FIFA 10 Review [Wii]

05 Oct 2009 at 10:47:17 by Nick Akerman
Systems used to review this title: (WII)

It’s easy to dismiss FIFA 10 on the Wii. Who wants to be aimlessly flapping their hands about and squinting hopelessly at the TV in hope of realistic graphics, when they could be comfortably lapping up the aesthetic beauty of the 360 or PS3 release? Thankfully, it’s not as simple as that. Comparing the Wii release to other consoles would be like comparing the Jamaican national team to England’s; the former is vibrant, full of style and childish fun, while the latter means business (and can break your heart in an instant). Yes, as much as I hate to admit it, FIFA 10 on the Wii is actually good fun. Let down your barriers, invite your manliest, most beer-guzzling friends in and wait for the room to fill with cries of, ‘Oh, it’s quite good actually!’

Let’s make no mistake about it; FIFA 10 Wii is aimed towards the younger football fan. It’s slick, comic book style menu system is testament to this, and a world away from the complex, almost endless options of the 360/PS3 release. Strangely, it doesn’t feel dumbed down at all, instead fitting the bill as an addictive alternative to what many would consider the main release. There’s no messing about, no time wasted fiddling with stats and an overly complicated transfer system; it’s all about playing the (slightly less) beautiful game.

With various ways to actually control your team, EA have covered all bases from children who want to fling their bodies in front of screen with every pass, to Dads who want to sit back and play their offspring with the familiarity of a classic controller. While playing with the classic controller offers an underwhelming experience that feels stolen from the realms of last generation gaming, utilising the Wii Remote and Nunchuk together is the way to go. The Nunchuk joystick controls the direction you run and pass, with the Wiimote providing the buttons to carry out passing, tackling, and a variety of neat little tricks. The Nunchuk also comes in handy for sprinting and chipping the ball: a particularly effective tool against the idiotic goalkeepers on the lowest difficulty setting. To keep things feeling fresh, shooting is always mapped to waving your arm towards goal if you’re using the Remote, a nice little touch when you’re using buttons the rest of the time. Although this was the control scheme I was most comfortable with, there are plenty of variations to keep everyone happy. You can opt to map out your player’s runs by pointing and clicking if you like, but as PES 2009 proved, this method is irritating, and makes the sport seem like an unnecessary chore.

Once out onto the pitch everything flows as expected. Passing is insanely snappy, allowing you to turn defences inside out within seconds. The whole game is wagered towards the extreme; expect to score (and concede) goals from just inside the halfway line, bicycle kicks from outrageous angles, and indeed, an alarming amount of free kicks. After a few games, seeing a scorcher fly in the top corner becomes second nature, as you’ll train yourself to shoot where you would pass in other, non-Wii football games. Out of the three difficulty modes, only the hardest offers competition to be wary of for seasoned players. If you’re up for a challenge and aren’t afraid of getting stunned by Wolves in the last minute, then this is the difficulty for you.

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