FIFA Street returns with a reboot to the franchise, developers including those that work on the core FIFA games and some of its big brother’s technical grunt powering it. Is it a graceful step-over or a trick too far?
It’s important to make a distinction about FIFA Street, just in case anyone is confused. It’s not a football game. While the inclusion of real world footballing stars from real world teams in some of the biggest leagues (and the US’s MLS…), equipment manufacturers and other trappings associated with the world’s most popular sport might lead you to think you’re playing a football game, you won’t be. FIFA Street is mechanically as similar to SSX or Tony Hawks games as it is to the core FIFA franchise. FIFA Street is a tricking game that leaves the board behind and dresses up in Adidas Sambas for a scuff around the local car park.
[drop]There’s very little of traditional football left within FIFA Street’s painfully urban, urbane shell. There are regular 5-a-side (or 4, or 6, etc.) matches, which probably come closest to the sport but even those are played within FIFA Street’s new, grindingly slow trick systems.It’s those systems — perfectly good for the intricate trick control — which prohibit a proper game of football. Passing is slow and lacks fluidity simply because you’re not supposed to pass much, you’re supposed to pull off tricks to get past opponents. It’s imperative that you understand this distinction going into the game, otherwise your first few hours may end up frustrating and dispiriting.
Once you get past that initial spell of confusion between appearance and mechanics, FIFA Street achieves its goals with great aplomb. It might be a game about stick movements and timing more than it is about passing, positioning and shooting but that doesn’t make it any less of an enjoyable experience.
Those trick controls really work well, that’s the key. Using the finely honed game engine from the main FIFA line is doubtless a great boon for things like collision detection, momentum and physics. It still suffers from occasionally hilarious ragdoll moments during tackles but for the most part, it’s incredibly impressive.
Tricks are performed with the right stick and in the World Tour career mode they need to be unlocked as you level up your players. They range from simple ball drags to juggling and complicated multiple step over routines. All can be very effective in taking on the opposition and you’ll need to get proficient with a wide range of tricks before you’ll really open up the best in this game.
There is a sprint button but it is used more as a dash rather than a prolonged sprint. You’re encouraged to use it only for a step or two, to switch pace from the usual slow dribble or standing stances or to pop the ball through an opponents legs — which seems to be the game’s most valued achievement, even though it’s certainly not the most difficult way to get past.
This act of putting the ball between your opponents legs while retaining possession is called a “panna” in game, although when I was playing 5-a-side football regularly we called it a “nutmeg” and I assume it is just one of those things that has a different name in every region of the world. In the points scoring game modes, a panna is one of the highest scoring things you can do.
The degree of precision required is possible thanks to the FIFA engine but also to those slowed down movements and the game’s smart controls. Holding the left trigger will stop your player dead. Moving the left stick then moves the ball around while the right stick still performs your standing tricks. Wait for the opposing marker to open his legs, direct the left stick in his direction and tap the sprint trigger to pop off in that direction before he has a chance to close the gap. It’s extremely satisfying when pulled off seamlessly.
[drop2]There are multiple game modes and each is different enough that they really add some variation to the way the game needs to be played. The straight 5-a-side matches are standard and Futsal is similar but played on a pitch without walls so there’s no wall passes and you’ll want to be more careful with errant shots. There is also Panna Rules and Last Man Standing, which might be quite alien to a lot of regular football fans.Panna Rules awards points for each time you beat an opponent. You’ll get one point for beating them, two for beating them with the ball in the air and three points for a panna. The points accumulate in your bank until you score, at which point you win your points and any that your opponent has accrued are wiped clean. Last Man Standing pits three or four players on each team against each other with no goalies and tiny goals. Each time a team scores a goal, one of them leaves the pitch until the last man scores. First to clear their whole team off the pitch wins the game.
There is also a custom match mode which allows you to store up to four custom match types in which you can select number of players, scoring system and even how inflated the ball is so it bounces less or more. The World Tour mode mixes up these modes with freestyle point scoring competitions as you tour your region, nation and eventually the world taking on better opponents. It’s a slow but well paced career mode that allows you to learn the intricacies of the game while unlocking plenty of customisation equipment.
Pros:
- World Tour mode lets you build your team.
- Trick controls are really good.
- Plenty of variation in the gameplay.
Cons:
- Light on actual football, even in bog-standard 5-a-side matches.
