FIFA 18 On Nintendo Switch Isn’t The Same As On PS4, But It’s Close Enough

Despite the fundamental differences between the Nintendo Switch and its peers, EA made a bold statement when they called the Switch version of their premier sporting franchise FIFA 18 on the console. Where handhelds and lower powered hardware have typically been quietly pushed to one side or branded differently – remember the Legacy Editions? – simply calling this FIFA 18 indicates that EA are trying to position it as an equal of the game on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

In truth, it’s not quite at that level, but it’s close enough that for many it really won’t matter. The most fundamental difference that influences the entire game is that this game is using the old Ignite engine – it’s 1080p docked, 720p handheld and always at 60fps – where the PS4 and Xbox One shifted over to the Frostbite engine last year. That jump was made to help facilitate the new The Journey story mode, and so it only makes sense that The Journey won’t feature on Switch. However, in all other regards, it’s actually surprisingly close, to the point that (unless you’re a stickler for graphics), you could quite happily accept this as your yearly dose of football.

In fact, it might be even better than other versions in one important way. With the two Joy-Con making the Switch perfect for local multiplayer, this will be great for quick matches against a mate, like impromptu Mario Kart 8 sessions. To help facilitate this, EA needed to cut the default controls from a full game pad down to size, and they’ve done an admirable job of it. You can either play in the more simplistic two button mode, which is already a part of FIFA on other platforms, or you can play with the fuller controls on a single Joy-Con, where you simply lose the second analogue stick and second pair of triggers. You lose some of the finesse controls, but all of the essentials are there and for someone like me who’s mainly content to just pick the game up and have a quick bash, it feels great.

Perhaps the most important thing for the game, though, is that it features Ultimate Team. This blockbusting mode keeps the money rolling in for EA year in, year out, and it’s set to do the same on a portable console for the first time. Tether to your phone and you’ll be able to open packs on the train, or simply wait until you get to a steady Wi-Fi network to sift through the marketplace for a bargain in your quest to perfect your team’s chemistry.

Ultimate Team has really grown into its own game over the years, living in its own peculiar little bubble. It’s moved beyond the simple team creation and online gaming. There’s no offline seasons that you can play, testing your team against AI, there’s squad building challenges, drafts, and plenty more.

That’s really what EA mean when they say that this is just plain old FIFA 18 and not some special version of the game. Outside of The Journey, all the most important things are there for all the various kinds of players that FIFA attracts. There’s an awful lot of modes that EA need to cram in to make sure it stands up to the “full” versions of the game.

So no, strictly speaking, it’s not on the same level as home consoles in a lot of ways. To that effect, FIFA purists who have sunk hours into the most recent instalment may want to stick to PS4 or Xbox One instead of jumping over to the Switch. For the more casual crowd, however, it’s close enough. Whether you just want to run through a managerial career, want to play online as Barcelona, or simply want to dig the game out whenever there’s company around for a match or two, FIFA 18 has got you covered on Switch.