FIFA 14 has been promised by EA Sports to be a revolutionary entry into the franchise, and now IGN has gotten a preview of the game for the current generation of consoles, and the game is impressive in its improvements to the series.
"I know there's always a great deal of cynicism surrounding annualised games and how different things really are, but this year's FIFA really has made some noticeable changes. If you're set in your ways - you know, one of those people who sprint whenever they receive the ball - you'll undoubtedly find FIFA 14 a shock to the system."
The game has improved in some subtle ways as well as major leaps. The game has improved player animations using actual player movement captured by experts, rather than standard animation techniques that combine still poses to create the illusion that the players onstage are moving.
EA has also changed the way the game is played, with players alternating between sprinting and jogging. This leads to more realistic matches as players are forced to regulate their stamina. This, combined with the Variable Dribble Touches feature, leads to more realistic soccer action as attackers must figure out the best way to get past defenders and attempt to score. Players can now protect the ball, sprint pass the other team's players, then try the variety of new shots included in the game, including high, lobbed shots as well as punchy low shots. The type of shot taken depends on context, as the game will recognize what position your player is when taking the shot and act realistically.
It will be interesting to see how fans of the series react to these changes to the FIFA formula. As EuroGamer points out at the end of their preview:
"In a nutshell we're left with a game in which defending is a little easier, working the ball through midfield is a little more difficult, and shooting is quite a bit more fun. A slower game that rewards patience. Not a better game, perhaps, but a different one. And, until EA get a bigger blanket, perhaps that's all we can really ask for."