FIFA 14
Overview -
Along with the changing of seasons yet another 'FIFA' title has come to grace our consoles, and once again the programmers at EA Canada still haven't figured out how to make our fullbacks aware of the existence of the offside trap.
Being the definitive 'FIFA' licensed version of soccer (football to those of us who reside outside of the US) since its beginnings on the PS1, 'FIFA Soccer 2014' is another in a long line of arcade soccer simulations that is heavy on the arcade and mild on the simulation. With the upgrades to the new Xbox One and Playstation 4 on the horizon, one can't help but feel that most of the effort this year might have been saved for the next generation consoles.
While historically viewed as a step down in terms of gameplay when compared to its main rival 'Pro Evolution Soccer' by Konami, 'FIFA's recent complete overhaul in mechanics, combined with a decided lack of improvement by 'PES' have vaulted 'FIFA' to the top of the soccer video game world.
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Video Review
'FIFA' has always come out on top in the graphics department when compared to Pro Evo Soccer but this is the year that has changed. With 'PES' sporting the new FOX Engine, 'FIFA's lack of improvement really stands out in comparison. The graphics are basically the same as last year's, and the textures and skins, while upgraded to include all the teams new kits, sport the same glossy overexposed sheen that plagues EA games. The animations and player collisions remain good with occasional quirks; however, the change in overall player weight and agility really hampers what could have been a much smoother experience.
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Audio Review
An entirely new soundtrack was developed for this year's edition and just like last year, it provides a satisfying blend of pop, rock, and rap drawn from artists around the world. The commentary team is as astute as they've ever been. Improving from last year, Martin Tyler and Alan Smith add even more to their repertoire with player, team, and situational specific comments for both the pregame and in-game dialogue. This is the level that I've come to expect from sports game commentary, and I expect every EA title to match or exceed them in the future.
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'FIFA 14' seems primarily to be a stopgap between this generation's hardware limitations and next generation's promise. With 'FIFA 14' slated as a launch title for both new consoles in November, it will be interesting to see the differences between the two games. If you’re thinking of buying either the Xbox One or the PS4, I would strongly suggest holding off on the current generation versions and instead wait for the new consoles. Something tells me that is where the money is.
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