The FIFA universe is a large one, so you obviously won't see every player's authentic head. However, you should have realistic versions of most of your favorites. The facial renders are good, but for some reason, they seem just a bit beneath the level of accuracy and sharpness presented in the aforementioned games. Don't get me wrong—the players look really good, but the bar has been raised significantly in this area as of late. In a curious twist, the Xbox One's FIFA 15 demo features the effect - and at no apparent performance penalty. What's just as strange is that this Liverpool versus Manchester City demo actually loads on first booting the Xbox One retail disc with the effect intact, but once the match is played out, motion blur is switched off for the main game. In all, this is the only major technical division between the three versions - with the PC release retaining the effect.
Alongside this, a demanding bokeh depth-of-field effect is added to all versions, where previously we had a simpler Gaussian blur across intruding foreground objects. And while both consoles run at bona-fide 1080p, aliasing creeps in as a result of the effect. From our pixel counts, it appears the filter uses a lowered 960x640 buffer, causing objects walking in front to look rougher at certain angles - typically in scenarios with a close-up of a player in front of the stands. It's a trick in need of some refinement, but on balance it adds to the look of FIFA 15's cut-scene segments. There’re some nice touches in the commentary during Career Mode, though. It feels more true to life to hear Alan Smith comment how you won the last match convincingly, but that it was against Crystal Palace, and Everton might pose a more severe threat. They did, incidentally, hammering my Arsenal 2-0. I could barely get a shot away. It’s also in Career Mode that the new tactical offerings such as all-out attack or park the bus appear more often. Seeing that Everton literally park the bus once 2-0 up was impressive, but frustrating. You can’t be too mad about a gameplan being executed by the AI, though.
The graphics are gorgeous, but it’s hard to notice during standard play. The default camera is just so far out, the smaller details often go unnoticed. That is more of an issue with soccer than it is with the video game its self. However, it doesn’t take long to appreciate the replays that give the player a closer look at the details. From the shirts tugs between defenders and ball carriers, to the water splashing up as a striker sprints down the field on a rainy day, everything looks great, and runs just as well.
From the neck down, players look about the same as they always have. That isn't an insult, as body types weren't a negative for the game. That said, it's easy to see how improving the player frames might wind up being the next aspect of the models to get a boost moving forward. As for the surroundings of the players, the various stadiums and venues are rendered quite nicely and especially in the Premier League, where every stadium has been accurately captured. It opens up a whole new world of unique attacking advantages. Most importantly, you can now skip that irritating phase when there are two balls on the pitch. Corners have also been enhanced, with special tactics activated by pressing one of the four directions on the D-pad. Rather than just hoofing the ball hopefully into the box you can instruct players to crowd the keeper, make a run to the near or far post, or drop to the edge of the box. How successful they are depends on your delivery of the ball and the quality of the defending, but it’s nice to finally have some tactical options at set pieces.
