The FIFA franchise is a juggernaut, a worldwide phenomenon whose fans buy the game in droves every year to follow the ups-and-downs of their clubs and countries over the course of league and World Cup Qualifying campaigns. It is far and away the biggest EA SPORTS title, and in recent years it has really stepped up its game in order to position itself positively against attempts by Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer franchise to dethrone it.
With only a month and a half separating the releases of FIFA 14 on “Gen 3” consoles and the new PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, it’d be easy to forgive people for not spending too much time with the game on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. I got my hands on the game for PS3, but found little reason to compel myself to put in anywhere near as much time as I usually spend with the game knowing that an improved, next-generation version was just around the corner.
In stark contrast to the questions the community had leading into the release of Madden NFL 25 at the launch of the PS4, the gaming community was fairly certain what it was getting from FIFA 14 on the new consoles, thanks in large part to a number of videos uploaded to YouTube showing gameplay view footage and whetting the appetites of soccer fans everywhere.
All that remained to be seen was to get one’s hands on the game and a console that could play it. Read on to find out whether FIFA 14 on PS4 delivered on its promising plans!
Gameplay
When it comes to the FIFA franchise, the past few years seem to have placed a focus on refinement and iterative improvements versus the kind of large-scale changes that have been seen in sports franchises like Madden NFL and NCAA Football. As a result, the layperson can have difficulty seeing that any significant changes have been made on a yearly basis, while the hardcore player is acutely aware of the scope of changes and the adjustment period required to learn how the game plays in the new version.
FIFA 14 on both “Gen 3” and “Gen 4” consoles sticks to this type of design. The PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game introduced features like “Pure Shot,” “Precision Movement,” “Real Ball Physics,” “Protect the Ball,” and “Teammate Intelligence;” all features which are also found in the PS4 version of the game. The next-gen game adds to this list “Pro Instincts,” “Elite Technique,” and “In-Air Play.”
In short, everything that was added in the “Gen 3” game feels slightly different and slightly improved in the “Gen 4” experience. “Pure Shot” and “Real Ball Physics” become even more pronounced thanks to a greater library of shooting animations to draw from and a higher number of physics calculations which can be run on any given ball movement in the game. “Precision Movement” sees an even more significant change, as momentum plays an even larger role on PS4 and prevents players from being able to cut too quickly at high speed, which gives defending players a better opportunity to regain possession and keep from yielding easy scoring chances. “Protect the Ball” and “Teammate Intelligence” help to further establish the importance of midfield play, making larger players even more valuable in terms of establishing the flow of the game between the attacking zones.
With regard to what’s new in the PS4 game, “Pro Instincts” boasts an improvement to the intelligence of the players on the pitch, and it seems to largely work as advertised. Even though “Teammate Intelligence” brought some improvement to your team’s ability to work together in the “Gen 3” game, it’s significantly behind where we’re at in “Gen 4” now. It’s much more satisfying to have AI-controlled teammates who take advantage of your successful tries to open up space in the attacking game, and to see defensive players come to your aid when trying to keep the ball out of your own goal.
“Elite Technique” ties into the larger animation library available for FIFA 14 on the PS4 and Xbox One, allowing for new skills and contextual behavior based on the situation. The variety of off-balance shot attempts is worth the price of admission alone, and keeps the game feeling fresh and realistic when you look at what’s happening on the screen and can see how varied attempts on goal can be based on the way the attempt was set up.
Finally, “In-Air Play” is important because—for the first time in the FIFA franchise—more than one player can leap into the air to make an attempt on a header. Combined with a game engine which uses physics to calculate how players of different sizes interact with one another, this adds a whole new element to the aerial game. In past versions of the game—and even this year’s “Gen 3” game—headers had a tendency to feel overpowered if you had a tall player or a skilled player who could rise above the defense. In the “Gen 4” game, having multiple players able to leap for the ball multiplies the number of variables for each situation, and makes the aerial game considerably more organic and exciting as you try to figure out how to best take advantage of the situation to get worthwhile attempts on goal.
Defense remains solid through the continued presence of “Tactical Defending” and second chance tackles; in many ways, the “Gen 4” version of FIFA 14 represents the best balance between offensive and defensive play in the franchise for some time.
If tasked with finding negatives in FIFA 14’s gameplay on PS4, it would be easy to point to frustration with players who still—at times—don’t try hard enough to get after a pass when the pass travels a long distance. In these occasions, the player targeted by the pass just doesn’t seem to be invested enough in maintaining possession, even if the pass should be easily handled and not just carelessly gifted away to the other side. However, these occasions are much fewer and further between than in the “Gen 3” version of the game.
