GameRating

Another year, another FIFA - and it's no surprise that this years installment of the long running franchise has been released for iOS. Last years FIFA 10 was a pretty poor effort, and the 2010 World Cup edition of the game did little to distance itself from the buggy gameplay and poor graphics of it's predecessor. For FIFA 11, EA is touting a host of new improvements, including a 360-degree passing system and a brand new engine which should provide graphics comparable to the PSP version. So, does FIFA 11 score a winning goal for EA, or does it fall flat before it even makes it to the pitch?

The Good

- Whilst EA's promise of "PSP quality graphics" may not be entirely correct, FIFA 11 does look very sharp on iOS, particularly on retina display enabled devices. Players might still look like blurry marshmallow men (think of the melting face guy from Raiders of The Lost Ark and you're pretty close) , but there is enough detail to make out players - just don't expect the same kind of detail on the console versions. Stadia look great, and the inclusion of Premier League grounds such as Anfield and St. James' Park are a welcome addition - especially since the 360 and PS3 versions failed to include them.

- The 360 degree passing system may sound like a new fad that EA added on simply to differentiate the game from FIFA 10 - in the grand scheme of things, this is probably true when talking about the console versions. However, the feature is perfectly suited to the touch screen controls that FIFA 11 uses - using your left thumb, you can direct the ball exactly (to 1 degree) where you want it to go. This makes passing more difficult, but ultimately more rewarding as you're not relying on the robotic precision that FIFA 10 used.

- Being FIFA, you'd expect a wide range of licensed clubs, kits, leagues and stadia and FIFA definitely doesn't skimp here. There are a whopping 500 officially licensed teams to choose from, and each has the authentic kits and player names you'd expect. This really sets the game apart from other App Store football games, especially Pro Evo 2011 which fails to include any Premier League teams at all. Be aware that the huge amount of detail and content means that the app comes in at a shade over 800MB - definitely one of the bigger games on the App Store.

The Bad

- Whilst the controls have been massively improved, they still fail to work as well as you might hope. A floating virtual thumbstick is paired with labelled "pass", "shoot", and "cross" buttons while using the classic control scheme, and the addition of a touch based "flicking" system doesn't work as quickly as needed. The controls have been improved enough to make this a purchase (don't think of it as a deal breaker), but just be aware that you're not getting the same kind of precision you might find using a PSP thumbstick.

- The frame-rate is very inconsistent - expect heavy drops when moving around the box. This is particularly annoying as the game will stutter and then resume, which gives enough time for the AI to steal the ball of you before play resumes. The frame rate can be hugely improved by turning off the commentary and "player names" feature, however this is a problem that players shouldn't have to fix themselves.

- Multiplayer is not included, however it is coming soon via an update. Just how well this will work remains to be seen, but based on the performance of previous EA titles it should be pretty good.