Football - Soccer
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Price range (£)
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FIFA 14
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!£34.99 Buy Now -
FIFA 15
The beautiful game is back, and with the 2014/2015 football season now well underway, Electronic Arts has another FIFA game for fans to dig their studs into. This year, the latest iteration of the game isn't about big, flashy updates attempting to overhaul the game. Rather, it's about focusing on the series' core gameplay and making the tweaks and refinements that might not seem huge to the casual observer, but to the hardcore fan will be hugely evident. EA has really doubled down on maintaining the pedigree that has made FIFA the dominant soccer game over the last few years.
The new bells and whistles EA is touting include (as ever) improved graphics, with pitches that show wear and tear over the course of the match and improved player visuals. There's also the inclusion of the Turkish league and 'emotional intelligence' that delivers greater authenticity in how players react to the on-pitch action.
On the pitch, though, players will notice other changes that might not be as obvious on the game's surface, but run a lot deeper. Defenders now turn with greater deliberateness and are more likely to catch attackers rather than standing around and looking nonplussed. Similarly, AI is better on the attack. Your players will burst into space on the overlap for a return ball without your prompting. You can also pick up control of the reciever of a goal kick, corner, throw-in or free kick, meaning you don't have to just hoof the ball in and hope your team makes the best of it.
It's these new tweaks - tweaks that will keep on surprising you hours after you've fired up the game - that will make all the difference for FIFA fans, building on what's already gaming's premier football series.£54.99 Buy Now -
FIFA 16
With the Pro Evolution Soccer series getting better and better, the heat is on for EA's FIFA to keep performing. Fortunately, the series has got a new spring in its step over the last couple of versions, and blustery phrases on the back of FIFA 16's box such as 'confidence in defending', 'moments of magic' and 'control in midfield' promise more than just hype.
One criticism some players had of the last couple of games was the way in which the pace and power of elite players could dominate a match. Tweaks, particularly in defence, have gone a long way to neuter that and provide a tighter game. Centre backs get close in on attackers for controlled marking, while full-backs track well and interfere with wingers before they can hit top speed. While pace and power are still important, timing has become ever-more crucial.
EA totes a new in-game training system, FIFA Trainer, which offers contextual recommendations to the player. With this optional graphical overlay, players can learn on the fly, with the trainer recommendations advancing alongside the player.
The headline addition for many, though, will be the inclusion of 12 women's national teams for the first time in the series' history. Teams from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, and the United States of America are all on-hand to represent their countries in game modes including Kick Off, an Offline Tournament, as well as Online Friendly Matches.
It's an inclusion that's not just cosmetic - without, say, the speed of Ronaldo or the strength of Yaya Toure, the finesse offered by on-pitch gameplay improvements is crucial to dominating the pitch.£54.99 Buy Now -
PES 2015
A new console generation seems like as good a chance as any for Konami to challenge FIFA once again for the top spot in footy videogaming.
Built (perhaps a little surprisingly) using Kojima Productions' FOX engine, physicality underpins Pro Evolution Soccer 2015. Its rival, perhaps thanks to its impressive graphical finish, has the reputation as the most simulator-like game of the pair. But, if you really poke at PES 2015, its mechanics are defined by the push and pull of realistic play.
Going shoulder to shoulder with a computer controlled player, for example, will force the AI to second guess whether it can hang onto the ball. It might power through or it might try to change direction and go for a pass. What it will definitely do, though, is react. It's this reactive AI that runs through the heart of PES 2015.
The developers over at PES Productions Team have worked over both goalkeeping and shooting to up the realism at those key moments, too.
The game has been given a graphical overhaul, too. Slicker animations can be seen on the pitch, while crowd animations have also been improved and will better reflect the ebb and flow of the match. That's all brought together by an overhaul of the lighting, which now all comes from one source, adding a more natural feel to the game.£39.99 Buy Now -
PES 2016: Pro Evolution Soccer: Day 1 Edition
PES 2016 marks the twentieth anniversary edition of the hugely successful football series.
From its humble origins on PSOne, the PES series has leaped from format to format, adding ever more realism as it evolved. This heritage has been celebrated in PES 2016’s new tagline ‘Love The Past, Play The Future’, highlighting the series’ recent return to core PES values in last year’s PES 2015 and focusing on the many new gameplay and presentational elements that will further establish the series as the definitive football experience.
PES 2016 aims to retain its title of ‘Best Sports Game’, as voted across the world at games shows and by major media outlets in 2014, by continuing to lead the way in the recreation of ‘The Beautiful Game’. The series aims to go back to its roots to create an exciting match between users, and proudly present PES 2016 to deliver quality gameplay following The Pitch is Ours mantra. From further integration of the industry leading Fox Engine to bring the on-pitch action to life and the full commitment to centre the product around creating the best gameplay experience, to the full redevelopment of Master League, every facet of the game has been enhanced to deliver yet another outstanding product.