Also, pass targeting can still be an exercise in frustration at times. Even short, controlled passes can inexplicably end up targeting a covered player instead of the player you wanted to be sending the ball too; in these occasions, it can even be difficult to come to an understanding of why the pass diverged from your intended direction by as much as it does. I’ve suggested in the past that some sort of limited “icon-based” or “targeted” visual passing aid would do wonders for the FIFA franchise, and unfortunately this suggestion still holds merit based on how the game plays on PS4.
All in all, the gameplay this year is superb in so many ways, even compared to the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions which were released so close to this PS4 (and the coming Xbox One) version. There is still work to be done with the cons listed above and also with working on more consistent calling of fouls based on the physical interactions in the game, but it’s hard to find much to complain about if you’re buying a new console and looking for a great sports gaming experience gameplay-wise.
Presentation
Presentation in FIFA has been serviceable in recent years, but it’s still been lacking a real “wow” factor to put it over the top compared to other titles in the sports video game genre. One of the core components of the new EA SPORTS IGNITE engine powering the PS4 and Xbox One games is called “Living Worlds,” and it truly does succeed at breathing new life into FIFA 14 for these next-generation consoles.
As in the “Gen 3” versions, FIFA 14 on the PS4 has different colors and designs for the score bugs and overlays depending on the league the current teams in the game are from. For North American players, the Spanish La Liga again features full ESPN broadcast details; as with the “Gen 3” titles, it is the only such league to do so, however.
Where “Living Worlds” really shines is by adding new flyover blimps shots of most of the stadiums in the game, giving you a high-definition overview of these pitches where the action takes place. From there, you go inside the stadium and are able to appreciate the massive improvements to the crowd models and the excitement displayed by those crowd models through both their actions and their chanting and cheering.
The new default camera angle is intentionally situated closer to the action and at a lower angle, allowing for a better view of these crowd improvements to appreciate while you’re actually playing the game itself.
One new feature as part of “Living Worlds” is called “Match Flow,” which basically means that “hard stoppages” in play are dealt with differently in the “Gen 4” versions versus how they were handled in the past. When the ball goes out of play for a throw-in, the team awarded the throw will send a player to the touchline and the ball boy will toss them the ball to keep action going instead of stopping the game to reset. The same is true for goal kicks and for corner kicks, as the player set to take the kick will receive the ball from the sidelines and prepare for the shot. On goal kicks and corner kicks, there are also new broadcast camera angles which focus in on the goalie lining up his kick or the defensive and offensive players setting up their positions on a corner kick; these are a much appreciated change from the tired vignettes and hard stops of years past.
Instant replays also see great improvement, with goals featuring multiple angles which are true to real-life broadcasts and make use of different replay speeds to show the highlights of plays that just happened on the pitch. Even near-misses benefit from these improved replays as well, showing you just how close you came from seeing a celebration erupt.
Commentary continues to be a strong point for the franchise, and there are new lines which can be heard when comparing the offerings between “Gen 3” and “Gen 4.” Crowd audio is greatly improved—particularly when goals are scored—although the mixing is a bit disappointing when the raucous roar of the crowd is mixed down below the commentary as the team describes the goal that was just scored. Perhaps it is just personal preference, but it would be great to have commentary almost struggling to be heard above the crowd in those instances, as though the commentators were in the broadcast box at the stadium and subject to the noise of the crowd around them.
Also improved are trophy celebrations on the field—players who boot up FIFA 14 for the first time will get an opportunity to see one in the game’s opening match-up between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid if they win—which incorporate more vignettes and more elements to have a more true-to-life representation of what it looks like when a club takes home hardware for their supporters.
If there is any disappointment to be had regarding presentation in FIFA 14 on PS4, it would be that despite the new “Match Flow” feature, the clock still stops when the ball goes out of play or when a set piece is being lined up. It would be great if the development team would embrace the continuously running clock in future games—as it is in real-life soccer—and then add stoppage time appropriately at the end of the half to make up for it.
Also, as well as “Match Flow” does to keep things moving along on throw-ins, goal kicks, and corner kicks without losing the element of strategy involved in those plays, it is still frustrating when the CPU AI is awarded a free kick and they initially line up to take it quickly before deciding to reset. The frustration here is mainly derived from the fact that the player can set up his squad to cover the quick take all they want, but once the CPU decides to reset, all of the players who were moved are “teleported” to a new position based on the free kick. Considering how much “Match Flow” does to help move things along, it feels out of place for free kicks by the CPU to be handled in this manner.
The presentation found in FIFA 14 on PS4 is a solid step-up from the game’s offerings on PS3 and Xbox 360, and serves as a great showcase of what sports video gamers can expect from presentation on the new consoles.
