| FIFA Street 3 |
| Posted on 6th April 2008 by Gregg Hobbs |
The beautiful game streetwise. That is the idea behind EA Sports BIG's FIFA Street 3. Insane flying scissor kicks, unparalleled special skill moves and of course running up walls. Sounds great doesn't it? Well the first two editions of this particular franchise were nothing worth shouting about, or indeed mentioning at all. However that being said, third time is a charm... isn't it?
Just by looking at the box you will see that there is a rather striking difference about how the game is going to look - no longer is the Street series going to be designed to look completely realistic. In fact, quite the contrary. The box has three players on the front who seem to resemble Peter Crouch, Rino Gattuso and of course Ronaldinho, but the interesting part of this is that they are all presented in a cartoon format - they are simply caricatures. This may not be to everyone's taste as some people may like to easily identify their players, but fact of the matter is that finally EA Sports BIG have grasped the idea that this game is not a football simulator, it is a pick up and play arcade game. Why waste time on making it look real when you can focus on this caricature idea and make the game look simply more fun, which is what it is all about. FS3 is not about Liverpool v Manchester United, this seasons relegation battle, or even the World Cup final; it's about taking your football heroes and having a good old fashioned schoolyard kick about.
When I first put FS3 into my 360 I was more than apprehensive - basically I expected a poor game, so I couldn't even anticipate disappointment. That was a problem because you have to approach this game in the correct way. I love FIFA 08 and the Pro Evolution series; I love to play a full season in manager mode, building my own team and winning and I'll tell you now that you will get NONE of this in FS3. There is no realism, no team spirit and no passion. I admit that does sound bad, but it is not meant to be a criticism. Previous editions of FIFA Street took themselves far too seriously but now, third time lucky, we are finally delivered a game that can give respite to the schoolboy dreams of playing footie down the park imagining you are Eric Cantona and taking on a whole team simply with your own skills. EA Sports BIG have the atmosphere and feeling for this game spot on. For example there are no club teams, only international sides and of course the specially created 'street' teams. There is the 'R' team made up of players solely with surnames beginning with R, the team of tall players, short players, playmakers, speedsters, defenders, strikers, blasters, Euro stars, World stars... the list goes on and on, and they all fit the game perfectly.
That said, the gameplay is not so on the ball. The idea is to use your skill moves to help build up the game breaker metre, which when full is basically a finisher - a superpower where all of your players have increased abilities and increased chances to score, when activated. But the fact is that the skill moves, which are easily executed using the right thumbstick, often initiate simple animations if performed correctly at the right time and this can get tiresome after hours of playing. Tackling or attempting to stop these skills is even worse as when a skill move is performed the defending player will be locked in this animation until he has been thoroughly humiliated. This is certainly repetitive but does not destroy the gameplay completely. It isn't every time you pull on the thumbstick that these animations occur, it is only when it is done perfectly. So in a sense FS3 has a sweet spot about it's gameplay - although it is easy to pick up and play you really can become a master at a game such as this.
Between single player and multiplayer there really is no contest. I am sure the majority of gamers that approach the single player FIFA Street Challenge mode will complete it once, unlock all the various teams and never return to it. This is disappointing, but at the same time it has a learning curve better than any game I have come across. Although the challenge mode becomes slightly absurd towards the end (it took me nearly an hour to complete the final stage against a team of classic footballers, one of which was Cantona!) you cannot say you are not prepared as FS3 gradually unleashes difficulties at an almost perfect rate. The single player challenge mode is by no means a breeze but it also isn't too difficult to make you lose interest. But really this is all single player has to offer which is why we now look to the multiplayer. To put it in perspective, in my opinion on the back of the case for FS3 alongside where it states you need 120KB for a save game it should also say 'Friends required'. FS3 multiplayer is simply put great fun. Admittedly online is not as energetic or frantic, but offline with someone sitting next to you screaming as their flying backflip header hits the crossbar really gets a buzz going. The mode 'Playground Pics' is fantastic for this situation, where two players select from the same group of ten footballers, much like the old school days in Physical Education, being depressed as I was picked last. Although I must admit I did get a measure of satisfaction when Frank Lampard was picked as the final player in my game and appeared to throw a hissy fit on screen. Bliss. It is hard to explain how a game that is essentially so simple can create such a good time. But it is in simplicities that FIFA Street 3 draws it's own boundaries.
To be frank, FIFA Street 3 was never going to be a timeless classic. Simply by the nature of the game and the idea of its origins, it can't be. There will never be enough substance to create a game that plays well, has a long lasting replayable appeal and is ultimately fun. Well one and a half out of three isn't bad is it? Make no mistake about FS3, it does play well but because of its lack of long lasting replay value, it does not play great. EA Sports BIG has done well, though - the game is really fun, especially with friends. Get the beers in, get three friends, get bored of the Halo deathmatches and get stuck into some FIFA Street co-op play. It is simply so easy going and fun that this aspect alone makes it worth picking up. Be advised though, if you have no friends I'd probably give it a miss. But if that be the case make some friends and play Fifa Street 3 with them. I sincerely promise you will feel the better for it. |
Single Player Score: 6/10
Multiplayer Score: 8/10
Overall Score: 7/10 |
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