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Each version of this iconic soccer video game keeps getting more and more realistic

Each version of this iconic soccer video game keeps getting more and more realistic

Vote: (4,742 votes)

Program license: Trial version

Developer: Electronic Arts

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(4,742 votes)

Trial version

Developer

Electronic Arts

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • Match Day Updates are an excellent system to see the real changes in real statistics within the game.
  • Player Career modes are interesting, especially when you're sent to lower leagues to up your game.
  • Ball control is harder, which is good. No more instant grabs and just being in the right place for some magical, magnetic touch.

Cons

  • Midfield play doesn't happen. The AI either gets to a side or lets you get through mid. What an ideal world THAT is.
  • Sliding tackles are useless against AI. Keep it against other, real players.
  • While every match is different, AI teams feel like the same AI team. The AI learns, but it's still the same team in feeling the game.

The 2013 version of FIFA is an amazing leap forward in sports gaming, covering a lot of new innovations in graphic design, artificial intelligence and physics applied to gaming.

The demo allows you to play in Camp Nou with a few teams, such as Manchester City, AC Milan, FC Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, Borussia Dortmund or Paris Saint-Germain. There are different versions of the demo, but the download will take you to the right place for a trial or even getting the full version.

What has changed in FIFA 13? The AI has been changed dramatically, giving the game engine more power when it comes to offensive strategy rather than just reacting to the player. The design is deep, with a slick interface and amazing new appearances and an immersive environment.

How can a FIFA game be immersive? The voice work is much better than in previous games, with commentator announcements using scripts and excited commentators. The Match Day Update summary updates your game with what's going on in the league, changing stats to reflect what happens in the real world.

Football Club points are earned throughout the game, allowing access to new pieces of gear that can be used to customize your team. The uniforms are nice, and there are many more nice accessories to impress.

FIFA 13 interaction isn't just some magnetic process of touching the ball, then doing what you want. How your players touch the ball matters, affecting what they can do next, the ball's velocity, speed and direction. You're not going to have as easy of a time just getting the ball and defying physics, but the system isn't perfect yet.

The enemy team AI does learn about what you do, changing its tactics depending on how you act. There are even times when penalties seem to happen on purpose for a strategic delay. You may want to increase the difficulty to keep yourself busy if FIFA has been your game for a long time, but higher difficulties can be enjoyable.

The process of knocking down or jostling players could use some tweaking. Players get knocked down but get up quickly. This isn't too realistic, although I'm not sure if adding a random number generator for getting up time or giving players a health bar for getting injured is a good direction. ...Or maybe it is.

World of FIFAcraft, anyone? It wouldn't be too much of a surprise, as most games have adopted RPG elements to add some depth to the game. I wouldn't be shocked to see raiding enter the sports world, but good luck getting sports-only game fans to admit the crossover.

Pros

  • Match Day Updates are an excellent system to see the real changes in real statistics within the game.
  • Player Career modes are interesting, especially when you're sent to lower leagues to up your game.
  • Ball control is harder, which is good. No more instant grabs and just being in the right place for some magical, magnetic touch.

Cons

  • Midfield play doesn't happen. The AI either gets to a side or lets you get through mid. What an ideal world THAT is.
  • Sliding tackles are useless against AI. Keep it against other, real players.
  • While every match is different, AI teams feel like the same AI team. The AI learns, but it's still the same team in feeling the game.