When I play Pro Clubs in FIFA 15, I’m reminded of how frustrating, short-sighted and unacceptable the omission of EA Sports Hockey League is in NHL 15. While the narrative of NHL 15’s launch became about what modes weren’t in, I think the more understated point was a loss of a way to play. It was an affront to how users have started to build teams and community around sports brands. Online franchise modes and team play helps players invest in long-term commitments to a game, and they participate in these ecosystems even despite some microtransactions, server outages and player exploits. The ability to share an experience — triumph or defeat — becomes something powerful when each team member is investing in learning a position and contributing in their own way.

What FIFA has done so well for several years now is create that shared experience. Whether you have a team of three players or a team of seven, everyone feels like they are contributing based on the speed of the game and the nature of passing. In the online group I play with, we have people who have never really played much soccer, but they adjusted quite quickly to making basic passes and finding a role on the team. Not everyone is going to be a scorer, but inevitably everyone will get a goal or two, and that feels thrilling when you can contribute in an offensive way. On the flip side, offensive players feel it’s a bonus when they can make challenges and interceptions in dangerous areas — something that’s commonplace for backs or defensive midfielders. Not everyone can do it all, but being able to experience a taste of every aspect of the game is rewarding.

Of course, none of this shared experience would be possible without a proper system off the pitch, and EA has nailed that for several years (and it’s better this year). The fact that your player levels up as you play is a smart choice, but you still have the ability to buy the odd boost from the catalog when you have the appropriate level and in-game currency. There may be a loss in some of the specificity and customization that NHL allows, but it prevents nickel-and-diming through micro-transactions and requires users to actually play the game to earn boosts. This isn’t to say FIFA has been immune to boosters, AI exploiters, terrible user names and annoying play styles, but the good far outweighs the bad, especially this year.


With the seasons concept being present in FIFA for several years now, it’s exciting to be able to work towards promotion and have short- and long-term goals for each nightly session. The seasons format doesn’t force everyone to be on every night, but it does allow those who are on to have a stake in the matches, regardless of who is on. Our team has derived great joy out of the “Ewok” celebration after winning a division trophy, and it really stings when you don’t acquire enough points and face relegation. It’s really shown us the value of having a balanced team (not that this is any news flash to people), as a couple of midfielders and defenders who are committed to their role can really make the difference against some of the craftier teams out there.

That said, EA has done a couple of great things this year to make the experience even better. Sure, the net code and features from previous years are just as good, but now you can roll right into a next match without any waiting, which is really cool. And if someone joins in on the fun a bit late, they can queue up to be added to next match. It’s a feature I’ve wanted in these games for years, and I’m glad to see FIFA make it happen. I guess the next step is mid-game joining, but that might be a ways off (and would require some delicate balancing).

The AI for pro clubs is also drastically better this year, making matches much more enjoyable for dedicated teams that can’t fill every single position. It’s been frustrating in years gone by, as the bulk of the games have been enjoyable, but then certain matches will just be ruined by opponents exploiting throughs, lobs and basic dekes. These “cheese” moves cause the AI to panic, jump too early or fall down altogether. While some of the side cuts and dekes will still pull AI from side to side in FIFA 15, it’s nice to see that CPU teammates will actually knock down headers defensively and pursue speeding wingers. They never seem to give up on a ball, and they’ll actually clear it out to the side if things are getting too heated inside the penalty area. All of these changes make every result a lot more merit-based, and you’ll find that the AI just makes the plays they should. Our team has logged a lot of games already, and we have seen very few bonehead plays by the Pro Clubs AI squaddies.


Of course, the emotion of FIFA with friends continues this year, and it’s still endlessly entertaining to watch replays of your guys tumbling over and freaking out after being tripped or seeing them showboat after a goal. Combining these ridiculous animations and celebrations with some goofy facial expressions and hair makes it all work. The game looks so smooth in replay that these moments of emotion make the whole team laugh every time we see a new variation on a celebration or reaction. NHL 15 seems like it’s starting to add some of this emotion, but FIFA 15 already has it in spades.

Above all, it’s just a lot of fun to play FIFA 15 online with friends. The constant goal of seasons or cups provides motivation for whatever skill level your team is, and each player contributes in their own way — whether that’s through good passing, crafty setups, stalwart defense or clutch finishes. For me, the Pro Clubs format has provided some of the best co-op gaming in the last five years.

----

Follow me on Twitter @glennwigmore