The answer, in short is: a little. The graphics in FIFA 09 have been refined, with more photo-realistic captures of the superstars of soccer, and some great new animations both on and off the ball. The presentation of the game is as exquisite as ever, with new match intro sequences featuring the players warming up in the tunnel, crowd chants specific to each club, not to mention the cool new 'widgets' system on the menu pages, where various online and offline stats are displayed at all times. Unfortunately, it was impossible to test the commentary in FIFA 09, as it's not included in this demo version.

In terms of its gameplay, FIFA 09 offers a smooth ride, although there are few changes to the way the game handles other than a few new tricks and the addition of more realistic collisions. I could've done without these clashes, as sometimes it takes your player a long time to get up after a heavy hit. In fact, one of the new gameplay enhancements in FIFA 09 is the physical presence of some players, which means large defenders are more likely to bundle you off the ball, requiring more cunning to get past them.

While this demo of FIFA 09 is limited to four-minute demo matches between a choice of six clubs, the full release looks set to really raise the bar in terms of its online modes. I'm particularly excited by the new Adidas Live Season mode in FIFA 09, where player information is updated dynamically depending on performances in real life.

FIFA 09 is undoubtedly a great soccer simulator, although unless you're particularly interested in the online aspect of the game, you may not see a great deal of benefit in upgrading from FIFA 08 (other than, of course, the updated transfers).

Whether it'll prove better than Pro Evolution 2009 is a matter of extensive debate, but FIFA 09 is definitely the best version in the EA series to date.

Download FIFA 09 in Softonic

Putting this aside, the creators of Sensible Soccer 2006 have tried to stay faithful to the original game. Unlike most others, they have also made a point of not trying to make it overly realistic and hence avoid going up against the soccer giants that are FIFA Football by EA, and Winning Eleven by Konami. The result is that you have twenty two hilariously disproportionate players zipping around the pitch making crazy fifteen yard sliding tackles and taking some wild banana shots that occasionally end up in the back of the net. Sounds pretty much like the original!

The controls remain as simple as ever with buttons for shoot, pass, and sprint. For shooting and passing, the longer you hold, the further the ball will go. The system used for sprinting is such that each player has their own energy bar which is meant to last the whole match. Once the bar runs empty there’s no going back, so use it wisely. To unlock extra features like alternative team strips (e.g. Union Jack shorts) you have to finish the tournaments, and there are plenty of them to keep you occupied for a while.

When it comes down to it, Sensi 2006 is fun for a kick-about and should stir up some nostalgia for anyone who had played the original. However there were some strange warped graphics during our tests and as fast as this 3D incarnation is, it will never be as slick as its predecessor from almost a decade ago. What makes it worth a look is that it will appeal to absolutely anyone, football fan or not, thanks to the healthy mix of comedy with high tempo gameplay.

Download Sensible Soccer 2006 Demo in Softonic