All of the EA Sports titles I’ve played this year curiously follow a similar pattern: They feature solid gameplay with some new features that are interesting but don’t necessarily change the world or solve old, lingering problems. In other words, FIFA 11 lands just short of greatness.

FIFA 11 continues its recent excellent form on the pitch. You can easily execute a variety of attacks with the controls, whether that’s with build-up play, exploiting back lines with timed runs and player speed, or using the skill moves to take on defenders one-on-one. The new variance in the passing game is welcome and thankfully not too difficult. Making good passes depends on body positioning, how you address the ball, and player skill.

FIFA’s free ball physics have come a long way, and this game usually feels realistic while still giving you the freedom to control the ball with a high degree of fidelity. However, occasionally it feels like you are denied access to a free ball either because the game won’t let you switch to the player closest to the action or because the AI has already determined that the other player is only one with a shot to gain possession. At least the ball magnetizes to players’ feet less often than in the past.

I’m not sure how much the player personalities – a major talking point for the game – come out in the gameplay. I can’t speak to the personal style of every famous soccer star around the world, but I don’t think teams and players differentiate themselves very much. The AI’s attack isn’t creative or aggressive; it often runs out of ideas outside the box and refuses to unleash shots while in space from further out. Furthermore, you can dictate play with the jostling command, which is too effective.