- Movement is a little slow.
FIFA Street isn’t like the main line FIFA games, it’s barely even football at times. That’s not to say it isn’t a good game though. Even though I wasn’t expecting something so tuned for trickery and light on actual football, I found myself slowly growing to enjoy it. The systems are well explained, the controls are perfect for the pace and style of gameplay and the presentation is as great as you’d expect. One or two minor niggles aside, FIFA Street is a very enjoyable game, even though it’s not the game I expected.
cc_star
Does seem slow, certainly nothing like ‘street’ or 5-a-side football which is much, much faster than the full game.
I’ve only played the demo, played it quite a bit but saw nothing to suggest this should be a whole lot more than an extra mode in FIFA, or something you play whilst the main game is loading especially now there’s such similarities between the engines.
Obviously others will get more out of it than me, but I’ll stick with FIFA12 career mode until PES/FIFA is out in Sept/Oct
beeje13
I remember when something like 3 a side football was included in fifa 2002, can’t remember much but it was my first fifa and it also had a be the ref mode but I couldn’t find out how to work it properly…
Youles
Nice review (I’ve been waiting for it since your comment on last weeks What We Played) and respectable score for something so niche. The demo far exceeded my expectations. I thought it would be a quick spin-off of Fifa, a bit gimmicky, but it has its own animations and approach to this style of football. And its fairly accessable – although I’m sure you can get ridiculously good at it too. I wouldn’t pay £40 for it since I’d probably only play when my mates come over, but hopefully it’ll get a nice price drop at some point and I’ll pick it up as its great fun!
nofi
I didn’t feel like it was slow at all, quite fast paced for me. As someone that detests almost everything about football, FIFA Street is ace.
Youles
Especially as the ball stays in play more than “real” football – it keeps the game moving end-to-end quickly.
McProley
I’m not what you consider someone who enjoys football either. I thought the demo was pretty smart too. I’ll play you Youles!
Youles
Cool – as I said, hopefully it’ll fall in price pretty soon
KeRaSh
I agree. I’m not a fan of FIFA but this had me interested. I’d get it if it came out on the Vita.
Youles
It would be great for Vita but not sure my analogue sticks could take the abuse! :P
Kevatron400
This is unquestionably the most persuasive argument for buying Street that I’ve read.
ArsenalFan19
Why do you fail to mention that you cannot use real teams online? for me and assuming most of the FIFA community is something that’s killed the game and of all the reviews I’ve read only one states this.
nofi
Is this the case? We’ll look into this right away.
tom316
“FIFA Street is a very enjoyable game, even though it’s not the game I expected.”
Just wondering, what were you expecting? (:
colmshan1990
As a football fan, I hate the FIFA Street series. Nothing like the real game at all.
Youles
I did hate the Street series, but I think this one is different. You should defo try the demo if you haven’t already as its free, and it may change your mind.
Origami Killer
I agree with you, I was playing the demo with a few mates and they were unhappy because I was trying to score a goal instead of doing skills. Says it all.
Kevatron400
Something Kris said yesterday sounds like a really nice graphical touch – your teams just wear the same sort of colour, but their garments vary just as they might on a street team. I thought that was pretty cool.
Youles
There are some really nice touches (bad pun, sorry), such as the goal shapes and sizes differ depending on the pitch/location, and some of the animations like the back-heal blocking. Some decent attention to detail.
Tarbun84
Great review. Will probably pick it up
Kronik76
‘It’s not a football game.’
Really? Footballers playing on a pitch, with an actual football… whoever scores the most goals wins… erm… sounds just like a football game to me!
tom316
Football can be played in many different ways, this game proves it. Most goals, best tricks, concede a goal you lose a player etc.
But yeah, i didn’t understand why he said that either.
Forrest_01
I think that it was meant as ‘It’s not a football game… in the traditional sense.’
Obviously, they are still playing football essentially! :)
Kronik76
Agreed, Forrest! I’m sure he didn’t mean it literally, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to post a sarcastic comment! I know… sarcasm is the lowest form of wit… you’ll find me in the corner…
Forrest_01
Ahm, i’ll see you there, as that’s usually where i reside too! :D
baggyg
Im really enjoying this one as opposed to the last offering. At time the players are clumsy but overall great. The would tour is really good, but could have done with more stock tournaments – world cup?