FIFA 15 Reviews
Maybe its complacency in the face of the decline of its rival series, but FIFA 15 took its eyes completely off the ball. As ever, it is a glorious, box office glitz and showbiz affair - all flash and fancy. However, under the bonnet it is a shallow representation of football, a horrendous car crash of a mix of poor design decisions and inherently flawed AI. To say that FIFA 15 is basketball played on a football pitch isn't that far from the truth, and it is something EA might want to, and should consider for its next annual release.
There are some old bugs in the game that have yet to be fixed (you can still force a fullback into a corner too easily, the game freezes sometimes in the Career Mode pause menu) and there are a few things that keep the game from being perfect (no Brazilian league this year, lack of CONCACAF/CONMEBOL love), but, overall, this game is too great to pass up if you're a FIFA fan.
FIFA 15 is an excellent addition to the canon, and improves on the weaknesses of FIFA 14 while implementing engine changes as the series moves into a new generation of hardware.
FIFA is a game about making you feel like a superstar. The game excels at creating moments that induce feelings of immense pleasure from periods of extended play. While the game is essentially the same old FIFA you know and love, it's a testament to the formula that it never seems to get old. With every feature you can imagine still here and improved, and more added for this year's iteration, you're left with a solid football game that gives you all the tools to enjoy playing for another year.
So, goalkeepers aren't as good as promised, the soundtrack is rubbish as usual and the menus still aren't as simple as they could and should be. Regardless, when all is said and done, FIFA 15 is the best football game we've ever played. It combines match day pageantry and superb gameplay perfectly, and builds nicely on last year's sterling effort. After so many years of trying, EA has, with the exception of a few little missteps, finally gotten player AI right and created a fast, fluid football experience that looks and feels like the real thing. This will go down as the year that EA finally ticked all the boxes.
There is nothing wrong with FIFA 15 and it plays great, but so did FIFA 14 and for the first time in a long time I cannot find a reason to upgrade. If you have FIFA 14 then just stick with it, you're not missing out on anything.
Prepare to 'Feel the Game', and not feel fresh air on your skin for a while
This may seem superficial, but in a lot of important ways—its music, language, representation, and sense of joy—FIFA 15 is a more cosmopolitan and worldly sports game. We could use one.
There's an old adage that says "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." FIFA 15 perfectly embodies that sentiment. This game subtly refines the mechanics of what was already a great series, and while it's very similar to previous iterations, that's largely a good thing.
FIFA 15 is another fantastic entry in the FIFA series. EA Sports managed to capture the presentation of a real life football match very well, and added with the already solid gameplay makes for an overall solid football game. Like all FIFA games there are plenty of things to do to keep you busy with FUT as usual getting the most time out of all the modes. While there are some negatives to the game, the positives highly outweigh them making this a game I must recommend to all football fans out there.
If you're a casual fan of soccer, this game is able to get you right into the action fairly easily
EA is back with its annual update of the hugely successful sporting series – and it not only looks better but it's an altogether different experience too.
While not the most innovative title in terms of modes and menus, FIFA 15 delivers where it counts - on the field of play. It will be interesting to see if EA Sports can continue to make these kinds of strides going forward, because for soccer fans FIFA 15 may already be just about the perfect game.
Not much has changed off of the pitch, EA Canada still can't seem to work out how to create stable netcode at launch, and goalkeepers still make hideous errors in spite of their obvious upgrades, but ultimately FIFA 15 is a fast-paced, thrilling triumph where it counts. It's frustrating at times, but it's also the most rewarding FIFA in years.
EA have struck pure gold with Fifa 15, the series is back where it needs to be following the few setbacks of Fifa 14, and this year's additions have taken it to a whole new level. The improved Premier League experience and commentary gives the player a real sense of purpose and occasion as they soak up the atmosphere from the fans, and then the teams take to the pitch where Fifa 15's new dribbling system can be enjoyed to its fullest. We hope that EA brings a little customisation to the new tactics and an improved defence system with next year's iteration, but these are only minor flaws in what is an utterly fantastic game. If you like Football, you must play Fifa 15.
FIFA 15 is what fans have come to expect, but it wears its changes well
Should you buy FIFA 15? Yes. This installment has finally made it's stamp on the next generation with a polished and enjoyable game. It's animations, graphics and AI-to-human reaction is a step up to previous drones and zombies. Pacing of matches, however, lack quickness and buoyancy.
It can feel desperately unfair at times – bordering on blatant cheating – but the fact that you'll unwaveringly persevere speaks volumes for FIFA 15's distinct appeal. A must for footballing fans.
FIFA 15 offers a glimpse into the future with new goalkeepers and emotion system, but at the moment it is only a tease. Regardless of that, this is still a complete and enjoyable experience of virtual footy.
FIFA 15 boasts everything that we've come to expect from EA's annual footy sim. All of the teams, stadiums, and modes are here, packaged alongside numerous alterations that don't promise much individually, but affect the game in a largely positive way when combined. The franchise can still pride itself on being top of the league, but it seems content to hold onto its position with rather predictable 1-0 victories.