Console soccer hits the iPhone

Along with Pro Evolution Soccer, FIFA has dominated the world of soccer sims for a few years now. Finally, EA has decided its time for the game to go mobile, and the result is FIFA 10 for iPhone.

Just like the ‘real’ FIFA 10, the iPhone version is a fully licensed simulation that lets you play in competitions from a wide range of World leagues, ranging from the Scottish Premier League to the Brazilian League. There’s also a wide selection of international teams, and you can compete for the ultimate prize, the FIFA World Cup.

There are several game modes in FIFA 10 including a management option, multiplayer over WiFi, and the now ubiquitous ‘Become a Pro’ format, where you choose a player or create your own footballer and play only as them, with the aim of achieving as much as you can in your career.

Of course, the biggest concern with porting a game like FIFA 10 to a small screen device is the playability. Thankfully, EA have just about got it right. The controls are based around a touch joypad and two on-screen buttons for passing, shooting, tackling, etc. While this system obviously doesn’t allow for the full range of tricks and moves as a console joypad, it is very comfortable and easy to pick up.

One thing I will point out while we’re talking about controls is that touch control on the tactics and management screens is woeful. The fact that the player names are so small means you can spend two minutes just trying to swap one player with another. I find it incredible that this could’ve been ignored by EA’s testers during FIFA 10’s development.

Naturally, the graphics in the iPhone version of FIFA 10 aren’t as polished as they are on its big screen counterpart, and there are no real player likenesses. Likewise, the commentary isn’t as comprehensive either and you won’t hear any player names being read out. This isn’t a criticism as such because, for a handheld football game, FIFA 10 is very well presented in the main.

The matches themselves are just as absorbing as they are in FIFA 10 on any other platform. The satisfaction of sticking one in the onion bag from 30 yards is still fantastic, and the flexible replay system allows you to enjoy the moment over and over and over again.

Overall, FIFA 10 probably justs shades X2 Football game as the best iPhone soccer game, if only for the fact it has such a wealth of licensed players, teams and leagues.

Added a floating D-pad optionIncreased touch responsiveness within Team Management screens and other placesFixed an issue with some player’s hairstylesIncreased default difficulty to semi-proIncreased the level of AI foulingMore improvements and fixes

Changes

• Added a floating D-pad optionIncreased touch responsiveness within Team Management screens and other placesFixed an issue with some player’s hairstylesIncreased default difficulty to semi-proIncreased the level of AI foulingMore improvements and fixes