FIFA 15 Game Review. After checking out Madden and NHL on the E3 show floor, I walked over to the FIFA 15 expecting a similar jump in fidelity. Instead, the more time I spent with the game the more it felt like a subtle refinement of FIFA 14 rather than a significant leap forward.
Given the high quality of FIFA 14 (our reigning sports game of the year) having a lot of core gameplay elements carry over isn't a bad thing. After a couple games on the sticks I started to gather the small differences that set the new game apart from its predecessor. The most immediately noticeable change I encountered was a sharpened A.I. when attempting through passes. Defenders rarely knew how to jump into passing lanes last year, but now they aggressively defense space as well as mark attackers. Several through balls I connected with regularly in FIFA 14 were cut off.
Expect to see more physicality when defenders challenge for the ball as well. More aggressive players will put a shoulder into attackers and knock them off the ball, which creates more urgency to get your pass off in tight spaces if you are controlling a player with a slight build.
Presentation is also receiving attention in the form of increased player emotion. If you shank a golden scoring opportunity or get robbed by a fantastic save, the player will properly lament the missed opportunity. Gamble on a dangerous tackle and your opponent may take issue with the play.
We'll find out in September if these changes make enough of a difference to keep FIFA the best sports game on the market.
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
Style: 1 to 4-Player Sports (22-Player Online)
Publisher: EA Sports
Developer: EA Canada
Release: September 23
