Last year's FIFA offered online play that lagged, but it's been much improved in FIFA 09. You can now avoid EA's sign-up process by logging in as a guest, but you can also carry over an existing EA Sports account or create a new one to keep track of stats. You can play ranked or unranked matches with friends or strangers, and the online system automatically finds people for you to play against. There are also interactive leagues, allowing you to represent your favourite team and take on fans of other teams across the world. These modes were both present last year, but what has changed is that the game is now almost completely free of lag and dropped connections. It's also feature-packed, with leaderboards, player profiles, and even an ESPN news ticker at the bottom of the screen.
There's not much in the way of extras in FIFA 09, but playing through the main game modes wins you credits to spend on new kits, balls, and stadiums. You can also customise and save tactics for each individual team, while the custom formations feature lets you tweak player positions for offensive or defensive play. Finally, the football academy teaches you both the advanced and All-Play control systems, with individual challenges for most situations in the game. FIFA 09 features particularly good player animation. While the facial likenesses may not be as impressive, the Mii incarnations of Wayne Rooney and Ronaldinho are well produced. The sound is similarly impressive, with accurate commentary from Clive Tyldesley and Andy Gray. There's also a well-chosen music selection from the likes of Duffy and MGMT. Presentation is immaculate, with all of the official players and teams from the major footballing nations, as well as a menu system that presents information in a concise, easy-to-understand manner.
By adding greater player support, new game modes, and better online play, FIFA 09 improves considerably on last year's game. The traditional game plays well and offers a deep, rewarding experience. While the minigames are still too lightweight, the new eight-player Footii mode is a fun and novel take on the game. But it's the new advanced control system and the standard controller support that really result in a better game, allowing you to play the game in radically new but also very traditional ways. It's certainly not the definitive version of FIFA 09, but for the Wii, at least, this is the best player on the pitch.
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