Last year’s installment in EA’s long running soccer dynasty was hailed
as one of the best titles in the series to date. FIFA 11 thankfully adds
to the excellent feel of last year’s game, but adds in a number of
incremental and major upgrades that make the game even better in most
respects. The most significant changes occur on the field which features a
much more dynamic AI system that makes matches less predictable while
requiring more skill on the player’s part. The first things players are
likely to notice is the overhauled passing system, which requires a great
deal of precision, making it more challenging. Instead of passing
automatically to other players on the field, you now have to aim your
player in the right direction before they shoot. This gives you greater
accuracy but makes the gameplay a little more difficult, since there’s
more room for error. This results in missed passes and more interceptions
than you’d like, which can be a little annoying. Thankfully, there’s a
newly expanded practice mode that allows you to learn these new gameplay
mechanics under less pressure. Helping to ease the transition is the
return of FIFA’s storied 360 degree dribbling system. This helps to keep
the game flowing nicely on the pitch, allowing you to move, turn and,
change direction on the fly as you move the ball up the field. Taken
together, the improved passing system and dribbling gives players a much
more versatile and flexible set of moves on the field, and makes for an
intuitive and realistic feeling soccer game.
The
more complex passing system gives FIFA 11 a slightly different play style
than it had last year. Most players should find the controls fairly easy
to understand and master, and EA has once again implemented an extensive
Arena section where you can practice shooting, passing and other
goalkeeping. In addition, you can now order up and create set-pieces and
play matches as you wish in this mode. Several different arenas are also
included so your practice sessions won’t become tedious. FIFA 11’s
depth is very impressive, and taken together these new control elements
definitely make for a marked improvement from last year’s edition.
However, the controls offer is a significantly different approach overall.
These new mechanics will likely make some of your initial matches
exercises in frustration. Once you get the hang of it, FIFA’s new
passing system is fairly intuitive. FIFA 11’s other big change is it new
Personality Plus feature. This gives many of the super-star players a
better rendered avatar on the field, and also allows them to show more
personality on the pitch. They’ll be more apt to perform their signature
moves such as aggressive tackles or slicker passing moves. This makes them
less predictable than most of the other AI players which makes for more
exciting game with different tactics used on field. Personality Plus also
allows them show some of their personality with their own celebration
sequences. Personality Plus means the individual players have a bigger
impact on each march with their unique skills giving the teams a distinct
advantage. This becomes another key element once you understand how it
works and learn to use it to your advantage. It definitely adds another
layer of depth onto FIFA 11 and makes the game feel even more realistic
and authentic.
Another
major addition in FIFA 11 expands the Be-A-Pro mode to include the
goalkeeper position. This was the last piece that the series needed, but
you can now play the complete roster of players. It works like most of the
other Pro modes and offers a different challenge. The objective is to
block shots as you might expect, but the trick is to anticipate where the
ball is headed to the net. It definitely a change of pace from the other
positions in FIFA, but the game allows you to practice in the Arena mode
for awhile and you can get the hang of things pretty quickly. The game
shows you the action at a good angle that allows you to see the opponent
running towards the goal. Where they attack on the field, how fast they
are running and where they place the ball is critical. Controlling the
goalie is a bit more complicated than you’d expect, since you can move
them in any direction on the field and your position determines how
effective you’ll be. Some moves are very easy to see, while others are
trickier, depending on the skill of your opponent. FIFA 11 makes this an
easier task thanks to the onscreen indicators which show in a general
area, where the shot is going to be and what direction its coming from.
Playing this mode through a full match requires a bit more effort than
you’d expect since you are latent for long periods of time than have to
spring into action suddenly. Playing the goal isn’t as action-packed as
some of the other positions but the mental challenge makes it an
interesting addition to the game.
Playing
the goalie is only the tip of the game’s extensive Pro mode, which seems
to become even more extensive with each passing year. As in previous
installments, you begin with a fairly basic player with average skills and
build them up by playing successfully. This is a slow process at first,
but you win points by performing special moves, playing consistently and
winning matches in the Be-a-Pro mode. However, poor on-field performances
can penalize your player as well, so you have to be careful not to mess up
or you can see your career stymied. You can assign the points you win to
your player and make them stronger and focus on key areas. You can earn
points in most areas of the game including the Arena, playing online and
in matches. This lets you to create a strong player rapidly without much
trouble. In addition to the basic points you’ll earn, completing
specific tasks unlocks additional content and customization features.
FIFA
11’s Personality Plus system also expands into the player customization
mode. This system is easy to use and navigate, giving you even more
flexibility when creating your player. There are tons of new customization
features available to players this year, with the ability to customize
your player’s appearance in even greater detail. For example, there are
many more cleats available to use and the uniforms can be customized as
well. You can also create your own celebration animations and moves, add
more specialized skills to your player. You can go even further than this
and include your own team chants, music tracks and even import your face
onto your FIFA player. The level of depth in the career mode is impressive
and it allows you to fully immerse yourself in the game. You can play
through a season with a team and compete in matches, freindlies and
practice sessions earning points along the way. You can go even deeper and
play through an entire career as well, switching teams when offers or
transfers come along. This role-playing element makes for an immersive
soccer experience that develops an effective bond between you and your
player, if you want to go that deep inside FIFA 11.
There’s
plenty of other options and modes to discover in the game that we
haven’t even touched on yet. For example, FIFA 11’s extensive online
mode delivers a feast of football for players. You can choose to play
one-on-one against a foe in a standard match, compete in the Be A Pro mode
with other online players, go through a season or match mode and many
other options. Your online performance will also be reflected in your
player which makes them more important, too. The game’s online component
is very easy to navigate and use, and feels as seamless and impressive as
the disc-based game. There’s very little lag and online matches can
offer plenty of challenge as well. FIFA 11’s attention to the small
details in this department is impressive and extends to matchmaking
lobbies and player rankings, which allows you to set up and play an online
match with a dream team of other players. In addition, the game streams
real-time stat updates, league news and player moves are all available
from the main menu and many of these can be updated and used in the game
as well. Additionally, players can save and share replays of their best
matches online with others and make cinema sequences, which is impressive
as well. This makes for a remarkably robust online component, one of the
most polished and deep we’ve seen in any sports title to date. FIFA 11
definitely sets a new standard in this department.
As
you might expect from a game that features a full compliment of licensed
players and teams, FIFA 11’s visuals are superb as well. The player
animations have been improved dramtically and they now move along the
field with much more realism. The dribbling animations in particular are
more fluid and lifelike. Each player’s render has also been upgraded in
many ways and they now look more like their real-world counterparts. As
usual, the commentary and sound effects are excellent. Crowd sounds and
chanting ups the ante, giving each match a sense of drama and intensity
that makes it feel quite authentic throughout. With its beautifully
rendered fields, smooth television camera angles and effective first
person viewpoint in the Pro modes, FIFA definitely feels slick and modern.
Excellent menu design, a super smooth replay mode and realistic looking
players combine to make FIFA 11’s visuals polished and professional.
With all the changes and upgrades that EA has made to this year’s
installment, it’s little surprise that FIFA 11 retains the series’
position at the peak of sports titles. The new passing system adds more
strategy and realism to playing and works well with the 360-degree
dribbling system to deliver a much more precise sense of control to the
action. The deep Pro mode and extensive customization options give the
game plenty of depth and longevity. FIFA 11 is markedly improved from last
year’s installment, making it one of the best sports games on the market
that sets a new standard of excellence in the genre.
-
Michael Palisano
