FIFA 15: Game Review

EA Sports released the most recent addition to their successful franchise of soccer games, FIFA 15, on September 23 in North America for consoles, computers and iOS devices. The game features a host of changes, for better or worse, from its predecessor, FIFA 14. Just over a week after its release, popular opinion has deemed the game an overall improvement, and the general public has enjoyed the new feel.Arguably the most discussed change since the release has been the drastic improvement of goalkeepers. This includes an entire revamping of their animations and artificial intelligence, modeled after the motions and decision-making of real life goalkeepers such as United States Men’s National Team star Tim Howard, who stood out in this summer's World Cup. Using motion detection technology, EA has rebuilt the goalkeepers in their entirety, providing a fresh twist on the game.The new goalkeepers defeat a variety of annoying strategies that used to be viable in FIFA 14. These include taking shots from unreasonable distances, which caught the goalkeepers’ artificial intelligence off guard, leading players to score from as far as the half field line. Keepers will now react intelligently, catching or deflecting shots from this range with ease.Another fixed glitch is the infamous goalkeeper tease. Players used to have the ability to command their goalie to charge the opponent in possession at any given point at any place on the field. Although it seems ridiculous, the strategy was incredibly successful as a method of defense, even if it was anticipated. EA has provided a more realistic charge speed and directional change that makes unrealistic charging goalies a thing of the past.With a sparkling new system, players may fear the daunting challenge posed by intelligent keepers. However, as with all games and defense systems, they have their flaws. Within the first few weeks, many players have already realized that shooting with finesse, applying curve to the ball, at close range is a very effective way of scoring.The physics play an important role in the new goalkeepers. EA has provided players with new ways to score, including nutmegging the keeper -- shooting the ball between his legs -- and deflecting the ball into the net off the goalie’s body.Fortunately, EA did not focus only on the goalkeepers. The players now have much more fluid dribbling skills, allowing for total control and minute adjustments when dribbling at slow speeds. The game feels entirely new and offers a refreshing sense of smoothness. Certain gameplay aspects have been altered including passes and skill moves. The once revered lob pass, known among Xbox players as the LB+Y, has been altered entirely. Previously, it offered players a crutch to reply upon, a strategy which allowed even the most unskilled of players to score. EA has recognized this flaw and changed the arc of the pass, removing its manipulability. Skilled players can still use the lob pass to their advantage, however.Although many players focus only upon the changes that directly affect gameplay, EA also appealed to an artistic crowd with their latest game. FIFA 15 offers a beautiful new visual experience, streaming a television broadcast with lineups at the beginning of each match and an interesting and cinematic halftime movie which reviews the highlights up to that point.The game has also added new stadiums that were not in the previous edition, and each venue looks and sounds true to its real life counterpart. Even the fans are more dynamic, featuring perceptible differences in the way they act and sound depending on what team they support and how their team is doing, making it an even more real experience.A brand new emotions engine dictates the ebb and flow of the game. Players react to calls made by the referee in both a positive and negative manner. They congratulate their teammates, especially the goalies, on impressive plays. Most of all, they celebrate as a team with each goal, all but the goalie charging the scorer with delight.Having only been out for less than two weeks, there is still much to be learned about FIFA 15. But with the changes to goalkeepers, new ways to score, fluid dribbling, and the overall realism of the experience, it is already abundantly clear that FIFA 15 offers a new and fresh way to look at soccer gaming.