FIFA 13 on the Vita is both an insult and a joy

By: Moses Abaortae

  |   October 30th, 2012   |  

Uncategorized

Review – Part 1: FIFA 13 saw its second instalment hit the PlayStation Vita alongside its console version but the game will offend many players while others will enjoy it thoroughly. Read on to find out why…

The console version of FIFA 13 sold a massive 4.5-million units in its first week of release. Apart from the financial success, the game has also received rave reviews as many have hailed it as the best FIFA game to date.

The changes are few but their implications are game changing. First Touch control really makes players think on their feet and the other tweaks and enhancements make it more of a simulation and less of the video game.

There will be obvious comparisons of the console version with its portable version on the Vita, and whether the latter is any good and worth the amount of money retailers are asking for the game.

In order to be in a position to answer and understand the question one must first analyse the game as a whole. So let’s split things into two scenarios, starting with Scenario A:

A person with a Vita is looking to have a version of FIFA 13 he can play in the park, on a drive, in the tube or best yet, in the toilet. FIFA 13 is lying on the shelf, its picked up and paid for, full-price mind you.

The plastic wrapper is shredded off and the cartridge is in the Vita within seconds. The Installing pop-up appears and the excitement builds up. Could this really be the FIFA experience so many have been hoping for after the hapless iPhone and Android versions?

The game picks up on the player’s level based on their past FIFA experiences and recommends a setting. Within a few seconds the special features tutorial rolls onto the screen and feature after feature impresses. The presentation is amazing no doubt.

The player jumps into the game and although a few key features introduced in FIFA 12 are missing, it’s an instant classic. What a game EA have delivered. The gameplay is smooth, the Vita’s features are made full use of and the overall package is well worth the money spent. The smile on the player’s face goes from ear-to-ear.

Scenario B: this time around a player who has played FIFA Soccer, the game’s predecessor, gets to the gameplay bit, wonders if its all a joke, swears furiously, moans at what he just paid top dollar for, makes his way onto the EA Forums and gives the developers a piece of his mind.

Part 2

Disclaimer: the views and opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the editorial policy of Wishfree.com in any way.