FIFA 19 on Switch is more than a reskin, even if it falls short of the real deal
FIFA hasn't always had the best run on handhelds. A few years back the Vita got a fairly splendid outing around the launch of PlayStation's portable - only for the next Vita instalment to simply offer new kits while still sporting a full-fat pricetag, a trick that, unbelievably, EA tried again the following year. I'll never forget the grimace on the face of EA Sports' David Rutter as he painfully churned out the company line. "It's the same great gameplay," he said, at once resigned and apologetic. "And new kits."
FIFA hasn't exactly had the best run on Nintendo hardware either, but there has been an upturn of sorts recently. Last year's debut on Switch was a sturdy if not quite fully-featured outing, a tweaked version of the last-gen versions of FIFA built on the old Ignite engine as opposed to the Frostbite one that powers the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions - 'custom-built', if you prefer. It had its failings, but FIFA 18 on Switch was compelling and comprehensive enough to boast being the best portable football game that there's ever been.
FIFA 19 on Switch raises that bar - or, perhaps more accurately, gently nudges it upwards by an inch or two. There's a visual overhaul that's noticeable if not quite revolutionary, the old generation still providing the foundation. The Xbox One X and PS4 Pro versions in 4K, HDR and with the benefit of all that extra grunt are always going to provide harsh comparisons, so you've got to be a little forgiving. This year's model on Switch certainly pops a lot more than the last, and it comes as close to its console relatives as you could reasonably hope for.
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