This year’s FIFA release has a golden opportunity. This is the first that’s launching on the same day for all platforms, including the new consoles with their greatly improved processors and memory. Long time FIFA fans might reasonably hope for a revolution in gameplay similar to the move from FIFA 08 to FIFA 09.
The animations are better, although sometimes something automated, with the opening of the hands and legs in bids that do not justify such an expansion. There are still details that can be worked, but enhanced artificial intelligence is very welcome. This time around though, it bears repeating. Players have genuine momentum. Stand perfectly still at a set piece controlling a receiver and flick the left analogue stick quickly, and the player doesn’t just take a perfect step one way or the other. They actually dip their shoulder and head off in that direction, meaning one step is actually followed by two or three little steps as they try to stop. There’s a more even distribution of weight throughout the bodies of players, and it feels amazing.
In fact, weight and momentum play a bigger part in general. Ground passes are zippier, particularly over longer distances, meaning you have to be more accurate with them to keep play flowing. Players now use all parts of their boots to nudge, flick and lay the ball off, although you will have to get used to giving them a touch more power. Stringing together a few first-touch passes is hugely satisfying, particularly because it often feels on the edge of all falling apart, a bit like pulling off an improvised combo in a beat 'em up.
FIFA 15 suffers from an identity crisis. Official licensing, flashy presentation and new player likenesses market the game as an authentic representation of football. Then things like 30+ yard screamers, bogus scorelines in Ultimate Team and the controversial struggle between attack and defense take away from it all. The game’s a lateral step from last year’s outing unless you’re upgrading on PC. Even then it’s unfortunate to realize FIFA 15 rewards players for taking advantage of its flaws rather than encourage play which emulates the real thing.
If you score a goal against the computer, the opposition becomes more determined and driven to come back with an equalizer. The opposite was true in FIFA 14, which punished you for conceding a goal by giving the opposition an adrenaline boost after scoring, while your team felt demoralized and relatively sluggish. If you scored, however, your team would also get the adrenaline boost, too.
