FIFA 14

FIFA 14 is a soccer simulation game within what is arguably the most popular and realistic series of such games, and this version includes several improvements from the previous iteration.

The true brilliance of this update from the last version is that it focuses on boosting the realism to levels that had never before been seen in a soccer video game. The main differences are in the player animations and the physics of the ball. Combined, these two updates create a system that is true to reality and form a well-paced, beautifully designed example of the essence of soccer.

One of the more subtle features of the game is an update to the artificial intelligence of the team structure on the field. The teams act much more like real professional soccer teams in similar situations, and the control of the individual player is much smoother and detailed. Defensively, the game-generated players are now much better at deducing a shot before it happens thanks to an increase in their reaction frame. This prevents impulsive diving and other obviously bad decisions.

The realism has been pushed to the extreme in this game, even down to the ability of the player to increase pressure at certain points on the field to prevent running down the clock. Players must guess actual strategy employed by the opposing team and counter it with their own.

The controls are the same from the previous version, which is great for those familiar with the series, but this game makes those controls much more fluid and maneuverable. With the addition of 2-v-2 online play, FIFA 14 is a solid title.

• Online Co-Op
• Fluid Physics
• Realistically Paced
• Superbly Intuitive
• Highly Engaging

• No Graphic Engine Update
• No New Team Management Menu