Improving upon last year’s entry in almost every conceivable way, FIFA 19 for Nintendo Switch is a fantastic soccer title for veterans and newcomers alike.
After reviewing last year’s basketball title NBA 2K18, I am in awe at how welcoming FIFA 19 is by comparison. NBA featured a steep learning curve and limited tutorials, whereas FIFA 19 offers all sorts of player-friendly ways to learn the game. My first match commenced with an on-screen message stating the difficulty would scale dynamically according to my skill level. Following the full-time whistle, FIFA 19 recommended a setting which I have stuck with since – striking the perfect balance between challenging and forgiving.
During this initial match, several helpful pop-up tips guided me through specific scenarios such as corners and free kicks, while explaining the associated new features. Arguably the best feature for introducing new players is the visual button prompts explaining basic controls such as passing, shooting, crossing, changing players etc. – all of which can be toggled on and off by clicking the right stick. Whereas other sporting games make many assumptions of your experience with the sport and previous games in their respective series, it’s refreshing to see accessibility at FIFA’s core.
As much as it pains this fervent AFL supporter to admit, FIFA 19’s commitment to accessibility resonates with soccer’s moniker as the world game.
Much of FIFA 19’s accessibility & pick-up-and-play nature stems from the new Kick Off experience, its equivalent of most sports games “play now” mode. From here, you can quickly jump into a match with your favourite teams, no fuss. Alternatively, Kick Off allows you to tweak settings at a minute level, including the new House Rules variations which change the dynamic of the sport. Want to play a game with no fouls or offside? Go for it, you reckless slide-tackling deviant. Perhaps you’d prefer a game where only headers and volleys score; or every time you score, a player is removed from your team, adding to the challenge of holding a lead? These rule variations are designed for the classic lounge room FIFA experience of taking on your friends in hotly-contested encounters.
Playing multiplayer in FIFA 19 is super easy, with plenty of local options and the ability to play wirelessly with fellow Switch owners who own a copy of the game. However, some of you may be nervous about online play, as Daniel Vuckovic stated in last year’s FIFA 18 review that attempting to play with Switch friends online was a nightmare. Fear not, for FIFA 19 completely rectifies last year’s oversight by including full Nintendo Switch friend integration. Now you can see who of your friends are online and invite them to play – hooray!
Retaining the core soccer experience from previous entries, FIFA 19 is packed with game modes, including career mode, and the popular Ultimate Team returns with its addictive card-collecting shenanigans. These modes feel similar to their prior instalments, but there’s little need to fix what ain’t broke in this instance. Unfortunately, the Switch misses out again on the story-based The Journey mode, but it is a small price to pay for the plethora of remaining content. New to this year is the inclusion of the prestigious UEFA Champions League tournament, where you can take your favourite European club teams to glory. Champions League, along with the Europa League and the Super Cup, is integrated within career mode, meaning you can take your star player or manager through the gauntlet of winning various fancy trophies. FIFA 19’s authenticity shines through when playing these different leagues and tournaments, as all of the branding, uniforms and telecast graphics are accurately replicated in-game.
Although the Switch version of FIFA will never rival the visual spectacle of its beefier platform counterparts, I did chuckle on occasion at the awkward player animations and less-than-sharp player models. FIFA 19 on Switch is somewhat visually compromised to accommodate for the fantastic performance across both docked and handheld. I don’t give two hoots about some less-than-stunning graphics when the on-pitch action feels so fantastic. I love picking up and playing a quick match or two in handheld and seamlessly continuing later while docked to the TV. Every other visual aspect of FIFA 19 holds up flawlessly, with its trademark EA Sports slick presentation and interface making menus easy to navigate.
Better than FIFA 19’s visuals is its impeccable sound design. Nothing beats hearing the chill-inducing rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” when playing at Anfield, or the raucous crowd reactions riding every bump of the on-pitch action. As good as the sound design is, it is let down slightly by the dry and repetitive commentary, which recycles uninspired lines after limited play time. Thankfully, FIFA 19 features yet another strong and eclectic music playlist, including Childish Gambino, Jungle, and the Aussie dance act Confidence Man – Triple J listeners will feel right at home soaking in the tunes.
FIFA 19 brilliantly serves new players and the hardcore returning players. While missing The Journey story mode from other platforms, FIFA 19’s improvements prove EA’s commitment to the Nintendo Switch in the form of the console’s best sports game yet.
Score: 4/5
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