A keeps shuffling around features and gameplay controls in FIFA from year to year, so it’s hard to get comfortable. You never know what’s been kept and what hasn’t half the time (if you’re looking for give-and-gos, they aren’t here). The cynical side of me thinks that EA does this each year as a shell game to make things look fresh from one iteration to the next. Luckily for you readers, I’ve got a pretty keen eye.
First Touch Control lets you manipulate the ball in a number of ways as soon as it hits your foot, which is important because it often lets your player retain possession. For instance, you can shield the ball from an oncoming opponent or perform a special move to dribble the ball into space – all done effortlessly with a flick of the right analog. If there’s a concern I have here, it’s that it doesn’t help the game’s overall stiff feel. Players get locked into animations, often making them dribble the ball straight out of bounds or pull the trigger late for shots on goal.
The career structure has been slightly altered, letting you manage multiple teams and buy team upgrades, although weekly training is now gone. Meanwhile, Off the Ball Control from last year isn’t as effective because the camera no longer pans out far enough to let you see the rest of the field. Unfortunately, even with a new double team button (which often doesn’t work), your defense is as timid and ineffective as ever.
Don’t get me wrong – this FIFA is as good, if not slightly better than all the other FIFAs before it. And as long as this is all anyone asks for, it looks like FIFA will crawl along from year to year knowing that it never has to fully pull it all together.