Fresh FIFA Street next spring

EA has said its fancy new-look FIFA Street 3 will be available on PS3 and 360 next spring.

The biggest and most welcome change is that everything is now very over the top - a little like Mario Strikers Charged. Each of the characters has been made to look like a stylised caricature of themselves - so Rooney looks even more Shrek-like - and they all have heroic powers.

So after spending a while filling up your Game Breaker bar by stringing passes together, performing all sorts of tricks and flipping off walls, you can then unleash a special attack unique to that player - like an unstoppable shot at a petrified keeper.

In total there are around 250 footballers to pick from, all split into Tricksters, Enforcers, Playmakers and Finishers groups. It is a tactical choice, you see. EA has also apparently simplified the controls to make it much easier to embarrass your friends at the game.

"We have completely re-invented the FIFA Street franchise by turning the game's biggest stars into action heroes using art direction that makes you look twice," said producer Joe Nickolls.

"The power of the next generation hardware gives us the horsepower to break new ground for consumers, making it the perfect stage to enjoy a multiplayer, sports action arcade experience. Casual gamers and sports fans can expect a simplified control system that makes it easier to perform spectacular moves and enjoy the game with friends, yet still be a challenging experience for more seasoned gamers."

FIFA 08 developer EA Canada is creating the game, and will be adding its usual mix of eclectic music set against a backdrop of locations from around the world.

There is no mention of what multiplayer modes we can expect just yet, but we expect the Be A Pro mode where you take control of one member of a team might make an appearance, alongside usual head-to-head options.

Pop over to our FIFA Street 3 gallery for a look at, what we think, is a much nicer graphical style.