Fifa 15 could have got a straight red card in the first minute for the video game equivalent of a professional foul – or professional foul-up at least. EA Sports’ latest release in its long-running football sim series came close to being dismissal just after kick-off for failing to work properly. Everything in this year's Fifa feels more exaggerated than before, like someone has turned the dial up a notch on many of the main measures.

Speaking of goalkeepers: they're more realistic too. The goalies of PES 2015 have improved significantly, especially when they're outside the box, anticipating shots from strikers much more intelligently. Then you have then animations that you see in the stadium, like when players' momentum takes them off the field, in danger of falling over the ad hoardings.



Goalkeepers have been completely rewritten for FIFA 15 with over 50 new save animations, and improved AI. EA Sports has stated that the revamped goalkeepers are more responsive and fluid when they move and look and think like real-life keepers. It is safe to say that the revamped goalkeeper AI is a delight. On older versions of FIFA, most players knew where too shoot to score. In this year’s FIFA, more intelligence is required. You need to think what would a real striker do in the position? You need to consider the goalkeepers position, your strikers position, and the angle you’re at, rather then just hitting it hard and expecting it to go in.

There are slight niggles for me, but they are very small. EA Sports seem lazy when it comes to goalkeeper kits, and I know most of the time it doesn’t matter, but playing as Liverpool away at West Ham means you must wear the yellow kit and it’s distracting when the goalkeeper of the Hammers doesn’t have a change of kit. Surely it can’t be that much more effort to include second or third strips for goalkeepers.