
As a result, player weight and speed are now a vital part of overall tactics, and combining runs with perfectly timed passes has become the only way to succeed. Although you can still spot individual animation routines during replays, the players now feel as if they're interacting with one another and the ball. Attackers point to where they want the ball, defenders direct offside violations to the linesmen, and everyone has lost that plastic look from FIFA 08 that was so off-putting.

The most noticeable improvement is in the physical quality of the players. However, the pace has quickened slightly, passes need to be directed with even greater accuracy, and the referees seem even more eager to dish out cards. Given the six-month period of time between Euro 2008 and FIFA 09, it's no surprise that the two games play similarly.

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