FIFA 14 (Xbox One)

While FIFA 14, as the first football game of the Xbox One and PS4 era, straddles generations, there are certainly some improvements right out of the box for the next-gen versions. EA has built the brand new Ignite engine for next-gen. This includes a graphical upgrade and, more importantly, gameplay changes such as improved AI and ‘True Player Motion’ to make players act more realistically. On-screen players adhere more accurately than previous FIFAs to real world considerations such as weight and momentum to give a greater sense of physicality. From a gameplay perspective, expect players to have more apparent individuality than before as agility and athleticism plays more of a role in every on-field confrontation. In the heat of a match these are considerations that may not be immediately apparent, but which embellish the overall look and feel of the game for the better. For example, for the first time in the series you can properly – and gleefully – ‘do’ a defender, leaving him off balance and several yards in your player’s wake. Fortunately for the wronged fullback, it is also now possible to burst into a sprint from standing to make up lost yards and earn the chance to heroically dispossess his humiliator. Things have improved on the offence, too. For all of the excellence of FIFAs 9 and up, it’s true to say that not every goal felt right, or earned. ‘Pure Shot’, as it has been dubbed, seeks to address this shortcoming. Strikers now seek to adjust their angle and stride pattern, where possible, to hit the ball as cleanly as they can. In additions to enhancements to gameplay mechanics, EA Sports has brought a whole new dimension to Career Mode. New to the game is the Global Scouting Network, which gives players the chance to develop and refine a scouting network to bring them new talent from across the world the whole year round. There have, of course, been tweaks and changes to the online offering, too, including changes to Ultimate Team, a new online mode and new features for Football Club. And don’t forget the 500 officially licensed clubs!