EA Sports' soccer series continues to dominate.
Passing still feels spot-on, though ball battles are a little less dramatic this time around, mainly because they go more for realism instead of "hey, you, I'm bigger than you, the ball's mine". You can still perform a sliding kick to try for possession and risk the yellow card, but, eh, sometimes just being in the right spot for an interception is the way to go.
Then there's shooting, which is terrific. You can take good up-close shots and try to catch the goalie off guard; go for a strong one-timer pass and see if you can fool them that way; or even go for the long shot from a distance. The handling of the ball shooting is better than ever, thanks to the Pure Shot modifications. You'll be taking more kicks at the goal than you ever anticipated.
The presentation continues to be as good as it can be for this generation. While the visuals remain mostly unchanged, they're still quite polished, especially during the TV-like replays. The crowds really get into the action as well, even if you never really see them up close. The arenas look fantastic, making you feel like you're playing on a grand stage each time you take the field. Some animations and player models can be questionable from time to time, but overall, this game looks great – and it'll look even better with the new release next month.
