA 09 will be enjoyable offline.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 4:24 pm

Did seem a little fast at first, but not too bad.

As I hoped they incorporated some of the improvements that the Euro team put in that game and did some things better.

Set pieces are improved over both games, as is GK play. The camera is better for the set pieces and you can get some actual curl on the ball...maybe too much.

The passing is spot-on, as it was in Euro. Unfortunately they have also incorporated that games incredibly punative foul system. Tons of ticky-tack fouls and every mis-timed slide is a Yellow Card. Euro did the same thing.

Shooting from distance is still a joy, and much better than Euro.

More later.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 4:42 pm

RobVarak wrote:Unfortunately they have also incorporated that games incredibly punative foul system. Tons of ticky-tack fouls and every mis-timed slide is a Yellow Card. Euro did the same thing.

Rob, I think your standard of what constitutes a ticky-tack foul is different from the rest of us.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 4:49 pm

There are ticky-tack fouls in real futbal. I don't see how this is a bad thing. It's better than having 1 or 2 fouls a game, making the set-peice non-existant.

FifaInspected · Post by **FifaInspected** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 4:55 pm

Maybe I was drinking too heavy during Euro, but I did not feel as if there were too many fouls... Now where did I put my beer?

The pace did not bother me at all. I too am impressed with the demo so far.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 5:11 pm

Naples39 wrote:
Rob, I think your standard of what constitutes a ticky-tack foul is different from the rest of us.

True. By my standards there was only one tackle in the whole damn US T&T game yesterday. It was by a T&T player too, a real tommyknocker that sent Klejstan, I think, ass over tea kettle. I gave it the proper applause as it was nice to see somebody commit themselves

JRod, I agree. But I prefer a bit of physical play and at least a better than 1% chance that every slide tackly won't result in a booking. Still early days though, and I may be wrong about this.

I love the animation where your teammates ask for the ball. They should map this to a button for OTP just so I can watch MACTEP look like he's dancing to YMCA while begging for an early through ball

Kudos for having Schalke as one of the demo teams, but they lose points for not including the damn stylish third shirt.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 5:38 pm

For the record, I like the demo. I just wish the controls were more responsive.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 5:45 pm

Shouldn't a missed slide tackled result in a foul. Call me crazy but if you go to ground and miss the ball but get the player -- what should it be?

I wish there more fouls like grabbing a shirt, shoulder tackles, and pushing dribblers off the ball. But I like the new system.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 5:58 pm

JRod wrote:Shouldn't a missed slide tackled result in a foul. Call me crazy but if you go to ground and miss the ball but get the player -- what should it be?

Absolutely! In Euro, and I'm concerned in '09 way too many times you get the ball alone or the ball and then the man and it results in a foul. Most commonly I'll slide in take the ball and have the former ballhandler tumble over me after the dispossession.

They have done a nice job making a slide tackle attempt risky, as in the past it's been too easy to get back into play quickly.

JRod wrote:I wish there more fouls like grabbing a shirt, shoulder tackles, and pushing dribblers off the ball. But I like the new system.

Agree.

MACTEPsporta · Post by **MACTEPsporta** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 7:11 pm

Played a little more, and I found out that pace of the game changes with difficulty. Still too fast, even on the amateur level. I mean they try to make it look realistic, but watching players' feet move is like a kaleidoscope. Shooting still erks me, but I am getting used to it. There is way too much curl at the very end of the shot. And on free kicks you can almost turn the thing around. Beckham is gonna sue. There were things I saw in the previews that are not in the demo, I wonder now how old this build is. They talked about being able to dummy the ball, shield it, ability to add curl to passes, etc... Not there.

Also there is a strange position glitch where your fullbacks are behind your centerbacks, and your d-mid is in front of your attacking mid. I am sure that will get resolved though. Teams play extremely narrow, which coupled with the speed of the game leeds to a lot of turnovers. At least that's my excuse and I am sticking with it. Hopefully, once we are able to edit formations we can put wing player closer to sidelines. Responsiveness is better but a little jerky, not really sure how to explain it, but it's off. I am hoping they can fine tune it before the release.

Since we are talking about things we wish for, Rob, I'd like an electric current being sent to the body part of your choice, so when I ask for a through ball, it "gently" reminds you to pass. I'd also like being able to set the voltage, but I am open to third party internvenion here.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 7:27 pm

I think you'll be able to adjust the speed in the final version. You may be able to do so in the demo but I haven't found a way yet.

Best wishes,

Doug

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 7:30 pm

Interesting that you mention shielding the ball. The ability to do so was one of the things that I loved about Euro that made the transition back to '08 so difficult.

You can do it in the demo, and it works. There's no accompanying animation like there is in Euro, your guy just stands there. But he will keep defenders at bay and they will not come right through you the way they do in '08.

Totally agree about the late break on the ball. It's particularly noticable taking FKs in the arena mode.

MACTEP, just because you're making the run doesn't mean that I'm making the pass.

I hate to use the word "dummy" so let's just say I sometimes find you a convenient distraction to the defending team...

MACTEPsporta · Post by **MACTEPsporta** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 7:52 pm

RobVarak wrote:...let's just say I sometimes find you a convenient distraction to the defending team...

Oh, how true. I am also a convinient distraction to my friends, family and colleagues, but that's besides the point. I understand now that not passing me the ball is part of your multi-level master (no pun intended) plan. You just want to turn it over ASAP, so that you can go back to your true calling - tackling. I, however, want to remind you that I am just as capable of losing the ball, so rest assured, no one is taking your hard earned right to run people over.

How do you shield?

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 7:58 pm

MACTEPsporta wrote:
How do you shield?

Using the new alternate controls. Just turn your back and hold LT. Works better on the higher difficulty because on the lower ones the defenders will just let you stand there. Kind of like the Croatian national team.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:42 pm

In the advanced options setup before the match if you scroll down there is a game speed selection. the default is medium speed so if you think the game speed is too high you can tone it down to slow. I think I prefer the slow setting.

Best wishes,

Doug