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EA’s FIFA titles are the type of sports games that keep on improving but don’t necessarily do it by leaping forward in great lengths. FIFA Soccer 10 really does fall along those lines, but the incremental improvements put together by EA Canada combine to create a solid experience on the virtual pitch. If you played last year’s version, you would’ve noticed that individual players stood out more, and not just superstars who could be magicians in one-on-one situations. Bigger and stronger defenders could muscle out smaller strikers, while speedy midfielders could create time and space by sprinting just enough to an opening and make a quick pass. All of that has been upgraded to make it even better. Players can pivot more realistically now, as opposed to the very regimented eight-point directional options offered by the controller’s analog stick. Players will fall a little more than before, and most of the time, you won’t hear the referee’s whistle calling a foul. The player animations in these sequences are more varied, meaning that a player could tumble over completely or simply lose his balance. The drawback to how this was done is in the timing for recovery because there practically isn’t any. Jostling is a natural part of the game, but when it gets to a point where you slightly lose your balance but can’t even recover until the ball is clearly held by the opposing team, it can be very frustrating.    The AI on both sides is better, but improvements need to be made. There’s a lack of urgency sometimes in the way players react to unfolding plays. Defenders will sometimes zealously chase balls that are going out for goal kicks, while strikers or midfielders won’t let a ball go when it will end up as a corner kick for their team. A certain passiveness toward loose balls that are there for the taking is another annoyance. And finally, goaltenders end up diving for balls that are going along the ground and clearly going wide of the net, and though they usually miss, they sometimes still make contact causing corner kicks for the opposing squad. These gripes are fairly minor though, since they don’t overly impact the outcome of games unless they directly lead to goals in the final moments. But still, goaltenders are a bit tougher to beat this year, and they make better decisions when it comes to punching the ball out on a shot or coming out to challenge oncoming strikers. Of the new modes that were introduced the Virtual Pro is a definite winner. It takes the best elements of the Be A Pro mode and incorporates them in a way where you can play as a team without being constantly isolated on one player. This allows for a more inclusive gameplay experience that doesn’t become tedious after a few games. Be A Pro, as is, tends to get like that, especially if you don’t get that many touches in a match. It’s hard to say right now, but I could see Virtual Pro entering EA’s other sports games as early as next year. Aside from creating your player, you can also upload a photo of yourself using GameFace. It’s not bad, but don’t expect it to be fantastic. Once your player is on the pitch, there are tons of achievements to earn that will definitely take time to get through. But the biggest advantage of Virtual Pro is that your created player isn’t limited to just that mode. You can use him in everything from Manager Mode, simple exhibition matches and even the practice arena to work on skills. And no matter how you use him, you can still earn achievements and improve his skills. This includes taking him online to form a team with other Virtual Pro teammates. Like other EA games this year, you can form teams with up to nine other gamers online and take on other teams. The lag that sometimes plagued last year’s game isn’t as prevalent in FIFA 10. Most games go smoothly, including those that feature up to 20 Virtual Pros taking part. In terms of graphics, I can’t say that FIFA 10 looks remarkably different from last year, but there is a certain crispness to the game that is easy on the eyes. It’s hard to really imagine anyone having too many issues with how the game looks.  Whether or not it’s worth it to you to upgrade from FIFA 09 really depends on if you want to try something a little different. Virtual Pro is the only major shift in FIFA 10, whereas the rest of it represents incremental improvements that add to what already was a stellar package. Needless to say, diehard soccer fans probably already got this game, but for those on the fence, it could still be worth it for you too.    FIFA Soccer 10 Format: PS3 Publisher: Electronic Arts Developer: EA Canada ESRB Rating: Everyone Official Site: http://fifa.easports.com/home.action Rating: 9 / 10

 

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