TeddyK
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How do you make the most popular sports game franchise better each year to keep it at the top of the heap? It’s a question that EA has to consider every time they release the latest iteration of FIFA, but at least there’s an upstart in Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) franchise that is willing to step up and compete. It’s an uphill battle to catch up, and perhaps that’s why FIFA 13 is more about tweaks than a major shift in how the game is played.
As deep as FIFA 13 is, the ultimate test for this game is in the gameplay, period. Tweaks and updates in the last few years have focused on strengths and weaknesses of individual players and the positions they play. Size and speed became important factors in determining who could win a one-on-one battle for the ball. The AI improved on both ends of the virtual pitch, where teammates actually moved around to create chances or help you on defense.
Ball physics are now joined by more realistic player physics. Make a hard ground or lob pass, and the receiver will have to corral it. Bad passes will force receivers to do things like lunge for it or fumble it, leaving them vulnerable to a challenge for possession. The developers seem to have made possession a high priority because dribbling and movement is given more priority.
It used to be that flashy moves with the star players could be the difference in a match, but that’s not as much a factor now. You can dribble in any direction, not just the one you’re facing, a move that has been a part of the game forever. It doesn’t require much other than moving where you want to go, but you can also add the right analog stick to slightly kick the ball past a flatfooted opponent, timing a speed burst just right to get past him.
Adding a Skills Mode into FIFA 13 was a great idea to get more casual players to better understand how best to move players, how to angle kicks and the power behind the kicks. Dribbling is also part of the skills the game lays out, much like how the NHL’s All-Star Game Skills Competition works. Dribbling around pilons, kicking from a specific point, hitting targets on goal, and so on. The smartest add-on to this is that you get to try these before playing a match, thus replacing the standard striker vs. goalkeeper that was in FIFA previously.
As good as this is, it’s not all roses. The physics sometimes have unintended or puzzling consequences. Players who can trip over themselves during a challenge. The ‘parting of the sea’ on defense is better now, but it’s still a little too easy for opponents to run straight into the box. Matches seem unusually skewed in some cases, whereby one squad seems to be able to dribble and maintain possession in the dumbest ways. One example was when an opposing player ran straight into one of my midfielders, but managed to not only stay standing but also keep the ball after it bounced off my guy and back onto his feet like there was a string attached to it. He ended up scoring because it was that hard to get the ball off him.
Thankfully, these ridiculous instances aren’t common, so they’re not enough to ruin the game, but they show that more tweaks will be needed next year. In fact, in most cases, FIFA 13 is a joy to play and experience, except I would understand if casual gamers hardly noticed a difference between this and FIFA 12.
The game’s modes haven’t changed much, either. Online matches are pretty much the same. Seasons, Virtual Pro and Manager haven’t been touched much. Pro Clubs Seasons are good if you want to play a short 10-game season, and you can do so against a friend online, too. What’s cool is that real-life events — wins, losses, injuries, transfers, morale — impact the teams and players in EA Sports Football Club. They’re updated weekly, and include challenges based on results in the various leagues. If you’re looking for depth and realism, this is it right here.
FIFA Ultimate Team is now easier to break in with the aptly termed Icrebreaker Flow for casual gamers. Now you can enjoy this mode without having to worry about getting creamed by experienced players. EA has even gone as far as making a Football Club app for the iPhone that lets you manage your team from beyond the console.
Know that when you buy FIFA 13, there will be a lot for you to do to keep you busy and playing for months, depending on how much time you can devote to it. You may not find it to be a major breakthrough in any particular way, but it’s still loads of fun, and continues to be the best soccer video game available — even though the gap is shortening.
Grab your jersey and head for the pitch in FIFA 13, the deepest and most impressive entry yet in the storied FIFA franchise. Delivering a raft of new and improved features, FIFA 13 contains over 500 officially licensed clubs and more than 15,000 soccer superstars. Enjoy more control, more realistic physics and the addictive online gameplay of FIFA Ultimate Team.
Grab your jersey and head for the pitch in FIFA 13, the deepest and most impressive entry yet in the storied FIFA franchise. Delivering a raft of new and improved features, FIFA 13 contains over 500 officially licensed clubs and more than 15,000 soccer superstars. Enjoy more control, more realistic physics and the addictive online gameplay of FIFA Ultimate Team.
The next generation of FIFA Soccer has arrived for Wii U in the shape of FIFA 13. Offering a stunning and deep soccer simulation, FIFA 13 promises the most engrossing soccer experience ever with five game-changing innovations and a host of Wii U-exclusive features. You don't have to be Lionel Messi to play the beautiful game, you just need a copy of FIFA 13.
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