FIFA 15 Demo Available Now on Xbox One, 360, PC, PS3, PS4

[Gnemi]

Quote: Originally Posted by BL8001

The fear I have. And it may just be unfounded/because it's a demo/etc But FIFA has been around for decades, I have not seen these defensive issues of just flat out wandering away from the ball by the back 4 in previous FIFA's and I have in fact played every single FIFA ever made. The gameplay from 14 to the WC game evolved slightly for the better in my opinion. So with that foundation in place and no reason that I can see for the back 4 to be mindless this has me concerned. More than anything, I know from last years NG offering that there was never a gameplay patch. So if the back 4 play like this in the full game...I worry it won't be fixed for the whole cycle of the 15 title. Nobody knows, and nobody will until we get a chance to play the full game next week with EA access. I have my fingers crossed that this is fixed because as it stands now I have zero trust in my back 4 doing anything but getting out of the way of the CPU attacker so it forces me to chase the ball with a FW (even deep in my zone) and try my hardest to win it back so my back 4 can't be exploited. A side note to this...when your back 4 just moves apart to allow the cpu attack through and your keeper comes out and makes a majestic save it sure would be nice if the new EMOTION engine kicked in and he got in the face of a CB and barked at him. Instead the keeper just turns and walks back to his net clapping his gloves together.

I think it's true that, after official release, there weren't significant changes to gameplay in FIFA '14. However, the difference between the demo and retail releases were fairly drastic IIRC.

Nonetheless, I have noted the issues others are commenting on with shambolic defending, but I'm cautiously optimistic that these issues are demo-only. They're also a great deal less noticeable on higher difficulty settings. I'm pretty sure the default difficulty for the demo is Semi-Pro, so I sure as $%#@ hope people aren't moaning about gameplay on the demo's defaults. We all know how crap this game is played on lower difficulty settings / Normal speed.

The *one* thing that's sticking out heavily for me at the moment, to pick a nit, is the bombing down the wings. Far too much space allowed out there and even ordinary fullbacks seem to outpace their markers. It reminds me of FIFA '13 in the worst possible way. I *do* like that it seems easier to create separation from defenders if you're in control of a winger/MF with skill and pace. FIFA '14 completely effed that up IMO. I'm very much on record here at OS for detesting "Skill Moves" and I pretty much refuse to use them. Unfortunately, in FIFA '14, that meant that my players were almost incapable - or heavily impaired - when it came to creating separation. I cross my fingers that simple L1, sprint, or L2+R2 mechanics can do that for me.

I did play FIFA '14 last-gen, keep in mind.

Oh, final note, Glennon has been trolling the hell out of this thread, but his YouTube post was pure gold. Keep that stuff coming and I won't mind the trolling!

[KG]

For as good as the animations can be at times I still feel like the physicality could be represented a little better. Especially with the players not going to ground as often as they do in real life.

[BrianFifaFan]

Quote: Originally Posted by equilibriax

PC gamers: GMG has a 20% off code for nearly all games on their site. I just preordered FIFA for $48 USD.

Thanks! Just got this and 2k for $96.

[DBMcGee3]

I got in a quick game at lunch, probably not enough of a sample to post impressions, but I'm a hasty mofo so here goes:

Pros:
-Graphics were better than I expected, although I was playing the Liverpool/Man City game where all the faces have been scanned properly. Not sure what to expect from smaller clubs.
-Crowd was pretty good. They look good, they were pretty quiet when the away team scored, and pretty rowdy when the home team scored. Chants sounded good too.
-No cheesy header goals!!! Yessssssssssss!
-Defense wasn't nearly as problematic for me as some posts have indicated. Good positioning can get you the ball back, but sometimes the offensive player pulls a good move and beats you. Fair enough.
-Commentary was excellent as usual. I loved the player intros as well.
-Replays were awesome.
-Fouls appear to be spot on. Had 2 yellow cards called against the CPU, and several other fouls called appropriately.
-CPU moved ball around well. Not tons of backwards passes, but they did a good job of passing to open men and not going straight at goal 100% of the time.

