The game looks awesome, you can score some nice goals, and yet it gets boring and repetitive after a while.
So what's new in Fifa 09? Absolutely nothing, apart from some stupidly annoying "widgets", online leagues, mouse control and option to update your squad via internet.
However, there is no improvement to gameplay apart from the fact that, the AI has become a bigger cheater now. At the easiest difficulty level, you can easily score 10 goals in a 4+4 = 8 minute match, but as soon as you increase it to semi-pro, the opponent defenders become merciless. They will almost always snatch the ball from your strikers, and they will intercept most passes. I guess this is where the tricks come in to place. You will have to dodge the defenders to score goals. But it doesn't feel realistic. No matter which team you are playing against, the defenders are always thwarting your attackers. Even if it's Rooney vs some 3rd division team's reserve defender, you just can't go past the defenders without doing something extraordinary.
The game looks awesome, but that's nothing new. It just looks like Fifa 08, and the collision detection gimmick is just a gimmick.
Gameplay wise Fifa hasn't advanced since Fifa 2005, and it is getting boring. Despite of being a long time Fifa veteran, this game made me consider PES, which I haven't really played much till date, apart from a few games of PES 5 on PS2.
I won't recommend this game if you have Fifa 08. It offers nothing apart from roster updates and a few flashy features. The AI is cheater, and this takes out the fun element from the game. You have to apply the same tactics in every game--there is little strategic element in it. Even the manager mode has become boring with menus that look exactly like they were in Fifa 06.
I guess I am done with Fifa for good.