FIFA 15 takes what EA has done in the past with football games and takes it to the next level. It really is one of the best games we have played in 2014 and is likely to be on a lot of top 10 lists for the year. EA started well last year on the new-generation consoles, but FIFA 15 feels like EA delivering on what these systems can do. If you like the Premier League, you are in for a real treat, but even fans of other leagues or smaller leagues will find a lot to like here. FIFA 15 is, right now, the best football game around, but with PES around the corner, and looking more impressive than it has for a few years, it may not keep the crown for long.
This season I finally feel like I truly feel the rain when playing under adverse weather conditions. Drop in some animated ad-boards and more authentic pitch physics with moving corner flags and goal frames that rattle and you have a much more realistic playing arena. To put it simply, once you’ve played FIFA 15, your eyes will not be able to endure the torture that is the visuals of FIFA 14.
Off the pitch, FIFA 15 is an incredible package. YouTube favourite, Ultimate Team, returns with the ability to loan star players, and is as life-consuming as you want it to be, while the online Seasons mode are as captivating as ever. It should be said that online FIFA is a subtly different game - the latency is imperceptible, but in such a physics-driven simulation, even tiny delays in input can effect how you dribble and shoot. As such it tends to focus more on pace and high-through balls in favour of tactical build up.
Alan Smith and Martin Tyler are back on commentary duties and do a decent job, even if they do end up fading into the background. It seems that they were paying close attention to the World Cup with a lot of references to how certain players got on in Brazil. Even in these early days it can get a bit wearing. Much more entertaining are the genuine songs from the terraces that have been included - another move bringing the game closer to reality. As one would expect, FIFA 15 is a winning game. A few minor tweaks have taken it a little closer to complete perfection in terms of a simulation game. They’ve also taken a risk with the switch in defending, but it’s a move that will likely give players more to learn and take time to master - a good thing in the longer run. For those who simply want it to feel like what they’re used to - well, EA included that option too. To compare it to Ronaldo, FIFA 15 just scored a hat-trick.
FIFA 15 Ultimate Team is a game about numbers. From the skill ratings of the players you add to your side, to the cost of the packs of cards you buy, it's a considered and intelligent game of balancing the books. But there's football to be played as well, and as you might expect it's polished and entertaining. There's a vast range of balls to kick and tactics to employ, and the mechanics of slipping a through ball or smashing a screamer are slick and well thought out. It's not the perfect footballing experience, and there are times when some of the ideas involved get muddied or confused, but if you're looking for a game that's as much about building a team as it is controlling it, then it comes highly recommended.
The strongest FIFA yet, then? Yes, especially for PC-only players who are sick of being stuck with an inferior effort, but as much as FIFA 15 captures the emotional side of the game, it still hasn't quite found its beating heart. And as such, my Lineker-inspired journey continues.
