Is FIFA 15 better to play than last year? The short answer is no. It's so different that it will frustrate as many fans as it delights, based on their different approaches to the game. It’s moments like this that highlight one of the biggest problems with annualised sports franchises. My celebratory response to a last-minute Sebastian Giovinco volley which finally broke a stubborn Sassuolo rearguard action (their Park The Bus strategy proving frustratingly efficient) is testament to how FIFA can stir passions like almost no other game. But even with some sensible investments this season, it’s a little way short of its best form.

 

For a while everything seems perfect, but the longer you play the more the honeymoon period wanes and the more doubts start to creep in. Why is it so hard to pin down an opposing striker while they run around your box? Why is it so hard to score with a smart set-piece, but so easy to score from many angles with a stupid, low-level daisy-cutter shot? Why does the AI sometimes act so weirdly, either failing to get in a space, ignoring your opponent's through balls or - in one memorable case - leaving two defenders and one opposing striker dancing weirdly in the corner of the pitch? Isn't some of this end-to-end stuff, and aren't some of these scorelines, just a bit ridiculous?

 

Describing a new FIFA always involves a shopping list of newly invented marketing catchphrases, and ‘emotional intelligence’ is the one used to describe the more passionate computer players that now fill the game. Thanks to new efforts to recreate the atmosphere of each individual stadium – including all 20 from the Premier League – the game now feels more theatrical and alive, and not just a clinical simulation.

 

But none of that actually changes the way the game plays, and it’s immediately obvious that in terms of tangible mechanical changes FIFA 15 is rather short on new ideas. When showing off ‘next gen goalkeepers’ is the second highest priority of the marketing campaign you do get the feeling that the franchise is beginning to lose a sense direction. Although the bigger problem is that the new goalies almost end up ruining the whole experience.

 

Ultimate Team adds concept squads and loan players, the latter especially handy for those lacking either the funds or luck needed to acquire superstars. Loan players are only available via EA through the revamped EAS FC, where you can also share and comment on friend activity. The ability to create ideal line-ups before committing to a purchase is great pre-planning, and the share function will allow many players to learn from the best.

 

Even ignoring the lack of competition (PES 2015 isn’t out till November 13) FIFA 15 is still a good game, but it confuses changes with improvements and many will find last year’s game to be the more enjoyable. Perhaps it’s because the franchise is still stuck between generations, and it’ll take at least till next year to focus things entirely on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

 

However, I love this game, and I wish EA could make it better next time. If you're looking for criticism, I suppose I would say that it's time for FIFA to introduce the Women's World Cup, which would have really put this version over the time. An honest-to-goodness online career mode that I can play with my friends would be nice as well. The rest is mostly nitpicking balance issues, like the fact that speedy players are once again a little too powerful, which became apparent when Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie had a field day abusing Italy's slow-footed defense. It's not what I would call game-breaking by any means, but it does mean that it takes a little more skill to be successful with some teams than others.