FIFA 10 questions

[JeffL]

Still looking for stuff for my new PS3 - yes, kid in candy store analogies apply here.

I used to enjoy the FIFA series, in spite of their flaws (relative to say, Pro Evo) and I see that FIFA 10 has garnered great reviews. Two quick questions:

1. When I look at online video of the gameplay in various reviews, the play on the field looks more arcade than true football. I.e. - non-stop, non-pause, very fast paced. If real games went at the pace of what I viewed, players would be falling over in about 20 minutes.

2. I understand that the manager mode isn't going to have the depth of FM 2010, just how deep and enjoyable is it?

Thanks - and happy Thanksgiving weekend to all!

[sinfony]

Haven't played 2010, but I can offer some thoughts based on my time with 2009.

The play is reasonably fast-paced, but it's not just out of control sprinting all the time. Players do have stamina, which is drained by sprinting, and the more your guys run, the lower their max stamina gets. In any event, you can control your own team's pace just by the way you play it, and you'll do fine by playing it like real soccer.

Manager mode is pretty solid. At the beginning of the season, you'll do things like picking sponsors, and the different available sponsors will have different payouts conditioned on different events (some will pay X when you win a match, and Y if you win the league, etc.) You've also got standard transfer stuff to do. To be honest, I didn't play much of the manager mode because I was totally engrossed by the Be a Pro mode, even though for years I play Pro Evolution Soccer obsessively because I loved the Master League.

[dogbert]

There's a free demo available on PSN; try before you buy?

For me, the speed is fine. It's definitely not trying to be an accurate simulation but it's not an all out arcade game; lots of build up to get an attack. I don't mess around with the manager mode much because I'm waiting for the Ultimate Team expansion - a CCG style build a team game that came out for FIFA09 & I'm sure will be out for FIFA10. Fantastic expansion.

[Tom Ohle]

Still looking for stuff for my new PS3 - yes, kid in candy store analogies apply here.

I used to enjoy the FIFA series, in spite of their flaws (relative to say, Pro Evo) and I see that FIFA 10 has garnered great reviews. Two quick questions:

1. When I look at online video of the gameplay in various reviews, the play on the field looks more arcade than true football. I.e. - non-stop, non-pause, very fast paced. If real games went at the pace of what I viewed, players would be falling over in about 20 minutes.


Games can go both directions. If you slow down the play, you can have a fairly tactical match. I'd argue that it's much more of a sim than it's ever been -- one game can be really fast, the next can be a passing affair, and then you can have an absolutely horrible game where even basic passes seem to go wrong.

I'm having a lot of fun with it, having now been with FIFA for three years since EA picked up its game and, I think, is better than Pro Evo now.

2. I understand that the manager mode isn't going to have the depth of FM 2010, just how deep and enjoyable is it?
Actually haven't played Manager Mode in FIFA 10 yet, though I did in 08 and 09It's certainly not as deep as Championship Manager or anything like that, but I think it's still fun. You have basic financial responsibilities, choose a sponsor, it takes a bit of time to build a really strong team...

But I really like what they've done with the Be a Pro mode in 10 -- you're rewarded for reaching various targets, so the game develops your player as you use him. Score 10 headers and your Heading skill goes up and so on. It's still ridiculously short at four seasons, but still fun; you can theoretically take your created players online as part of Pro teams, but it seems a bit unorganized.

[skyride]

FIFA 10 is better than Pro Evo in every way including realism. I used to be a huge Winning 11 fan but that series has been left in the dust. I haven't tried PES 2010 but 2008/2009 was crap and I really doubt 2010 will be anywhere close to standards set by FIFA 9/10.

Run speed is fine and FIFA 10 added some physics to body contact so you can use momentum to your advantage. If goals are any indication of realism, I find it really hard to get goals in FIFA 10.

You can download both PES/FIFA demos and decide for yourself.

[JeffL]

But I really like what they've done with the Be a Pro mode in 10 -- you're rewarded for reaching various targets, so the game develops your player as you use him. Score 10 headers and your Heading skill goes up and so on. It's still ridiculously short at four seasons, but still fun; you can theoretically take your created players online as part of Pro teams, but it seems a bit unorganized.

Oh! I had no idea that the Be a Pro was limited to 4 seasons! I thought it was more of a career mode.

[sinfony]

It takes quite a while to get through those 4 seasons, though, since you have to play every game.

