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 FIFA Soccer (PS Vita)
FIFA Soccer’s latest appearance occurs on the PS Vita’s launch lineup and,
as usual delivers the consistently excellent simulation of the sport players
have come to expect. Featuring dozens of licenses from leagues, players and
stadiums, it brings the authenticity and depth to the handheld in fine
fashion. A deep set of online modes adds to the replay value and the
extensive player customization and career modes add to the stakes.
Implementing new touch screen controls allows for a more casual approach,
while the depth is still there for hardcore players. This makes for an
excellent port of the franchise, that delivers a solid sports title with
impressive graphics that shows off the Vita effectively.
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One of the most impressive
aspects of Vita’s first FIFA Soccer
title isn’t the production polish or its innovative new controls. Instead,
the sheer amount of content that’s been scaled-down for the system is what
really sets the game apart. Almost everything you’d expect from a modern
console game appears in the handheld edition, which is an excellent reason
to purchase it. You can smoothly transition between the two effortlessly,
which should please those who don’t want to throw away all their techniques.
As usual, the number of real licenses is impressive. Players have access to
dozens of leagues including Barclay’s Premiere League, MLS, La Liga and
dozens more. Each league consists of dozens of real teams complete with a
full roster of professional players ready to go. You can begin on the Arena
pitch, where you can practice your moves alone, then create set-up plays and
change roles and play as the goalie and try and block shots. Then you can
move on to the big leagues, where you play for real. Once you’ve gained some
proficiency, you can compete in multiple modes. Here you can play single
matches against friendly opponents, or take on rivals. You can also work
your way to the league in tournament modes, in various leagues around the
world. You can even go deeper and play through multiple seasons in career
mode. The game lets you play solo or you can extend your field by playing
online matches, check your rankings, take on opponents either online or
nearby. The online mode also lets you update stats, following your real
world counterparts, update rosters online and challenge yourself with online
matches. The game also brings FIFA’s extensive customization features to the
Vita. This allows you to create your own player down to their haircuts and
accessories. Then you can use them in the “be a pro” mode to build up their
stats and abilities, move up from small-market teams to big league clubs and
build their career. You start at a low grade, but you can focus on specific
skills later on, with the flexibility to make changes along the way. This
features list represents only a fraction of what the game offers, and its
level of depth marks an technical achievement that showcases just how much
power Vita has under the hood.
Once you get on the field, you’ll find that the game plays just as smoothly
and sharply as its console brethren, with fast action and great play
mechanics that capture the essence of the sport. Passing the ball to other
players is fairly easy to accomplish, with the realistic ball physics making
your aim beforehand the most important factor. Shooting the ball towards the
net also requires good timing, aim and position, and it doesn’t go into the
net very often, even on the lower difficulty settings. Learning how to
counter your opponents’ attacks and tackle them before they get in striking
distance is another key skill you’ll need to learn. You can intercept a
loose ball easier, but tackling is a tricky technique to master, since if
you aren’t aggressive enough, you won’t be successful but going in too
strong usually results in a yellow, which makes it imperative to master this
art as well. The opposing AI is typically excellent in the Vita edition, and
even weak teams put up a fight with you. You can’t always see what lies
ahead in all the game modes, so it’s important to anticipate what the
opposition is going to do, which leaves you little time to react in certain
situations. However, the game gives you ample time to learn its nuances if
you put in the time. Experienced FIFA players should have little trouble
with the game’s play mechanics, which are pretty familiar by this point,
with the familiar smoothness and pacing that have become the series
trademarks. A lot of this is due to the consistent controls and interface,
which keep the traditional approach but add a few new twists this time
around.
When you pick up the game
and start playing, you realize that not much has changed on the pitch. FIFA
Soccer’s standard controls offer the usual interface, and veterans of the
series should feel right at home with the Vita edition, which flawlessly
mimics this approach. Players can choose from several configurations,
including classic mode and other variations. You can also add several
assists to make actions such as passing and shooting a bit easier. The
controls offer the usual superb flexibility, allowing you to control the
pacing of each player, with normal or sprinting speeds. You can also choose
how they attack the ball, tackle opponents or play defense when you lead the
match. FIFA also lets you change your overall strategy on the fly, which
lets you set your team to defense or be extra aggressive. You can also
choose to make the goalie automatic, substitute at will, change you and
other aspects of the game on the fly. FIFA
However, EA has added some extra features exclusive to the PS Vita.
The biggest of these is the support for Vita’s touch-screen controls. Using
both the front and back, it allows players to use an innovative system for
soccer games. The front works simply enough, players merely touch the player
they want to control then the section of field where they want to kick the
ball, where it usually lands. You still have to use the buttons for other
functions such as through balls and tackles, but the system is intuitive and
easy to use, though mostly for newbies, as it lacks the precision and depth
offered by the standard controls. More interestingly, you can also use the
back touchscreen as a target for kicking the ball into the net, in fact this
allows you to position your shot using the back as the surface in total,
which is a really cool idea. It’s not flawless, since players kick the ball
if you touch the back accidentally, which happens enough to be annoying.
However, it’s still a fun new way to play the game. You don’t have to use
these, or can use either during a standard match, which makes it a fun extra
to use. Overall, the controls in FIFA Soccer are fairly easy to use and the
innovations give the gameplay a contemporary, modern feel.
The
gameplay matches FIFA’s typical high-quality, but there’s another factor
that makes this port impressive. It might seem superficial, but the graphics
are quite impressive in the new game as well. They nearly equal the HD
quality seen in a modern console game, with the fluid character movement,
multiple camera angles and excellent replay features that lend the game an
impressive look overall. The large screen that Vita offers provides a robust
and sharp display which makes the game look fantastic as well. Add in
color-commentary, a roaring crowd and you have a title that looks a feels
like a professional sports broadcast with a slick sheen and excellent
production values evident throughout. FIFA Soccer on the Vita looks, feels
and plays almost identically to its console counterparts, and while this
familiarity might be a little disappointing, EA has added a few twists, such
as touch-screen controls that make this one worth playing for sports fans.
-M.Palisano
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