FIFA 15 has full victory celebrations for the first in ages. No more just witnessing a group of players around the cup that you just won after you’ve worked so hard for glory. Now you experience a trophy presentation, victory lap and on the field joy. This is something that rival Pro Evolution Soccer has done better for the past few years. EA Sports has finally caught up to PES in this regard. On numerous occasions, the mass chant of ‘Come on You Gunners’ fired me up to cross a ball earlier than expected inside the six yard box. Players are more emotional after scoring a crucial goal, as every victory dance and celebration feels different and raw. The pitch takes the heart of the match, and the weather conditions predetermine how the match is going to end. EA Sports righteously optimized ground clarity during matches played under the rain, and left one to his remorse when the ground was covered with thick white ice.

This all culminates in an impressive presentation. Premier League matchups feature specific overlay graphics that are characteristic of what you’d see during an actual telecast. Fans chant uniquely for their beloved clubs. You’ll even get to see the fancy new “goal-line technology” in effect to show if a shot has crossed the goal line whenever such a play is in doubt. Authentic Premier League overlay graphics add to the presentation. The FIFA series has always been strong in these areas, and the enhanced BPL integration is one of 15’s most compelling new features. Knowing how the league is gaining considerable traction in the U.S. FIFA 15 might serve as many new fans’ first foray into digital soccer.



Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore revealed his delight with the extended partnership and fans of the top-selling game will no doubt be equally enthused. 'EA SPORTS is a long term licensee of the Premier League and we are extremely pleased to extend our existing agreements with them,' he said 'They have worked with our clubs to enhance the Premier League element of FIFA 15 like never before and they continue to engage with football fans in a variety of innovative and exciting ways.

EA also says the AI will be smarter in the individual battles. So when a striker's team is desperate, he's more likely to try to take a defender on. Likewise, if the defender is stranded as the last man, he'll be less likely to dive in and risk a red card—instead opting buy time until help arrives. That said, it was hard to really notice much of this stuff happening over the course of a couple of hour's worth of hands-on time. Only extended play will reveal whether there's real substance to it. As a gamer, I don't think you could underestimate the impact of what, on the face of it, seems a relatively small story. Aside from the income that such a deal would generate in terms off officially licensing the venue(s) in the game, it really does contribute towards building the profile of teams in the EPL who aren't "top 5" - particularly across the international community. I'm pretty pleased by this, to be honest.