FIFA Soccer 09 All Play

Time to take my Mii onto the Pitch.

Posted 4 years ago By - Marko Djordjevic

The beautiful game returns to the Wii and EA’s All Play series with FIFA Soccer 09 All Play. Last year’s edition was a step in the right direction and EA hopes that this year’s version is your first choice soccer title. Do they manage to improve the game or does it stay in the middle of the pack? Continue reading to find out.

Gameplay

When the first FIFA game was released on the Wii there were some questions regarding the use of the Wiimote. The controls, while simple, did not give gamers the feel that they were really ‘part of the game’. This year, they have improved the system, but it does take some getting used to. Regardless if you use All Play’s easier control system which assists in the player movements and passing set-ups, it will take most people a few matches before they get fully accustomed to the specific controls. The motions are relatively reliable, but there will be times when you might be surprised at what your team is doing on the pitch. I have played many soccer games in my day, and I was not afraid to go through the tutorials for both All Play and Advanced Controls in order to get used to the gesture system.

As stated previously, it does take a bit of time to get used to the controls. I noticed that the game is a bit more difficult when playing defense, as you may often miss simple tackles or accidentally have your character perform a slide tackle when you didn’t want him to. When playing on the advanced controls, the addition of IR control for passing can also pose a problem at first. If you have a shaky hand or don’t target the screen properly, you might end up giving the ball away or passing in the wrong direction. It does take some getting used to, but once you get into a rhythm, you can really take advantage of proper through passes and lobs. Thankfully there is support for both the GameCube and Classic controllers for those who want to play their matches as they would have past editions.

Since this is All Play, the main selling point for the game is its Footii Play feature. The party games from last year’s edition are back, so those who had fun playing Boot it, Juggling or Table Football will be happy again. The newest edition and by far the best part of Footii Play is the inclusion of the 8v8 mode.

Rather than playing a full 11 a side soccer match, you control any one of the 9 available countries in a modified soccer match. The field is slighter smaller, the players are faster and there are no subs but the action is still the same and fun. It has a very arcade feel including a power bar that you fill up as you string together a series of good passes, defensive moves and/or dribbles. Once the bar is full or near full, the next shot you attempt on target will almost always result in a goal. It’s a nice addition that isn’t over exploited as the bar does slowly drain and resets once the ball goes out of play.

All the players on the field look like Miis to some impressive results; most notable are the funky hair styles of the Brazilian players. If you use your own Mii, they’ll be on the pitch as the team you play as. The only complaint I have with this mode is the fact that there are only 9 countries with some grand omissions including no African or Asian teams and no Italy. Considering this is the only access to National teams in the entire game, a few more would have been a bit more satisfying. Outside of this minor omission, I am anxious to see how EA will expand on this fun feature in the future.

Graphics and Sound

FIFA All Play while a good looking game on the Wii, certainly looks a lot like a PS2 port. While not necessarily bad, most will feel that this is something the game really needs to improve upon in the future. Players do look a lot like their real counterparts and the stadium designs are good, but you will crave for just a little bit more detail. This also causes the game to suffer the same problems as the 128-bit era games as player animations are some-what canned. You encounter situations were players seem to ‘move on rails’, leaving you to watch animations follow through regardless of the situation.

The graphics in the Footii Play mini-games, especially in the 8v8 mode, have a very cartoon-like feel to them, but it actually works in the game’s favour. The colors and the animations are much more appealing and the art-style works for the audience this game is trying to appeal. You will laugh at how funny certain players look in Footii Play, especially England and Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney.

The commentary in the Wii version is not as strong as you would find on the 360 or PS3, but Clive Tyldesley does do a fair job replacing Martin Tyler. There is no commentary in any of the Footii Games but the music is quite catchy. You will probably hum along after a while, but like most midi tunes, eventually it will get to you. The game’s in-game music is exactly the same as all other versions, and still viewed in my eye’s as one of the best and most varied soundtracks available.

Value

There might not be a Be A Pro mode in FIFA All Play but the inclusion of a full featured Manager Mode is still a viable replacement. Some might have loved to have been able to take your Mii and transform them into a SuperStar and it’s most certainly something you can see them doing in the future.

The online features are quite identical with all the other versions including the Interactive Leagues feature which has been around for a few years now. There might not be a large amount of people playing online all the time, but thankfully the lag problems from FIFA 08 have been improved. The game also has plenty of bonus items for you to unlock. As you complete seasons in Manager Mode, win Tournaments or complete games in Challenge Mode and you will be able to unlock plenty of third kits, soccer balls and stadiums. Regardless if you’re playing alone or with friends, there is something for everyone.

Conclusion

FIFA 09 All Play is incredibly fun to play. Even though the Footii Play mode only added one more game-type, thankfully 8v8 is the best addition and should be a focus for future editions. Other than the omission of National Teams in the regular modes, having only 9 countries to choose from in 8v8 and a bit of a learning curve with the control system, this is a solid sports title for the Wii and should be played by all soccer fans.