FIFA Street 2 Preview

What could possibly be sweeter than the first Street-ified soccer game? That's what EA Canada must've asked themselves going into FIFA Street 2. This new edition takes several steps forward with evolved mechanics and new gameplay features. The standard camera places the view behind one time, similar to NFL Street but without a perspective switch every time the ball is stolen. These elements (along with better graphics and a superior soundtrack) come together for what could be the best extreme, arcade-style soccer game yet.

The gameplay is fast, intense, and always on the move. Stealing is a simple task that sends the ball back and forth between teams. It's very much like NHL Hitz this time in that you can run up and snatch the ball without breaking a sweat. Shooting, on the other hand, is highly unique with an aim system that allows you to set up a shot like you would in a third-person shooter. 

As you approach the net an icon of the circle button appears. It hops around the screen as you adjust the left analog stick, moving as fast or as slow as your players' movement. Once your thumb has begun to adjust itself to compensate for the goal aim sensitivities (this took me around 5 seconds. No joke), you'll have the power to plant the ball wherever you want.

Your opponents will do whatever it takes to prevent that from happening, using their bodies as shields to stop you from reaching the net in the first place. That seems to be an important strategy in this game – rather than focus solely on good goaltending, it's more effective to rely on the players to stop or steal the ball before it gets there.

Straight goaltending is important though. NHL Hitz fans will appreciate having the ability to influence the goalie's actions. It's more than just being able to decide who gets the ball every time it's in the goalie's hands. You can also move out of the net, which creates some interesting scenarios not present in other soccer games. Leaving your net open like that isn't wise. However, if you can convince your opponent to do that, it's possible to attack the goalie, steal the ball and score before he can get back to his post. This was yet another element that kept the game going at a speedy, exciting, and consistent pace.

Goals are very frequent and trick points are earned pretty easily. Wins can be determined by the number of goals, which makes the games go even faster. If you want the experience to be a little more drawn out, simply increase the number of goals per match. 

New to FIFA Street 2 is a trick stick (mapped to the right analog stick) that enables you to juggle and/or steal the ball with style. Certain star players have their own, exclusive signature moves that set them apart from the crowd. Juggles are purposely exaggerated and look fantastic. These players will pull off moves that would be next to impossible to execute for real, bouncing the ball between legs while they pass by angry opponents. If you have the ball and you hit the trick stick at the right time, your opponent will stumble and look like a bumbling fool. Humiliation isn't touted too obviously in this game, but you'll feel very powerful unleashing these moves -- and feel not-so-powerful when you're on the receiving end of them.

This preview build is based on a nearly completed version of the game, and while the visuals don't quite match the beauty and style of NBA Street V3, FIFA Street 2 doesn't disappoint. The players are big and bold, their tricks are performed with great fluidity, and the backgrounds look nearly as good as those featured in NFL Street 2. It's not a mind-blowing visual experience, but it is a satisfying one, so long as you don't expect to see something on par with the traditional FIFA series. FIFA is intended to be the most realistic soccer game around, a goal it has achieved for many years. FIFA Street 2 hopes to be the most fun arcade-style soccer game around, and from the look, sound and feel of things it's well on its way to achieving that goal.

Musically players will be treated to a mixture of rock and rap, along with some unusual sounds that could be described as techno. A lot of the music comes from either indie or European artists, so chances are most North American players won't have heard of these guys before. Nonetheless you'll like what you hear and will surely take notice of the artists' name as it appears on screen (a great feature EA started implementing in all of their games once EA Trax took off). 

Charging into stores at the end of the month, FIFA Street 2 is a harder, faster, and extremely improved soccer game that's going to turn thousands of gamers into FIFA addicts. I'm already hooked and this isn't even the final version. It's the kind of sports game that will appeal to gamers who love soccer as well as to those who have never paid attention to it.