Simulation sports games make up an interesting genre. They are not typically the type of games that can reel people in who are not actually fans of the sport -- hence the reason there are also arcade sports titles. However, every once in a while a title comes along that is so good that it makes non-fans want to go and watch a real-life match. MVP 2005 was one of those rare games that crossed borders, and in my book, so is FIFA 09.

Many games could learn from the latest FIFA because it does so much right. One of the things it does amazingly well is the gameplay. The highest compliment you can pay to a game is when you believe something new can happen every time you play it. Many developers are so concerned with adding new features that they forget to create the appropriate foundation for a solid simulation that is fun to play. FIFA however, has done a good job of imitating the sport with its ball physics, animations and atmosphere all in one.

There is a slight learning curve in FIFA, but it is a relatively easy game to pick up and play. Plus, one of the best things about FIFA is that the more comfortable gamers get with the controls, the more creative they can be with their approach to putting the ball in the net. After some time, gamers can implement chip shots, the give and go, crosses, headers and trick moves. It is not just as basic as shoot, pass, run or swing. Your imagination becomes the limit, not the controls.

Now, the sport of soccer does lend itself to freedom and imagination, but the beauty is how well FIFA Soccer 09 captures this element. Beyond the creativity itself, the developers successfully took the commentary of Martin Tyler and Andy Gray and made their comments more purposeful than the commentary in just about every other sports game. From the inflection in their voices to the description of what just happened (sans injuries), their comments always seem to be in tune with the flow of the game and is actually a delight to listen to.

The atmosphere in FIFA 09 is just simply, incredible.

The atmosphere is by far the best presentation element though because it makes the matches intense. Unfortunately, too many games leave this aspect as an afterthought. But when it is captured the right way, it can make the game go from just a game to an experience. The crowd creates the feeling of a war zone for the road team and there is nothing quite like scoring a goal and doing a cool celebration for the fans. Selecting the venue and the uniform colors before the game, and then hearing the numerous unique team chants on the pitch are what help to put this product over the top.

Another thing that seems so obvious, but cannot be said enough, is that there is no need to tack on modes of play. FIFA 09 has provided something for every type of player to latch onto, and yet nothing feels like it was thrown in at the last minute. Sometimes the less-than-one-year product cycles can come back to haunt the game makers. In other words, developers throw unfinished modes in when they should just postpone them -- FIFA 08 did this with the online Be A Pro mode. Unnecessary features, especially ones that are not complete, can hold a game back -- just look at MLB 2K8.

Online play is the last piece of the puzzle, and EA in general has been doing a good job pushing the boundaries and offering more than just head-to-head matchups for users. Now there are online leagues and constant live updates for different teams (although with a price) and Be A Pro: Online Team Play that can hold up to 20 different users. The best part about 10 on 10 is that the lag, although sometimes a factor, is not as prevalent as one would think.

The FIFA 09 developers have most definitely created a template for other studios to emulate.