FIFA 15
Any football soccer fan in the world knows for sure that FIFA games are the undisputed king when it comes to sport simulation games. They've been releasing them yearly for a long time now. Here we'll be talking about FIFA 15, the second title to be released for the Xbox One and PS4. So, let's see if it was a smooth transition into a newer generation for the king of football soccer games in the world.
About the game
There isn't much to say about what this game is all about. It's a simulation game about a sport that hasn't changed much in the last decades. You can choose from different teams from all over the world. They can be both national selection teams or even club teams to play some of the most epic matches this world has seen.
The game features an updated list of players with their stats corrected to make it more realistic. But of course, the game isn't just free-matches, there's also a career mode available. And you can also create and customize a character, or even make an entire dream team.
A smooth transition?
When FIFA 14 launched as the first FIFA game on the Xbox One and PS4, it was a huge letdown. It looked pretty much the same as it did in the past generation consoles. It seemed as if the series of games hadn't caught up to the new generation consoles yet.
FIFA 15 was developed in a different engine for each generation though, but that probably didn't do the trick either. The visual aspect is still disappointing, definitely not up to what you'd expect from this generation of consoles. However, they managed to upgrade the physics and playability a lot.
Now there is more realistic ball physics, and the control is much better than before. They even enhanced the AI for the goalkeepers. The difference isn't so much in the visual department as it is in the gameplay aspect, and that's also greatly appreciated. The ball doesn't feel like it's glued to the feet of the players, but it also isn't constantly ten feet ahead when running either.
When you compare it to Pro Evolution Soccer 2015, you'll notice this straight away too. So, with all and all, improvement is improvement, and this one was great.
Review
We can't say that the game changed the industry, nor that it revolutionized gaming in the world. And when you look at the bigger picture, it is still pretty much the same game each year, so you have to look at the subtle differences to see if there really is an improvement.
As we mentioned before, while the visuals are disappointing, the gameplay is greatly improved here, and that's great. The AI is better, and the physics are much more realistic too now. This all adds up to make the game more fun and challenging. And yes, it's great for having some matches with your friends too.
Graphics and visuals: Disappointing, dull, and boring. The characters look way too similar to the previous year's game. There isn't really an improvement in this area. However the animations are a bit better, and that helps to add realism, especially when the camera is further away from the field.
Gameplay: This is probably the best aspect of the game, and given the nature of the title, it's also the most important, so that's great. The improved physics and much better AI make up for a better game experience. The matches are more realistic and faster now, and the different play modes are interesting.
Sound: The commentators during the matches are realistic and have great quality recordings. The sound effects help greatly in giving the game more realism, and it all adds up to a great experience.
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