Fifa 10

Review from Starks, Starks, Starks, Starks, Starks, Starks and Starks - Saturday, 07 November 2009 @ 12:24am

Starks: So I’m sitting here with David Beckham. David, thank you for joining us and welcome.

David: Happy to be here Starks.

Starks: So David, tell us a little about your FIFA 10 experience.

David: Well, that’s quite a question. What to say… The game plays well.

S: It does?

D: Yes. It’s a fairly accurate representation of football. The engine itself is both realistic and the environment the correct dynamic, reflecting the behaviour and movement of true players

S: That’s good to know. So everything acts and feels like it should in a real soccer match?

D: Football match.

S: Hmm?

D: It’s football, not soccer.

S: Oh right. Yes, you’re right.

(Starks crosses his toes)

D: But yes, you’re right. It’s a very accurate representation.

S: For someone who hasn’t played a FIFA before, like myself, what are the selling points?

D: A number of things should sell it for you. Firstly, it’s football.

(Starks muffles a laugh by pretending he’s coughing)

S: Sorry, sore throat.

(David passes Starks a cup of water)

S: Thanks.

D: Secondly, the game really depicts the true nature of football. Whilst it can seem fairly simple, the expert player in FIFA can really bamboozle his opponent with fancy footwork, clever passes, tactical kicks and strategic field placings.

S:…

D: I’m trying to say it’s a very good simulation of the game of football.

S: Oh, right. Yes, well, I’ve never played FIFA before, so the game really has no benchmark for me.

D: What did you think of it?

S: I thought I was asking the questions?

Don't kick my nuts man!!

D: Answer the question skippy.

S: Well… I thought the game was very good. I have to admit – it was a lot of fun. I’ve played quite a few games with mates and we’ve enjoyed it a heap. I also thought, graphically, it was quite stunning even on a crappy TV.

D: Ah, very good. All positive qualities that make a good game.

S: What else do you think sells the game?

D: Definitely the ability, as you said, for your mates to play and have some fun. There’s nothing like playing Australia vs New Zealand, in your case. Or Australia vs England.

S: Well, actually I found that the potential for a skill gap is quite large. It was only that my friends were so pathetic like me that we could have fun.

D: That's just cause you suck. But there's also the ability for you to utilise one of the new features, which is the practice mode. This allows you to practice specific set pieces or just get better at kicking goals.

S: Pretty handy, actually.

D: Yes, it is. How did you not know about this?

S: Well...

D: You're hopeless man. Why Yug ever let you review on the site is beyond me.

S: Hey, well... I am rubber, you are glue.

D: Charming, just steal from Monkey Island why don't you. Anyway, another of the new features is the Manager Mode, which allows you to take the role of club manager.

S: Oooh, snazzy.

D: Indeed. This gives you the chance to develop the talent of your specific players, manage them through the season and buy, sell and trade to get a better squad.

S: Wow, that's pretty cool!

D: It is. It's a new perspective to the game that wasn't previously involved and adds another dimension. Along with the Virtual Pro, FIFA 10 takes on a more holistic approach to football.

That's using your head!! Ah ha! Ah ha! Ahh... *sigh*

S: What's Virtual Pro?

D: Did you even play FIFA 10?

S: Errr...

(David sighs as he watches Starks shuffle uncomfortably in his chair)

D: I think I should apply for your role at Australian Gamer. You're clearly a useless reviewer.

S: I am not!

D: You are too. For those wanting to know, Virtual Pro is the ability to design your own player and create a career. I guess a good way to describe it is an RPG Football simulator, where you develop your skills, play for different clubs and build a career, or story.

S: So it's like a 'choose your own story book'?

D: I'm surprised you can read, but yes - That's fairly accurate. It's from the perspective of the player and during games you stick to the same player throughout.

S: Ingenious!!

D: I would say a logical progression for a sports simulator, really.

S: Anything else?

D: Live Season 2.0 is new. It allows you to hook into Xbox Live and update all your stats and data to mimic the real world.

S: Nice. A good feature.

D: It also allows you to be ranked against other players in the world through their leaderboards as well as heaps of other options.

GOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!

S: What rank are you?

D: 3rd at the moment.

S: Who's beating you?

D: Zinadine Zidane and that fat bastard Maradona.

S: Oh. Hand of God type of stuff?

D: Nah, he's just got nothing else to do so plays it all day.

S: Cool.

D: Is there anything else you need to know? I have to go and make love to my beautiful wife Posh Spice.

S: Yes, can I -

D: No, you can't join in.

S: But, but -

(David sighs)

D: Look, I'll give you Ginger's number. She's usually sympathetic to people like you.

S: Cheers dude!

One for all the ladies of AG...

Pros

Graphically impressive. Great fun as a game, and realistically has hours of replayability as the better you get, the more enjoyment it gives as you totally outclass your mates or the computer. The new additions (Although it was all new to me as I've never played FIFA before) were just awesome. Manager was brilliant and added a totally new dimension to the game, whilst Virtual Pro was different and tried something new.

Cons

Not a whole lot. I would suggest that once you beat the game at its highest difficulty, there's not much more to do than just play with mates. I found that the learning curve was a bit steep, but if you spend some time in the practice mode, then that's not as much an issue.