Visually, FIFA 09 is one of the most impressive sports games on the market. Stadiums are brilliantly recreated, with rich pitches and a wonderful lighting engine that puts the competition to shame. But despite having played offline and online extensively, I didn't once play in the rain or snow weather conditions. If these weather effects are in the game, they need to show it off more frequently.
Player models, which were laughable in previous games with their barrel-like physiques and faces made of melting wax, have been improved to an extent, but the team probably only had enough time to work on the more high-profile players, because many of the players from the Serie A and Bundesliga still look like their putty avatars from FIFA 08. For all the emphasis on realism, it's shocking to see that player names on jerseys sport the same style across all teams. The font is jarring and unevenly sized depending on the length of the player's name. It's bemusing to think that such an aberration has been allowed to pass year after year. It's a very small, superficial issue, but one that will jump out at you.
FIFA has always trumped the opposition in the sound department as well, and after this year, it looks like the trend is set to continue. Commentary from Martin Tyler and Andy Gray is spot-on and comments are seldom out of place. Crowd chants also vary as events unfold on the pitch. Signature crowd chants from various clubs can be heard throughout the game and they change in intensity and volume based on their team's position. It flows very well with on-field events and combined with the great commentary, creates a charged atmosphere for an added level of immersion.
The soundtrack too is a good mix, although you will find a couple of shockers in there, which you are free to switch off from the options menu so you never have to suffer through them again.
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