Graphics
In recent years the FIFA franchise has been solid and consistent visually, and among the better-looking sports video games on the “Gen 3” consoles; with FIFA 14 on PS4, this only ramps up further, as the game is one of the prettier titles for the new console launch.
Player models still look essentially the same in terms of construction, but they look cleaner on the PS4 and hair appears to be rendered in a more detailed manner. Jerseys boast better fidelity in terms of display creases and folds while players run around during a game, although it seems as though the cloth isn’t as dynamic as one would like to see with the new horsepower of the next console generation; it appears at times as though the jerseys are instead “changing states” between wrinkled and wrinkle-free. That being said, these visuals are still an improvement from last-gen, especially when games are played in various weather conditions and you have jerseys which are soaked from the rain.
Speaking of weather, one major advantage that FIFA 14 can tout over competitor Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 is that it does feature weather, and it does a great job of it. Rain can be subtle or driving, and the snowfall effects do a great job of showing off some of the next-gen muscle of the game engine when those games occur.
The pitch looks great as well—featuring 3D grass which is more subtle than in other EA SPORTS titles and thus less intrusive to the overall visual package—and the attention to detail in the spin and rotation of the ball provides a great display of how improved shot selection and ball physics actually behave within the game world.
As mentioned in presentation, the “Living Worlds” brings a new dynamic to the stadiums and the crowds. Each stadium in the game looks to have received a graphical overhaul, making the surroundings match the improved graphics on the field itself. With full 3D character models populating the crowds, even the action off-pitch looks great as the crowd dynamically reacts to goals and near-misses over the course of the game.
As the FIFA series develops further on the PS4 and Xbox One, however, it would be nice to see continued development of the player models themselves to achieve an even better fidelity when compared to the real-life player. For the most part, each player can share many characteristics outside of height, which can break the immersion somewhat.
Also, animations could still use some tweaking when it comes to player interactions; it’s still too difficult to determine at a glance what contact deserves a foul call and what is just determined to be incidental contact. One could argue that foul calls are just as subjective in real-life and be right, but given the infrequency of foul calls at times in FIFA 14, the game would benefit from a better illustration of contact to make it clear when a foul has occurred.
As is the running theme of these impressions so far, however, the pros outweigh the cons from a visual standpoint, helping FIFA 14 stand as one of the showcase titles for the PS4 launch.
Features
Taking a page out of the Madden NFL 25 playbook, FIFA 14 on PS4 and Xbox One will boast the same feature set as the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions; great news for anybody making the jump to the new consoles this year.
The usual “Kick Off” game is here, as well as weekly challenges that change to reflect what’s going on in the real life world of soccer. The game boasts its familiar Career mode as well as Pro Clubs (allowing full 11-versus-11 user play) and Online Friendlies for the competitive types. No FIFA game would be complete without FIFA Ultimate Team mode, so FIFA 14 brings that to next-gen as well; though Xbox One will get a slightly more full-featured take through exclusive Legends being added to the game mode.
A new take on Seasons mode comes with “Co-op Seasons,” introduced in the “Gen 3” game, which allows four players to take each other on in 2-versus-2 match-ups trying to progress for a trophy and avoid relegation.
The popular and addictive Skill Games return in FIFA 14 as well, with new game categories added and new takes on some of the previous categories to help players develop their skills in the various elements of FIFA 14’s gameplay. With the improved quality of the game and framerate, many of these Skill Games come into their own compared to their “Gen 3” counterparts.
When it comes to FIFA 14 on PS4 and Xbox One, there’s certainly no shortage of modes to play; after the last console generation change became so notorious for features lost in the transition, it’s good to see that EA SPORTS brought everything over this time around.
Overall
Year in and year out, FIFA is the best-selling sports video game franchise in the world; while the influence of soccer across the world certainly helps, it’s also the case that FIFA has been so ably put together and so consistently strong since the release of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa title for PS3 and Xbox 360.
If you’re making the jump to next-gen consoles this year and you’re a fan of sports video gaming at all, FIFA 14 could not come more highly-recommended. Even if you’re not a fan of soccer on the way in, the game could well convert you before you exhaust what is has to offer this year.
Now, the waiting game begins to see what kind of new features are added when EA SPORTS puts together the expected game for the 2014 World Cup, likely to be released in the first half of next year.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2013
Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2014
Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2013
Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
Amazon Customer
Great game
Reviewed in Canada on February 7, 2020Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
Owen
Great
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2020Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
Cliente de Amazon
Buena experiencia
Reviewed in Mexico on November 21, 2015Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
deepak
ummm nice packing
Reviewed in India on July 29, 2016Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
Daniel
Amazing game!
Reviewed in Japan on December 26, 2013Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
