Last year I reviewed both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of FIFA 13. It took me a long, long time to achieve a familiarity with the game mechanics, you know, just figuring out how things worked. The learning curve was a lot less steep this year, but I'd be hard-pressed to point out the specific differences between FIFA 13 and FIFA 14. I mean, besides the cover athletes.
There's a boatload of subtle improvements like the way the players move on the field -- inertia is such a bitch -- and ball movement; and there are plenty tweaks across the various modes, many of which I doubt players will ever discover unless they're really into squeezing every last drop of soccer out of the game.
As much as FIFA 14 refines the refinement of FIFA 13 over FIFA 12, I'm not sure if FIFA 14 is such a leap as to draw in those that are still enjoying FIFA 13 (which is a good game to start with).
The franchise feels ready for a shake-up because it has captured the "real" feel of soccer and still offers a chance to make the experience more "arcadey" -- definitely 8 miles south of something like Mario Strikers Charged -- and the presentation has never been better, but a couple of wrinkles might offer more to the casual player. Like how about a turn-based mode rather than a slow-down dramatic mode? Lining up a pass or a shot? Three seconds to make up your mind and execute?
Besides outright (virtual) athleticism, strategy plays into FIFA 14 a great deal. "Matching" complimentary players helps to turn the tide, but even that can be thrown out the window with the seemingly rubber-banding that happens in the late stages of close games.
Maybe I'm imagining this. It's not something that as obvious as a a game like Mario Kart Wii where last place can be a stepping stone to screaming across the finish line with the 2nd place racer riding distant in your rear-view mirror. When the score is tight and the opposing team is down a goal or two, there's a sense that they suddenly become a race of super soccer beings. It successfully ramps up the tension but with an arbitrariness that spurs annoyance rather than a real feeling of a match well fought. But like I said, it's possible it's an imagined event, though I tend to think that because I wasn't grappling with the game like I was last year, at least one inconsistency popped out at me this year.
FIFA 14 offers a solid, if not great, experience for footballers. It's not wildly better than 13 so if you're still enjoying that one, there's not a whole heckuva lot different to warrant another purchase.
- D.D. Nunavut
The Good:
- Looks great
- Physics boost the "realism"
- Lots of options and modes to appease just about everyone
- A lot less buggy than last year
The Bad:
- Suspect usage of rubber-banding AI
- The "realism" will be off-putting for some
- Without knowing it's FIFA 14, it's hard to tell it apart from FIFA 13
Score: 8.0 / 10
