FIFA Street 3 - Review

By: Dave Martinez | April 25th, 2008

The Street is Back . . .

If you are looking for a serious competition of skill - strategy, placement, finishing - look elsewhere.

But if its a good time with some friends that you seek, you have come to the right place.

EA BIG gives us FIFA STREET 3, the newest installment of the Street series, which has taken a two year hiatus. EA takes a leap of faith as they try to gage the interest in Arcade style sports games (once considered the keystone to the sports gaming industry) in the modern marketplace.

The Good

+ Excellent graphics with detailed facial features in particular
+ Multiplayer gaming
+ Simple layout and gameplay allow even non-soccer fans to enjoy the action.
+ New backgrounds and playing fields give a great new dimension of action

The Bad

+ Single player mode is rather limited.
+ Defense is non-existent.
+ No Argentina (a major no no with this Bostero!).

GAMEPLAY - 8/10

If you are playing single player mode, the entertainment will be figuring out the trick stick (right toggle) for the game. Once your able to climb walls and bounce balls off of em, and crack players necks - thats where the fun begins.

For the experienced player, though, the learning process will be short and sweet. The fact is, once you have played FIFA 08 and figured out those tricks (which takes months), this will be mere childs play.

Defense leaves alot to be desired. Your options are simple and limited - either you tackle your opponent with a slide, run into them to dispossess, or take a step in much like the early FIFA games, which leaves you exposed as all sin if you miss (which is plentiful). Though the game is set up to be an all out offensive assault, it would be nice to have the ability as a defender to step in and ruin a beautiful Ronaldino crossover. I mean, half the fun in games like NFL Street is the defensive contact - and that is what this game is missing.

All of that being said - its an arcade game. And if one is looking for tournament style football, you probably came to the wrong place. Arcade games are all about challenging opponents one on one, and schooling them with some neat tricks - and FIFA Street accomplishes this.

SOUND - 9/10

EA always does a great job with the sound to its sports games, so a 9 is really no surprise. It has excellent atmosphere that takes your through the game without any unnecessary distractions. And EA Trax does it again with the selected music - really catchy, really entertaining stuff.

GRAPHICS - 9/10 (on an HDTV)

Take a look at these pics. Its like someone plastered a cartoon version of our favorite players and let us have a go with em . . . great job on the detailing by EA.

And the enviromentals (especially on a hot HDTV) are boggling. The detail is tremendous, to the very last chain link fence.

LONGEVITY - 7/10

Let me simplify this for you - if you are playing single mode, you will run rampant through the challenges, and the game will be over. If you are with friends and just want to have a fun time that everyone will enjoy, there is no better alternative. I wish I could give two seperate scores - one as a single, the other as a multi - but 7 would be a nice in between point.

NOVELTY - 7/10

Some options went to the wayside (trick points and so forth), and the tricks themselves aren’t as over the top as they used to be (even if Ronaldinho can play his body off of someones shoulder). But the novelty in this game comes in the form of its utilization of the new age system graphic capabilities and the ease in its gameplay.

YOU WILL ENJOY THIS GAME IF . . .

. . . You throw a party, invite a bunch of friends, and just play. The beauty of this game is the multiplayer functionality and the simplicity of its play. Even the most soccer ignorant people in the world will be able to pick this game up, and enjoy it. What can be better than the ability to make your friend look dumb in the sport they love?

I actually put this to the test. A good friend of mine hates FIFA 08. He hates sports in general. He came by, and I put on FIFA Street, to an immediate groan. Then, he played. 2 hours later, he was asking to come back to do it again. Its the ultimate remedy for bringing soccer and non-soccer fans together.

YOU WILL HATE THIS GAME IF . . .

. . . You walk into it thinking its FIFA 08. This is Arcade style, much like past offerings from BIG such as NFL and NBA Street. Don’t go into this game trying to match soccer wits with your friends, or thinking you will be able to prove your soccer knowledge on the pitch. You will be lost by the first courtyard wall deflection. You have to enjoy it for what it is - an in your face, over the top, goal fest.

FINAL ANALYSIS

8 / 10

+ Taking into consideration the nature of arcade sports games, FIFA Street is best used when playing against a friend or 50. Aren’t all arcade games?
+ The graphics and tricks alone are well worth the money spent to pick this up. And the sound track rocks.
+ You will probably finish off the game in record time in single player mode - but again, in context, that isnt what Arcade games are all about anyway. It wouldn’t hurt, though, to have more challenging tasks to complete.
+ This game is best enjoyed on an HDTV - without question. The Game Breaker was like a vortex of colors and detail.
+ Playground mode is a great throwback, where you pick your players/opponents on the spot.
+ Dont go into this game thinking your defense will win you games - it wont.
+ Grab a few beers, call your pals over, and enjoy.