It’s undoubtedly the biggest console release every year, consistently outselling all its AAA rivals every winter, yet how does the FIFA franchise fare on Apple’s humble handheld?
If there’s one thing that every gamer associates with publishers EA with, then it has to be its unrivalled production values. Whether it’s a shooter or sport, you can always expect an EA title to be slathered in a glossy sheen of limitation-bothering graphics and authenticity. This year’s FIFA instalment is no different, with it’s prolonged title sequence featuring a plethora of licensed leagues from around Europe.
Firstly, the facts. In addition to international teams and ‘rest of world’ clubs, FIFA features over 500 teams spread across 30 real world leagues, with each tie showcased in one of the 35 available stadiums, not to mention accurate player likenesses and player commentary from Sky Sport’s Martin Tyler and Andy Gray. Ambitious doesn’t even come close to describing the effort behind FIFA 11, which packs a heaving 858MB file size and is only comptabile with iPhone 4 and 3GS handsets.
No-one had yet noticed the floating orange orb bombing down the wing
While that all sounds great, just how well does FIFA’s iPhone translate the action of its console brothers, especially considering the lack of tactile feedback? Surprisingly well actually. Each FIFA 11 game uses a floating D-Pad that allows 360 degree player movement, which allows players to swipe the screen to encourage an attacking run or tap the screen to attempt skill moves. Similarly, players can tap individual players to switch control if attempting to defend a counter attack.
As for attacking, the right-side of the player’s screen has three options; ‘through’, ‘pass’ and ‘lob’. If you’re wondering where the ‘lob’ option has gone, the longer you hold down an option the more powerful it becomes, hence a powerful pass becomes a lob instead. In practice, the gameplay quickly becomes second nature, with the majority of credit reserved for the implementation of the floating D-Pad.
While FIFA 11 borrows much from it’s console brethren, don’t be expecting a comprehensive Manager Mode or one-on-one Practice Arena, though the latter features in a pleasantly old-school 11 vs 1 training ground mode. Multiplayer is apparently ‘Coming Soon’ according to the title screen but cannot be tested as of this writing. Here’s hoping EA are planning online, rather than local multiplayer options for iPhone football fans.
At just €3.99, FIFA 11 is an exceptionally generous package and pushes the iPhone to its limits in nearly every aspect of its consistently ambitious production values yet whether or not the basic gameplay and touch screen swiping will be to everyone’s tastes is another argument altogether. For what it’s worth, FIFA 11 should provide hours upon hours of football action on the move.
FIFA 11 is available to download from the App Store for €3.99.
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