FIFA Soccer 11 Review for PC

System: X360, PS3, PC, Wii, PSP, PS2	Review Rating Legend
Dev: EA Canada	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: EA Sports	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Sept. 28, 2010	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-7 (local) 1-22 (online)	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

The Career mode is new, which essentially combines Be A Pro and Manager (and Player Manager) to a fifteen-year career for your chosen path. Playing as a pro is as you expect, lots of game playing, though the option to switch between controlling the entire team and one player is a nice one to have. The manager options are quite extensive as you attempt to build your club into one to be feared. While the sheer amount of options and depth are to be commended, a novice or casual fan of the sport could easily feel it’s too much to process and get scared away. I’m a sucker for soccer management simulations, thanks to my local BBS with the demo to 1994’s One-Nil soccer sim, and I like the ability to get down and dirty with building my club for the future; I just fear that most casuals will be turned off by the complexity.

FIFA Soccer 11 screenshot

Keeping the energy flowing is a fantastic soundtrack with over thirty quality tracks of artists you may know and ones you’ll be glad you’ve discovered. Lincoln Park, We Are Scientists, and Scissor Sisters are just a sample of the variety available. But should you find nothing to your liking, you are in luck, as you can import any song you’d like, provided you digitally have a copy of it, into the game to be used. It’s things like these that makes me think that the addition of hard drives to this generation’s consoles was certainly worth it.

Online play, after inputting the code to access EA’s controversial Online Pass system, of course, is nearly identical to last year, which is a good thing. Provided your internet connection is fast enough, you will receive little to no lag while getting your game on. The biggest change is that with the inclusion of the goalie as a playable position, you can now experience eleven-on-eleven gameplay online against your friends… provided you have twenty-one other friends that is, otherwise against friends and strangers. Just to be clear.

All told, EA’s newest entry into the FIFA series is another slam dunk. It may not have reinvented the wheel quite like FIFA 10 did, but it adds considerable and quality enhancements. FIFA 11 is more than a roster update or quick grab at money. That EA has brought even more authenticity to the gameplay, whether it from Personality Plus or the enhanced physicality, while adding in the goalkeeper play as well, makes this a game worth checking out. Its realistic depiction of the game of soccer may detract from the more casual fan’s experience, but FIFA 11 is so good it will just be a matter of time until that casual is won over anyway.

By Caleb Newby
CCC Freelance Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.2

Graphics
New physicality system and animations improve on last year’s game.

4.2

Control
The new passing system can take a bit of getting used to, but once you do it works well.

4.5

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The soundtrack is phenomenal while the in-game commentary is great. Customizing your own chants is a fun feature as well.

4.5

Play Value
With the number of licensed clubs, Career options as a player and manager, and online component, FIFA 11 will keep you busy for a long time.

4.4

Overall Rating - Great
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Personality Plus sees a footballer's performance on the pitch mirrored authentically in game, creating clearly differentiated players with individual personalities. Personality Plus at every position and for every player on the pitch reinvents how players perform – on and off the ball.

A new passing system where pass accuracy is determined by a gamer's ability on the control pad, and player skill, situation and urgency on the pitch. Poor decisions or over/under striking the ball will mean error-prone outcomes. New types of passes such as swerve passes will enable players to make a safer and more effective play.

Complete Authenticity -- twenty-eight officially licensed leagues, over 500 licensed teams and more than 15,000 players.

Live out the fantasy of being a real life footballer by creating yourself in-game with a 3D head using Photo Game Face. Play as yourself across any mode. Grow your player attributes through 200 accomplishments and take your Virtual Pro online to become a global superstar.