Even during the FIFA dark days of generations gone, one factor has always maintained to a high standard and that’s its visuals, and FIFA 15 is no exception. In previous instalments, the rosters has been packed full of official player likenesses, motion captured CGI and facial scans from the players themselves. Though fans of teams lower down the Premier League table have always felt a little left out, by only having a pinch worth of players with official likenesses. While teams at the top of the table, would be getting the all-star special treatment.
However in FIFA 15 more then 200+ new players have had their faces scanned over last year’s instalment, now that’s a lot of player scans and even teams lower down the table will be able to see more of their favourite players in their digital glory. This is something that I can relate to being an Aston Villa fan, with the likes of even Ron Vlaar and Brad Guzan being missed out in FIFA 14, but no more. Another gripe that I’ve had with FIFA games over the years is the choice of Premier League stadiums. Now I know that I’m not being bias here, but it was always frustrating seeing Villa Park, one of the most historic stadiums in England being constantly left out, while the likes of St. James’s Park, Goodison Park, White Hart Lane and the like, being included year after year.
In FIFA 15 this is also no longer an issue, as all 20 teams from the Premier League have their team’s stadium included. From Villa Park, The Hawthorns, the Britannia Stadium, Loftus Road, Selhurst Park and more. All while having the big guns such as Old Trafford, Emirates Stadium, Anfield, and Stamford Bridge and so on. Obviously I can’t speak on the other team’s behalf, but the stadium detail is created to an astounding level. Each stand, block, roof, seat, tunnel, just about everything has been replicated for your Premier League team. For example, when the camera swoops around the stadium prior to the games kick-off, the camera even starts from where I have my season ticket in the North Stand at Villa Park. It really is as close to watching it on the TV, as you’re ever going to get currently in a videogame. Fans will get even more of a buzz when the crowd starts to sing your football teams anthems from the stands.
Sadly the same can’t be said in regards to English teams from the Championship down, but to be fair that would be one hell of a job for the developers at EA Sports to replicate for each and every team. But it’s nice to think at one stage in the future, you never know. In fact, FIFA 15 currently has over 40 licensed stadiums from around the world, you can check out the full list here.
Action on the pitch has also been replicated to an unprecedented level. Before the match even starts, the way in which the game is presented is very close to what you might see on the digital sports channels. But players and stadiums can look as great as they want to be, but without realistic animations and smooth gameplay, it would just be an empty football experience. One of the many big deals that EA have been banging the drums for is what they call Emotional Intelligence. It may sound like a gimmick, but you can really see the Emotional Intelligence in action. Just about every player will react differently to the big occasion. Miss a crucial chance on goal early on in the match, and that player may feel the frustration of the miss, while it may uplift the fans in the stadium. Miss time a challenge or land a perfect tackle and each player will react each to their own and the emotion can been seen on their face, while the body language will give off all kinds of signals.
But how does the game feel to play? Well it would be fair to say that FIFA 15 has improved over FIFA 14, but not by a great deal. While this is not a bad point, it’s more the case of that the FIFA series has reached its peak and I can’t really see where it can be improved on next. I think unless the folks at EA come up with truly brain storming ideas, we’ll likely see from now on, slight tweaks here and there. And that’s fine, as its not wise to fix something when its isn’t broke and as long as the series remains fresh and to a high standard, for the foreseeable future, that’s all the FIFA series needs…for now. So for now the FIFA series remains the definitive football gaming experience and the gameplay is a smooth, fluid and transitional as ever. Though it will be interesting to see what Konami has up their sleeve when PES 2015 releases for the PS4 and Xbox One this November.
Another new feature that EA Sports have been talking about is the “Next Gen Goalkeepers”. EA are said to have “completely rewritten” the goalkeepers from the ground up, they now have over 50 new save animations, improved A.I and as a result will make better decisions. If I am being honest here, I’m failing to see any drastic changes with the goalkeepers in FIFA 15, they do appear to come out for crosses more often, but I still have to rely on pressing the Y button to have the keeper rush out during one on one situation, otherwise they will likely remain dormant. And as for the animations, like the outfield players they also have Emotional Intelligence and the 50+ new animations do make for more realistic movements. But if I was going to name one noticeable feature for the “New Gen Goalkeepers”, is that they tend to pull off more spectacular “for the camera” type saves, then anything else.
One noticeable improvement with FIFA 15 is the ease in which you can navigate through the team management screen. Now when you are selecting formations, set pieces, team captain and so forth, pretty much everything is under one screen and just a tab slider away from the next. So it will be very rare for you to have to make changes in another screen, like having to select set piece takers, and then go back into another screen, etc. It’s far easier, quicker and quite frankly tidier then FIFA 14, so for someone that hates clutter; this is a little god send to say the least.
If like me, the likelihood is that you’ll keep hold of your FIFA game until the next instalment arrives. There are many reasons for this as and as with each and every year, FIFA 15 is full of content to keep you more than busy until FIFA 16 arrives. With the likes of quick exhibition matches, Ultimate Team, career mode that includes Be a Manager and Be a Pro. Then you have other online modes such as Seasons, Co-Op Seasons, Pro Clubs, good old friendly matches and much more. Not to mention you will also have weekly updates that reflect real life team performances. A really cool feature that I loved with the previous FIFA games was the Match Day Live.
In FIFA 15 this has been improved somewhat and will now keep you even more updated the ever before with the goings on with your supported teams performances, player performances, injuries, league position, comparison stats to the team that they will be playing next. You will even have news articles related to your team, which is kept up to date via goal.com. It’s all these extra additional features that will keep you immersed in your FIFA 15 experience and is something that fans will always likely appreciated, I know I certainly welcome all the added authenticity.
FIFA 15 is for now the definitive football gaming experience, you will not only be immersed with the action on the pitch, but off it too. While many may criticise that the FIFA series never tends to improve drastically year on year (though the introduction of the Ignite Engine worked wonders last year), there’s a good reason why EA do not change a great deal, because they don’t have too. Not necessarily because it’s the easy option, it’s because there on to a winner with the gameplay and subtle changes is all the series needs for now. But it’s those subtle changes that football fans will appreciate; that none fans perhaps will not notice.
While not much can be done with improving the gameplay, the introduction of Premier League stadiums and even more player likeness, will have every Premier League fan jumping from their seats. It will be interesting to see that in years to come if the Championship, La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga will one day get the same all star treatment, though I suspect that’s a long road ahead before the FIFA series reaches that stage. At this time, FIFA 15 is really as good as it gets and not many games (whichever the genre) can boast such refined gameplay and as much authenticity for the genre its representing. By now FIFA fans would have likely already picked up FIFA 15, but if you’re sat on the goalposts wondering if it’s worth upgrading this year, you dam right it is. If you want a definitive, more authentic football videogame experience, then FIFA 15 is your game.