The FIFA brand has been very consistent for a long time, and it seems almost automatic that users can expect a deep product with lots of modes, great gameplay, robust presentation and strong licensing. Well, early returns for FIFA 15 bode well, as this year’s release seems to have pushed hard for some meaningful gameplay changes while also addressing presentation and mode depth. In light of the under-resourced effort that was NHL 15, it’s reassuring to see that FIFA is continuing to improve (likely thanks to some increased pressure from the marketplace).

EA has gone to great lengths to emphasize the emotion that is now on the pitch at all points of the game, and this is something that was apparent to me right away. The crowds benefit from some added detail, and the camerawork highlights them much more during a match (taking a cue from NHL 15’s presentation elements). The pitch actually shows degradation throughout the game, including footprints, divots and slide marks. Player hair, faces and kits all look better (with some odd faces and hair still rearing their head once in a while), and the “FIFA face” expression has been reduced somewhat. Even the nets, woodwork and corner flags all bounce or wave appropriately, and it’s cool see a shot lift the net right off its foundation.

All of this comes together nicely thanks to the “game story” system. The idea is that players all have a relationship with each other and that the presentation package will help articulate those moments. I don’t know if it succeeds 100 percent, but the fact that teammates goof around or chastise one another is interesting to see, and certain goals will appear to be in (complete with jubilation) before an offside is whistled. During halftime and postgame, all of this game story is packaged together in a fun way, with cuts of dramatic fouls, goals, reactions and referee interactions. I’ve really enjoyed the cumulative effect that the enhanced visual details, player emotion and highlight packages have brought to the game, and it augments the existing (but also buffed) commentary, arena flyovers and player animations.
 

Speaking of animations, the strides FIFA 14 took last year on new hardware continue with FIFA 15, as everything feels even smoother, with some nice transitions and ball control animations when moving at various speeds. I feel much more in control this year when playing with the AI or with friends, as receiving passes and manipulating the ball in tight spaces seems much crisper (particularly in the penalty area). The improved shot release of last year is now complimented by a proper sound effect and weight of the shot (something this year’s FIFA World Cup game started to move towards). Now shots will drift and sail appropriately if you apply too much power, and I’ve just seen a lot more variety in the shots and goals.

Headers appear to be more reasonable this year, with AI defenders actually getting to some elementary plays that they should and corner kicks requiring some effort. You can also call for set plays from the corner now, which was added in FIFA World Cup. It’s also great that lobbed through passes are drastically less effective, as my efforts to exploit this known standby were constantly rebuked by reasonably competent AI (set to professional or world class). I will say that running by defenders is still possible if you just floor it, which is disappointing to see, but it’s not a guarantee every play, so there’s that. It’s also not a guarantee of a quality shot, as AI pursuit is decent at higher difficulty levels.

The apparent variety of gameplay and goals also comes from the goalie redesign, which I think is a step in the right direction. There is certainly a greater variety of goals that will go in the net, including partial deflections under the arm or leg, rebounds or screens. A lot of the new save animations look great, too. I do feel that the goalie AI is intentionally “dumb” sometimes to let in a few more goals, but more play will be needed to know for sure.
In general, I’ve had a lot of fun playing some exhibition matches, FUT, seasons and pro clubs. Bumping up the difficulty to world class has provided a nice challenge, and I’m really getting into the presentation as it’s been envisioned this year.

In terms of mode changes, the career offering looks to have benefitted from a whole host of team management options, including easier ways to search for new players as well as the ability to set strategies and roles for each squad member. You can customize different team sheets in order to match the play style of upcoming opponents.
 

Some of this is leveraged in the FUT mode, as you can now use concept squads to visualize what your future team may look like. From what I’ve seen of this, it was a helpful tool to start playing with potential chemistry alignments and signings so that you could compensate for injury or plan for future transfers. I thought it was interesting that you can share these concept squads, and other users can give feedback on your potential lineup. You can also now sign “loan players” for a set amount of games, so it’s cool to be able to get some talent on your team for a short time. The ability to play friendly seasons matches in FUT is also welcome.

I’m a pretty big fan of pro clubs, so it’s great to see it working as good as ever. Our team has had some entertaining matches up to this point, and the network connection has remained as reliable as ever, which is great to see. All of the presentational elements (in some form) make their way online, too, so it’s neat to see your friends in some of the stylish highlight reels. Another additional feature this year is the ability to go right into the next match, as you can just roll right along. If you need to make a change, you can still bail out, which is smart.

Outlook

FIFA continues to be a ridiculously deep, polished and fully featured product, and my preliminary time with the game has been a lot of fun. I’m interested to try out some of the new wrinkles in career mode, and I’m curious to see if the goal-scoring variety and presentation novelty maintains over time. Look for the full review this week.