Features
• Fresh Gameplay – Exciting advancements reaffirming the PES series as having the No.1 gameplay.
• Advanced Collision System – The physicality of the modern game has been realised in PES 2016 with a significantly improved collision system, calculating how players interact, creating a unique outcome depending on type of impact.
• Aerial Strength – With the new physicality system, aerial battles are a completely unique experience this year. Use the left stick to battle the opposition to disrupt a larger more powerful player, or find the best position to make the header/volley.
• 1v1 Control – In PES 2016 the 1v1 player control have been enhanced, offering a wide range of movements with the existing controls. Response times have been improved allowing players to manoeuvre in tight situations, which also benefits the upgraded feint moves that allow sudden directional change that can cause defenders to lose their balance. The 1 on 1 situations now offer a great leap in exciting table-turning outcomes. Just as the real pitch offers opportunities for those brave enough to perform, players can pull off precise action, flexibly manoeuvre and pull away from the defender. Technique and timing lead to the defender to lose his balance, and creates great chances just as you pictured.
• Perfect Defence – Performing a tackle at the perfect time will powerfully shove the player out of the way to secure the ball. The ball will immediately be yours, creating direct turnarounds and counter opportunities.
• Intelligent Player AI – 2-3 player combination play will be available by the improved concept of team strategy, which depends on the type of tactic you set for your team. Players no longer are reliant on manually triggering a 1-2, with teammates intelligently running off passes into space.
• Goal Keeper ID – In a bid to improve quality and add unique individuality in performance, new goal keeper parameters have been added, that now vary in Catching, Clearance, Collapsing and Deflecting. This adds character to the players, who you can count on catching the ball rather than punching, or are better at stopping close range shots.
• Celebration Control – New for the series, players have full control over goal celebrations to maximize their excitement when scoring! Prompts appear after a goal to trigger a trademark celebration, or unique actions at the press of a button. Fundamental Changes – New significant improvements across key modes and features.
• New Master League – The famous and hugely popular Master League sees a total revamp, allowing users to immerse themselves in the managerial world of soccer. Every element has been redesigned or reworked, from the vibrant and involving menus to the new and exciting player transfer system, PES 2016 see one of the series most integral modes redefine the single player experience.
• New Visuals – Incorporating the many advancements of Fox Engine the visuals have seen a huge upgrade. See the rain splash as players slide in to win possession, or the turf kick up as you strike the ball into the top corner. New night-time lighting and real turf textures add to some of the many improvements.
• Dynamic Weather – For the first time in the PES series dynamic weather has been introduced, with the chance of rain starting during the game. Combined with the ever more realistic ball physics, the rain changes how the game can be played with passes speeding up, and players less skilled to struggle with trapping. The defender taken by the 1 on 1 will be covered with pitch blades by slipping and falling. This feature is applied to all offline modes including the Master League, becoming an important element to decide the outcome of the match.
• Human Motion – Seeking to humanize player movement, 3x new animations have been added to bring the in-game superstars to life. Goalkeepers have seen an abundance of save animations added, while outfield players shoot, pass, dribble and tackle in a countless variety depending on the situation. Players complain when a foul isn't given, or lament a teammate when a pass isn't made when in open space. The new 1v1 control also benefits from this, with players being able to fool their opponents with shimmies and feints, that can result in causing the opposing player to lose his balance and fall in the wrong direction!
• New Ball Physics – The past few years has seen the series make huge advancements in ball physics, and for PES 2016 new levels of realism have been reached. Each spin, bobble and ricochet has been calculated using real ball physic data, helping keep every moment in every game unique and unpredictable.Quality Improvements – Many important elements are upgraded per fan feedback.
• myClub – Since the launch of the mode in PES 2015, myClub has been updated on a weekly basis, and now have been further improved based on user feedback for PES 2016. The enhancement will introduce player level systems, and players exclusive to the mode. Use GP acquired through matches or myClub coins to experience realistic club management combined with players to strive to be stronger in your squad. Choose the manager, consider coaches, and build the strategy based on what you aim with your team. Build Your Team, Create Your legacy!
• Dynamic Wide Camera Angle – The new angle gives you a larger field of view, allowing you to better plan and adjust your players to compete in aerial battles, or see the intelligent runs being made thanks to Intelligent Player AI. Depending on where the ball is on the pitch, the camera will tilt and zoom in/out to make sure the user has the best view possible during the match.£34.99