[Tacitus]

I haven't found speed to be much of an issue with FIFA 10. I think it works pretty well, and I'm really impressed with the strides they've made in bettering the game. I do think it's better than PES/W11 now also, and I was a pretty huge W11 fan.

My biggest issue with FIFA is the lack of strategic variety. There's little(no?) difference in how AI teams play.

[JD]

FIFA surpassed Pro Evo last year, and they managed to stay ahead this year. No reason not to get it. Unless you own a Wii or a PC - in that case, Pro Evo's still the way to go. And this coming from someone who used to prefer the Konami titles ever since the first International Super Star Soccer came out on SNES.

[sam and the firefly]

Pro Evo is certainly faster than Fifa 10. 08 was kind of where the series rebooted into more of a slow-paced sim, and while it's sped up a bit since then it's still far more of a cerebral game. Manager mode isn't really anything like Football Manager, but it does the job and shows how the important stuff affects how you play on the pitch.

I think 10 is pretty much the best football game ever made - including the Wii version of Pro Evo, though I haven't played the latest one yet. The advantages in control used to give that game the edge, but really what Fifa 10 does with physics and atmosphere is impossible to replicate on a Wii. If you can use the Sony wand thing in Fifa 11 it'll be the perfect game.

[Craig O]

I would think that the faster pace is meant to make up for the shorter games.

I mean, if you routinely play full, 90-minute matches in soccer videogames, then I see where you're coming from, but otherwise, your expectations seem unreasonable.

[IkeVandergraaf]

I just picked up 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa after briefly owning FIFA 10 for a few days (used at Gamestop, then returned). I have effectively zero experience with soccer games (and don't really watch soccer) and predictably, I am godawful.

Please, any hints or tips on how to bring my game up. I played Italy vs. Kazakhstan last night and lost. I only got one shot off. I can't seem to figure out how to drive the ball up for scoring chances.

The controls seem crazy complicated. How much of that am I actually supposed to use, and how much of it is for "advanced" players?

And what's a "through ball"?

Also, what settings do you recommend? Difficulty, passing assistance, speed, etc.? I've got everything set at the default and pro difficulty.

[JD]

The controls seem crazy complicated. How much of that am I actually supposed to use, and how much of it is for "advanced" players?
Feel free to ignore all the fancy stuff at first. Doing all the tricks and whatnot is just icing on the cake. Shooting, passing, crossing, dashing, and tackling/straddling is all you should focus on to get a grip of the game.

A through ball is a quick sharp pass towards the direction of the (other team's) goal that basically slices through the defence and sends one of your guys, usually a striker, running. Unlike the standard pass, it's usually longer and not directly aimed at one of your players.

[Hunty]

And what's a "through ball"?

Also, what settings do you recommend? Difficulty, passing assistance, speed, etc.? I've got everything set at the default and pro difficulty.

Disclaimer: This applies to FIFA 10, I don't have the World Cup game. I think there are a few changes but it's broadly the same.

Tricks are nearly always utterly useless in football games, so don't worry about Street Fighter-esque stick twiddling.

Keep the default settings, but always set your difficulty to World Class. You might get hammered at first but you'll improve quickly.

Like JD says, focus on the basics. Not sure how much you know about football in real life, but the game is faithful enough that some knowledge helps. Key things:

1. Keep the ball. Pass it round. Keep it on the ground wherever possible using X to pass.

2. Go forward quickly, and try to drag defenders out of position. Use wingers a lot. Keep an eye on the radar and play the ball into space.

3. Make liberal use of the "give and go" button (L1 + X). This causes the player to make the pass and then run forward at top speed. This catches the computer and many human opponents out a lot. For example; Your quick winger is on the halfway line. He is being closed by two opponents. He plays a quick pass to the centre of the pitch (L1 + X) and runs ahead of these two opponents. The player receiving the pass plays a through ball ahead of him into the space he is running into (Triangle). The winger then usually has the opportunity to cross or attack the goal directly.

4. When defending, don't directly try and tackle the opposing player unless they're in a dangerous position. Instead, hold square so a computer-controlled player on your team pressures the ball, and use the player you're controlling to cut out passes and track people running ahead. If you press both players together high up the pitch by pressing Square and X together, you'll be out of position. Only ever slide tackle if the situation is absolutely dire and the alternative is likely to be a goal.

5. Don't be afraid to shoot. Having a feel for how long you should hold down the button comes with practice. Which leads us to...

6. Play more.