FIFA 14 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One proudly boasts an entirely new engine, and though it may have been built from the ground up it’s still very much within touching distance of its current-gen sibling. The key differences are largely superficial, and while that sounds like criticism, it isn’t when the foundation is so good.That means it’s still a brilliant game, crammed with all the modes and features you’d expect from FIFA (that hasn’t always been the case with launch versions of FIFA). Occasionally some of the differences affect the way it plays, suggesting at where the series may go in the future, but for the most part they simply make FIFA 14 into a more polished and pleasurable version of the same experience.
The best aspect of next-gen FIFA 14 is undoubtedly the extended range and depth of player animation. Current versions of FIFA use a limited stock of core animations to represent a wide range of different actions. There was no unique through-ball animation, for instance, with the game using the animation for a more generic pass. But next-gen FIFA 14 makes no such compromise. There’s so much variety, and though it doesn’t directly impact how you play, it makes what you do look so much more realistic and visually appealing. Now when you hit a cross-field pass, the player will open up their body and really dig under the ball. It feels like you're making that type of pass. And this extends to most actions on the pitch, whether that's playing a cheeky through-ball with the outside of the boot or dinking a low pass out wide. While watching back a goal I scored in slow motion, I spotted the player gently rolling his foot over the ball, taking it away from the defender. This wasn't down to anything I did – it's all automated, a product of context – but it made the match feel much less mechanical and more attractive to play and watch.
Changes to gameplay aren’t as extensive as I was anticipating, though there are a couple of areas in which this version does feel slightly different. When defending on the 360 and PS3, I normally apply lots of pressure onto the opposing team and use the slide tackle to win
back the ball. It's crude and heavy-handed, but it works a lot of the time. In the Xbox One and PS4 version this is a much less viable tactic, since players have more self-awareness. So when you go in for a sliding challenge, it's highly likely the player in possession will hurdle the incoming tackle. It’s far more authentic, and makes defending much more about maintaining your shape, closing down play, and tracking runs – all of which is aided greatly by the players’ improved positional awareness and decision making. It does a better job of approximating the real-life sport, yet importantly doesn’t make it any less fun. Those heightened player reactions again also enhance the look of matches in other ways; for instance, sometimes when I shot on goal, if there was a player in the way, they’d do their best to duck out of the way of the incoming strike. Again, it subtly but potently adds to the realism.
back the ball. It's crude and heavy-handed, but it works a lot of the time. In the Xbox One and PS4 version this is a much less viable tactic, since players have more self-awareness. So when you go in for a sliding challenge, it's highly likely the player in possession will hurdle the incoming tackle. It’s far more authentic, and makes defending much more about maintaining your shape, closing down play, and tracking runs – all of which is aided greatly by the players’ improved positional awareness and decision making. It does a better job of approximating the real-life sport, yet importantly doesn’t make it any less fun. Those heightened player reactions again also enhance the look of matches in other ways; for instance, sometimes when I shot on goal, if there was a player in the way, they’d do their best to duck out of the way of the incoming strike. Again, it subtly but potently adds to the realism.
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