PixlBit

As sports games become more complex, the harder they become to make on the Wii. Last year's FIFA had a number of problems in terms of both control and gameplay. It was a very generic game that didn't really have any unique or compelling controls like many Wii games possess.

FIFA 11 decided to go a different route than its predecessor, taking use of the Wii MotionPlus accessory. Rather than attempting realistic graphics, EA Sports went with something more bright and cartoony, which work very well for this iteration and version of the series. The graphics are not quite the same as they would be on the PlayStation 3 or on the Xbox 360, but they are fairly decent for a Wii sports game.

Going from FIFA 10 to 11, players will notice a brand new option, the Matrix Camera View. Sometimes when your character builds up enough momentum for a shot, the player will move in slow motion right as he kicks, making for a very cool touch to the presentation.

FIFA 11 has also become very simple in terms of game modes, but there are a few new additions. Players can choose from standard exhibition, season mode, a manager mode called Battle for Glory, and a 5-on-5 arcade style exhibition. This is one of the biggest new additions, and is essentially a copy of the failed FIFA street series. Online mode rounds out the offering, and it offers a massive improvement over what was available last year.

The 5-on-5 arcade mode is a solid offering as well, especially when matched up to other titles that occupy the arcade space. The 11-on-11 standard mode comes off as pretty dry when matched up to the frantically fun 5-on-5 mode.

Traditional soccer fields aren't available for this mode, which, once again, is a nice change of pace from the standard game. Power-ups also go a long way to altering the experience as they provide abilities like the super shot that knocks down the other team, as well as the ability to dwarf your opponents. The power-ups also change goal types and action throughout the game. While I'd still prefer to play Mario Strikers given the choice of arcade soccer titles, this mode still adds a brand new element of fun not available in last year's release.

As far as the Battle for Glory mode goes, it doesn't offer much depth. There's not much difference from last year's title, though it's still something you can spend hours doing. You can make trades and roster changes, but stat tracking is very poor in terms of management. However, there are game booster cards that you can choose from before each match you play. These boosters allow you to choose from a selection of different goals that you can fulfill during each match. If you complete these goals, you gain booster points which you can later add onto certain players' abilities before your next match.

The season play is as basic as they come, offering no new features from prior years on Wii. All Play mode has returned as well, but as it has been in the past, it's only for the most casual of players, as it strips nearly all complexity from the game.

The gameplay for FIFA 11 on the Wii is fairly different from its HD brethren, but that doesn't mean it isn't fun. The feel is more arcadey, even in the standard style of play, but I found this to be a much better approach. This rings especially true given the controller options in the game.

I found that Wii MotionPlus control was the way to go, particularly if you are looking to just have fun and are not looking to be an expert player. It allows you to control your characters much more fluently compared to using the Classic Controller. The issue in this game, much like the older game, is the passing. If you are an experienced FIFA player, you are basically forced to used the Classic Controller because it is so difficult to do what you would like using the Wii Remote. It is the only way to separate the new crossing controls (which allow you to juke your opponent with the ball) from the passing controls. With the Wii Remote, I would constantly sit there trying to pass to specific people, but it would never go to my intended team mate. Aiming only exacerbated the issue.

Another issue was the lob passing. If you wanted to do a lead lob pass you need to hold down the button for an extended period of time. There were many times where the game seemed to ignore the period of time the button was held, and your character would just do a normal pass and the ball would be intercepted. This became very frustrating, but it is something that won't ruin the gameplay entirely. To avoid these issues I would recommend sticking with the Classic Controller. Free kicks and corner kicks is where the MotionPlus controls came in handy. They allowed you to be able to spin and hook the ball depending on how you swung the Remote. Of course, this is a problem in and of itself, because it means that no control scheme in the game is complete or functional enough to consistently perform all of the game's maneuvers.

I'd have to say that the series has definitely gotten worse with this latest release. It's still missing some key elements most other sports games have nowadays, and the controls are definitely problematic. Mapping that complexity to the Wii Remote is hard to perfect, but they are getting closer, which holds promise for future FIFA games. I will say that FIFA 11 is still fun, and it is great to play with friends, but I would save the money and buy the older version, FIFA 10.