However, the most recent FIFA titles
have been a clear step up from the
days of Pro Evo’s dominance, that’s for
sure; whether you prefer FIFA or Evo
is, to a larger extent nowadays, down
to personal preference rather than the
quality of the game. While this makes
our job a touch harder – we’d prefer
to be a little more decisive with such
debates – it’s undoubtedly a good
thing for the industry. Yes, FIFA ain’t
too shabby and, for those who haven’t
had the pleasure of this new batch of
EA footy joy, it’s a good time to get in
on the act. It’s far more realistic with
physics that do justice to the game, it’s
nice looking, and best of all, it’s fun.
This doesn’t take away from the fact
that it’s a stripped-down version of
the last one, though. With the focus
on club football, the international
aspect – an important one for many
gamers – is gone, to be replaced by
this nostalgic flick through the pages
of your old Panini albums.
It’s not just a gimmick though, as
there’s method in this sticky-backed
madness. Embarking on a game
rewards you with a starter pack of
stickers that cover everything from
players, managers, contracts, stadia
and chemistry, right through to cards
that can be used in the middle of a game to the benefit or detriment of
your or their team respectively. Play
well and win credits and you’ll soon
have enough points for another pack
to bolster your team, and so on. It’s
not just as simple as collecting the best
players and dumping them into a team
however, as team chemistry comes
into play, too. Certain cards – namely
players, managers and formations – have various benefits when used
in conjunction with others and often
leave you with tough decisions to
make about team selection. In all
honesty though, we didn’t see much
evidence of this on the pitch, but that’s
almost insignificant really, as the joy
of matching up the right cards is an
enjoyable exercise in itself.
