Fifa 10 (PS3)

Before you read this you should know that i'm not a big gamer - mainly sports games and driving games. I don't have an encyclopedic knowledge of the games market - but i do have an opinion as a general games player.

I have played Fifa 10 three times now. At first glance the graphics are excellent and really draw you in.

However after a few games the limitations really start to show up. The players don't move as you want them to and the interaction between the players is oddly stilted.

I gave up and switched back to Pro Evolution 2009 which i think is top drawer.

Great graphics, absorbing gameplay but fatally flawed by ridiculously difficult controls. I have played it for the last time, constantly giving it the benefit of the doubt but now it seems clear: there are some times when the game absolutely refuses to allow you to score. You can be inches from the goal line, with no keeper or opposing player in sight and all the player has to do is to tap the shoot button and surely they'll score. Not if the game doesn't want you to. Go over the bar, get tackled by one of your own players. FIFA knows what it wants and it will find a way. I don't know why we accept this on these games. We think - Oh it's just reflecting reality. Well, it isn't. It would be like a F1 game finding every conceivable way of stopping your car from crossing the line when you're 3 minutes ahead of everyone else. So, if anybody else wants a copy of a game that rewards nothing but steals your time I've got a copy going spare. Just don't buy a new one - it'll only make EA think they're doing something right.

Brilliant game. Both the gameplay and graphics are top notch. The 360 degree movement of players makes the game fantastic to play and much more realistic. The most realistic part of the game has to be, as is usual with FIFA, the licence. The Manager Mode is quality as is the Be a Pro mode; the new Virtual Pro part of the game is fantastic; a great addition to an already great game. The only problem I have with the game is that sometimes the commentary can be a bit iffy (i.e. incorrect commentary) but I suppose not everything can be perfect!

On the pitch the game is great, the only real problem is that keepers come off their line far too easily leading to multiple lobbings. Double tapping triangle to keep them on the line doesn't work as well as it used to. Players lack individuality but that has always been an issue. As i say though, make no mistake, on the pitch it is a great game.

I don't really play online as people are only ever Man utd, Barca, Inter and this time the Uber team is Real. There is a filter this time which helps but most are still the above and reports of quitting and one tactic football are still rife so i stick to offline.

Many would say how it plays on the pitch is all that matters and usually i would agree but the problems off the pitch are so bad that it takes away from the experiece in a way i cannot ignore. Especially in the manager mode which is the core mode. I will not list them as they are too many but just look at the EA and other forums to see all the MM issues. The MM was advertised as being revamped and it has ended up so unfinished and clearly untested (or tested by idiots) that to accuse EA of lying, false advertisment and betrayal of trust is not ott.

The other unfortunate thing here is that EA have a terrible record of patching game modes. EA do patch gameplay issues when pressured but modes including last years MM are usually left alone no matter what

I will state so noone gets me wrong that the actual game of footy it plays is class, it really is, if there were no problems with with the modes then i would give 5 star for the game and 4 star for fun (4 star as the online community is immature and pathetic) but the game is unacceptably untested and unfinished that it falls short of greatness.

I am also disgusted that none of the main reviews mentioned this stuff which it is their duty too, yet another reason not to trust the critics. It was also hyped far too much, bugs or no bugs but that is another story.

You could easily read a review of FIFA 09 and it would read the same as any new reviews so I will in short review the changes and improvements on a vastly improved model. The so hailed revolution of 360 degree movement is seemingly unoticable however lodged deep within the game exists a more realistic style of play only revered by the most hardcore of games it makes some difference when picking out passes but in the large it is unknowingly helpful.

The transfer window has been and gone and of course FIFA has secured all the major licences as par for the course. Be a pro crucially is revolutionary the ability to level up your character in all the modes and see improvements throughout with responsive levelling up is brilliant but this feels like the only major difference, EA have rightly not chosen to pick apart an already brilliant game but in doing so have seemed lazy.

The game is as playable as ever and more realistic and follows the key 'mantre' of easy to play and difficult to master, there is some real great fun to be had out there but it is still not perfect most dynamics and AI is pitch perfect however the ref getting in the way and sometimes dodgy kepper physics means that the game is not perfect and with another year to expand on 09 it is kind of disapointing however missing this delight would be stupid.

I have non ability to give this game the elusive 9/10 so 4/5 will have to do although some may think it deserves far more, EA have far beaten PES and the extent is not becoming more evident as time has gone on however a complete perfect game seems just elusive for EA but who cares when FIFA is this addictive, this good looking, this fun I don't and neither will you, bar far the best FIFA ever - and that is enough to make this a worthy purchase.

So, before everyone goes nuts, I have of course only playe the demo of Fifa 2010. So, this is a review of the demo - just to be clear. My involvement in this boils down to sitting and watching my 6 year old son playing it - his idea of us playing together is me telling him how well he is doing. And he does insist on Playing as Barcelona - I do hope the full game allows him to select the Mighty Southampton FC. Playability looks pretty good so far, but tonight we are going head to head - that will be the real test.