FIFA hits the Switch, but is it worth a kick around?
FIFA 17 moved the series forward with The Journey, an actual story about an up and comer football star. FIFA 18 includes the next chapter of this story, but alas not on the Nintendo Switch version. I’m a little baffled as to why if I’m honest, but let’s take a look at what this version does have…
Well, the obvious benefit is having a version of FIFA 18 that you can take on-the-go and be able to play competitively with a friend using just the joy-cons or pro controllers if you prefer. The advantage over the likes of PES is that you get all the licensed teams and stadiums, so I was able to easily pit my team of Newcastle United against our rivals Sunderland, who are now a whole league below us (insert evil laugh here) without any issues.
It’s been a long time since I played a FIFA game on a Nintendo console or handheld, and the Switch ‘s controller is great…but it was confusing to have to tap B to pass and A to shoot, which of course is the opposite of the Xbox One version, even though the buttons are in the same place. Then again, how many times are we going to get confused on where the X button is?
The main issue with the Switch version of FIFA 18 is that it isn’t as complete as it’s PS4/Xbox One counterparts. The Journey and Pro Clubs are missing and the online mode isn’t anywhere near as functional, but it does handle surprisingly well and visually it’s a strong contender for the hardware. Sure, it doesn’t support 4K since the Switch is incapable of that, but the resolution isn’t that bad and it looks amazing in handheld mode.
The controls are easy to get to grips with and the game runs at a solid framerate. The load times aren’t too long, plus the character models and stadiums are nicely designed, though they are let down by the crowd designs.
The Verdict
Simply put, this is the best handheld version of FIFA 18 you’ll get. It has a decent career mode and solid replay value, plus taking it on the go is great fun solo or with a friend. On the other hand, it’s missing key features from the other versions and ultimately can’t compete with them. At the end of the day, I think both Switch and PS4/Xbox One versions appeal to different types of gamers, but no matter what version you pick up, FIFA 18 is a vast improvement.