Cons:
-For all the improved GK talk, I was somewhat unimpressed, at least with my keeper. Both goals conceded were hit directly at him and he completely wiffed on both. Granted, they were close range and struck well, but watching the replays, he should have at least gotten a hand on both attempts.
-Shooting animations still seem limited. One of my favorite things about PES is the vast range of shooting animations, especially when close to goal. In FIFA, it seems like the guys always take a full swipe at the ball, even in situations where a little dink would work better. I'll reserve judgement on this until I play more.


All in all, I was more impressed with the game than I expected to be. I am definitely buying PES this year, but I'd consider getting FIFA as well for a nice change of pace, as I do most years. Looking forward to more time with the demo this evening.

[drunkenferret]

Quote: Originally Posted by japsubie

if it helps, in mine, ive been seeing a steady 84-90% passing rating.

Yeah, this is still high. Good teams average in the low 80s most matches, and some teams end up in teh 60s and 70s, but the cpu is always in the 80s no matter what team you are playing. In the case of the demo it's high eighties to low nineties.

This affects so much from defending to cpu attacking, to top, and as a result the player's ability to gain the ball to attack.

Last year cpu passing also affected cpu attacking and shooting. Not noticing this in the demo, so that would be a plus if pass error can be increased, but the cpu can still mount solid attacks.

[japsubie]

Quote: Originally Posted by drunkenferret

Yeah, this is still high. Good teams average in the low 80s most matches, and some teams end up in teh 60s and 70s, but the cpu is always in the 80s no matter what team you are playing. In the case of the demo it's high eighties to low nineties. This affects so much from defending to cpu attacking, to top, and as a result the player's ability to gain the ball to attack. Last year cpu passing also affected cpu attacking and shooting. Not noticing this in the demo, so that would be a plus if pass error can be increased, but the cpu can still mount solid attacks.

i would definitely agree. ive found, with at least the way i play defense, that thankfully ive been able to keep the AI at bay and they havent scored against me much, but its honestly only because ive been able to make 1 on 1 tackles when they get close to the 18, or because ive cleared it out with headers from crosses. i havent had many interceptions, each pass is directly to feet. im optimistic that sliders will be able to correct this.

[BL8001]

Quote: Originally Posted by DBMcGee3

-Shooting animations still seem limited. One of my favorite things about PES is the vast range of shooting animations, especially when close to goal. In FIFA, it seems like the guys always take a full swipe at the ball, even in situations where a little dink would work better. I'll reserve judgement on this until I play more.

I agree. It really does show itself close to goal. This is like in NHL when you have a full windup slap shot or in close, a quick wrister.

FIFA needs a bunch more in close shot animations. I think this will inevitably come to be. With the devs loosening the gameplay up a little each title release and more random things happening around the goal mouth they are going to be almost forced to add in some new ones to complete those animations correctly.

It particularly frustrating when you want that quick lunge type shot and the player is trapped in a long distance type shot animation.

To do it right they just need a batch of shot types and animations that only would occur in the box and then ones that only would occur in the 6 box. Context relative shot animations.

[japsubie]

Quote: Originally Posted by BL8001

I agree. It really does show itself close to goal. This is like in NHL when you have a full windup slap shot or in close, a quick wrister. FIFA needs a bunch more in close shot animations. I think this will inevitably come to be. With the devs loosening the gameplay up a little each title release and more random things happening around the goal mouth they are going to be almost forced to add in some new ones to complete those animations correctly. It particularly frustrating when you want that quick lunge type shot and the player is trapped in a long distance type shot animation. To do it right they just need a batch of shot types and animations that only would occur in the box and then ones that only would occur in the 6 box. Context relative shot animations.

i think eventually it will be implemented as you say. i have noticed in this years iteration that when using turbo and letting go when about to break into the 18 that they slow down way quicker than in '14, and it appears as if they almost take slight stutter steps to do so, at least my gf and i seem to have noticed that, so im hoping this is a start to such animations when close to the box. messed my gf up real good the first time she went in alone on the goalie hahaha