FIFA is one of those games that is released every single year; so on the surface it may not look THAT different - but there are usually a lot of little changes that can make or break the feel. And this year is one of consolidation Hex, because FIFA 15 has all the best bits of FIFA 13 and 14, with a whole new sheen. While also available on last gen systems, this game was built foremost for the PS4 and Xbox One, and this year's game has a next gen quality to its visuals - with better than ever player likenesses. More impressive weather effects and some improved player animations. The game also finally includes all twenty English premier league stadiums, for maximum authenticity.

EA has worked in player emotions, as they react to actual happenings on the pitch. For example, players congratulate their goalie on an epic save, and those who were on the wrong end of a bad tackle will react confrontationally to the opposing tackler. These emotional responses are said to have an effect on how affected players play, but I can't say that I sensed much of a difference, if any. If you score a goal against the computer, the opposition becomes more determined and driven to come back with an equalizer. The opposite was true in FIFA 15, which punished you for conceding a goal by giving the opposition an adrenaline boost after scoring, while your team felt demoralized and relatively sluggish.



When playing you have a lot more control over the ball as well as your teammates. When you have the ball, your player moves into a mode allowing tighter control, allowing you to dodge dribble and pass. If you do find yourself blocked or flanked, your teammates react to your situation and position themselves around you so you can pass the ball or if you're getting ready to shoot a goal, they file around to be there to catch the ball in the off chance you miss. A nice touch to the gameplay is the loading screens, which are small mini games designed for you to practice dribbling, shoot accuracy or dodging. A superb little warmup before a big game.

So, the most recent update has had some heads spinning for us slider guys, and part of the reason is the defensive positioning. The goal was to prevent those kick off glitches and dribbling exploits by pushing the defensive line further back. The problem with this is that the defensive line moves back – but as an automated machine! Meaning they move back together, without fail, to a specific location on the field – and it’s not just one or two defenders, it’s all of them. I also go into a bit of the issues with marking,  and how what I have termed “Attention Deficit Defending” affects the entire scope of the game play issues we are seeing in FIFA 15. Watch my video and I’ll explain why!

The deftness of feet—juggling, passing, sprinting, tapping—it’s an improvisational dance. Executing skill moves with the thumbstick and orchestrating brilliant passing exchanges feels like executing an intricate choreography. On my best days I’m like the Arthur Miller or Martha Graham of digital footie. The perpetual thumping mechanical heart of FIFA 15 is passing, and it’s a testament to the design of the game that multiple strategies can be employed to move downfield toward goal. If your team has pacey wingers, you can play kick and chase to the corners, working down the field with aerial through-balls. Conversely, executing beautiful build-ups by playing some tiki-taka with a team is as fun as saying out-loud the words “tiki-taka.” Go ahead, say it with me. “Tiki-taka.” Fun, right?