The new leader in soccer games
There's no doubt about it, FIFA 10 is the best in the series. Despite what people may think, it is a sizable improvement from 09 and is worth picking up. All the usual modes are there again this year, but each one is a little bit improved with mostly minor adjustments that end up making a big difference.
I think the best thing FIFA has going for it is the realism of the gameplay. Fouls and bookings are usually fair and understandable. Pulling off tricks takes some skill and the reward is quite satisfying. The one problem I have though is with the actual scoring. It's very rare for me to score and have that "I have to see that again!" feeling. Don't get me wrong, it's satisfying but most of the goals seem to come from well inside the box and much of the time are hardly worth going back and watching. I must note though that this is my PERSONAL experience. I'm sure there are seasoned vets out there that would disagree.
The AI is pretty darn good, especially on the higher difficulty settings. Unless you play on an easy setting, the defenders won't let you run by or leave players all alone. Goalkeepers can make some questionable decisions from time to time though. There have been some cases where a ball will go in and the keeper will shuffle all the way to the edge of the box for no reason. Not a big deal, but it can get frustrating at times.
In the end this is a really good game that is worth checking out. It really is evident that EA has actually put some time into making a very solid franchise, and their work should be applauded.