Game number four in the FIFA Street series and no number in the title? It's a reboot, for sure - with a realistic new direction evident from the screenshots. The exaggerated caricature players have been reshaped into something recognisably human.
Hands-on, it's very similar to FIFA 12 but the small courts and strict AI shift the focus to one-on-one duels. It's hard to pass around sides, and shooting requires great precision. The mazy dribbling fun is still intact, and fancy footwork is key (for example, you can stand with two feet on the ball and quickly knock it through a befuddled opponent's legs), with 50 more tricks than were available in FIFA Street 3. It all uses the same sturdy physics that have defined the main FIFA series.
FIFA 12's Player Impact Engine drives collisions, so don't expect human-physiology confounding stunts. The surprise is that keeping the showboating realistic makes it more impressive than ever. There are some smart new gimmicks too: deft touches with the outside of the boot create stunning passing moves thanks to the Street Ball Control system, and there's also a new ATTACK dribbling system to help you dance around defenders.
FIFA Street is aiming for something between poker-faced simulation and overblown cartoon action. From what we've seen so far, EA's shrewd reboot might just restore our love for the streets.
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