EA is known for making games for almost every sport under the sun, and Soccer (Football everywhere else in the world) is no different. The latest in the series of FIFA Soccer games, FIFA Soccer 10, is now out in stores and aims to improve on last year’s edition. This year, EA decided to revamp not only the gameplay, but also the graphics for the Wii version. Despite not being as popular as the Madden franchise, there’s still plenty to get Soccer fans excited in FIFA Soccer 10.

For starters, this is the 3rd FIFA Soccer game to be released for the Wii and the first one since last year’s ‘All-Play’ edition. I didn’t have a chance to play last year’s game, but I know there were definitely some complaints about the Wii version specifically. Thankfully, EA has heard the fans and responded by including some big changes for this year’s edition.

The game features many of the standard modes common to the game, but now also comes with some new ones. There is the normal quickplay mode, called ‘Hit the Pitch’, which allows you to jump right into a game. I found this really wasn’t the best place to learn how to play the game and that the ‘Training’ mode was a much better fit for me having never played a FIFA game before. The Training mode allows you to complete a series of drills that train you in the various aspects of the game: Passing, Ball Control, Corner Kicks, Free Kicks, and Shots on Goal. You can choose to practice in open play or specific exercises and I would definitely recommend it for newcomers. Speaking of which, FIFA 10 didn’t abandon the All-Play controls from FIFA 09. The same controls are present in FIFA 10 which allow you to play with only a Wii Remote. It’s a little weird playing with only the Wii Remote because the running is all automatic and it can be frustrating if your character doesn’t go to an open lane when an opportunity arises. However, it does make the game easier since your character will often get plenty of open shots and it’s up to you to shake the Wii Remote at the right time to shoot the ball. It’s all pretty simple with All-Play controls, but the simplicity will definitely not cater to more experienced players.

For players wanting to fully play the game, FIFA 10 offers both a Wiimote/Nunchuk control combo and also a Classic Controller option. I personally like the Wiimote/nunchuk combo the best, but some players will like the added speed and precision of button presses if they’re used to a controller. Most of the controls are fairly straight forward, A passes, B is for lobs, Z sprints, D-pad controls trick moves, and shaking the Wiimote shoots. These are the moves for offense whereas defense uses A to switch players, B to steal, and shaking the Wiimote to slide tackle. The controls sound pretty straight-forward, but I had the hardest time getting used to shaking the Wiimote to shoot the ball. I would find myself close to a great shot opportunity and ended up hitting the B button instead, and missed the shot. Maybe it’s because I’m used to playing Super Mario Strikers, but for some reason shaking the Wiimote didn’t seem that intuitive to me. Despite some of my hiccups with the controls, the gameplay is a still a lot of fun, especially for Soccer fans.

One of the new features for FIFA Soccer 10, is the ‘Battle for Glory’. This mode allows you to feel what it’s like to be a manager of a Soccer team. You’ll play through normal games and tournaments, but you’ll also get to choose ‘cards’ before a game that pertain to certain achievements. These could be scoring 2 goals in the game or not getting a red card. Each of these cards is worth points that, when earned, add to your team’s rating. It’s a pretty slick system and it’s a good motivator to play better each game. The game also features a standard Tournament play where you compete for the top spot in the world and an Online mode where you can play with up to 4 people.

Graphically, the Wii version really shines over the last 2 editions. They’ve gone with a more stylized approach this year, but not too stylized that the characters end up looking like Gumby on the field. It’s a clean style that is still realistic, while also providing better clarity and fewer jagged polygons. All of the fields look great with vivid colors and the light/shadows look fantastic in-game. There is also a lot of detail added to the game when players are controlling the ball, and animations were all very fluid.

The game’s presentation is also top-notch. Everything from the detail on the menus to the game’s layout and interface is really slick. You can tell EA takes a lot of pride in their presentation. This is especially so in the game’s online interface which is super easy to use and I was connecting to people online in no time.

Multiplayer

FIFA Soccer 10 allows up to 4 players to compete or co-operate in matches locally or online. You can choose teams from every league and even home and away jerseys. The game also keeps track of all your stats as you play in any of the game modes so you can keep track of your friends’ progress online and how many yellow/red cards they’ve racked up. Playing online will also rank you against other players around the world to test your skills up against. As far as replayability, FIFA Soccer 10 has you covered.

Conclusion

FIFA Soccer 10 is a breath of fresh air for sports games. I admit I’m not the biggest Soccer fan, but even I had a great time with the game. If the game can make Soccer fun to me, then it’s definitely succeeded in providing a great experience for both veteran, and casual players. If you’re a soccer fan, or just a Wii gamer in the mood for a good sports title with lots of replayability, look no further than FIFA Soccer 10.

FIFA Soccer 10 gets an 8.7/10