I’ve never been a huge fan of soccer (football), but I actually enjoy playing the sport on my console. So, when I saw EA was bringing their worldwide flagship sports game to the Nintendo Switch, I had visions of EA’s ‘All Play’ movement from earlier in this decade on my mind as I sat down to play FIFA 18 Nintendo Switch version at the EA Play 2017 event. I was only able to play in handheld mode, but I was surprised how smooth the game ran. Granted, it was only in 720p, but considering the number of players and elements going on in the game, I was impressed by the movement. The players were easily distinguishable and the ball action was easy to follow.
Notably absent from the game is FIFA’s narrative mode, The Journey. The likely reason being I doubt the Switch can run the Frostbite engine. That said, it is clear that EA put tender loving care into this Nintendo Switch title. I think they knew that while the Switch install base is growing slowly – people in North America are still having trouble getting their hands on it – FIFA is an easy choice for purchase on the fledgling console. It’s a known quantity in a sea of indie ports, and a solid start out of the gate will garner repeat customers in the future from an audience EA did not really have a line to in the previous Nintendo Wii U generation.
Overall, I think FIFA 18 on the Nintendo Switch looked and felt solid during my time with it. I think the game should do well on the system. It may not make rain right out of the gate but expect this title to have legs and do well in the holiday season of 2017.