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Video game that allows players to play as world-class football teams

Video game that allows players to play as world-class football teams

Vote: (4 votes)

Program license: Paid

Developer: ELECTRONIC ARTS

Version: 1

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(4 votes)

Paid

Developer

Version

ELECTRONIC ARTS

1

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • The game's various systems - such as shooting, passing, and challenging - all add to the experience and enhance the sense of realism.
  • The graphics remain exceptional.
  • The various methods of play, including the revamped Volta mode, create a thrill and variance to the FIFA experience. It's hard to be a fan of soccer and feel bored while playing this game.
  • The Volta mode, in particular, can serve to alter your FIFA experience and force you to engage in core aspects of the gameplay that you may very well-loved.

Cons

  • The improvements are limited, particularly when compared to the improvements noted between prior years of the game.
  • As improved as the graphics are, they are starting to truly reach the limit of the current system's technical capacities.
  • Erratic AI makes it too easy for you to score.

FIFA 21 is the latest entry in the world's most famous soccer franchise. Like the games before it, FIFA 21 makes improvements across a variety of systems, including graphics, gameplay, and more.

The Core Concept

FIFA 21 takes the core concept of the game - the gameplay, the league, the story mode - and makes smaller improvements.

For example, take the core gameplay itself. Speed is improved upon to make it more realistic, allowing players an enhanced experience and improving upon the realism of this already legendary game. Passing is simplified - perhaps more simplified than many would prefer. However, this is largely needed, as the Artificial Intelligence of the computer players is improved upon, and particularly how they line themselves up against your offensive attacks. Unfortunately, this improvement is offset by the lack of intelligence from goalies, whose poor tactical play makes it far too easy for you to score, particularly off of crosses or rebounds.

On the whole, gameplay remains exceptionally fun. Passing can be executed with tick-tock precession, and challenging is exciting and adds a degree of risk to the game.

As always, FIFA comes replete with licenses for hundreds of teams and dozens of leagues. There is nowhere else that will give you a more genuine football/soccer experience.

A Mode for Everyone

One of the best parts of FIFA has always been the wide breadth of play modes. Indeed, the game has always been pushed on a "something for everyone" sort of mantra, and this year is no exception. You can play in numerous different ways, including Career, Story, Online, and Skill Challenges. The Volta mode - first introduced in the 2020 version of the game - also has "The Debut," which allows players to play street football. This is a great way to pull people into this exciting facet of the game and ensure that they get to explore all facets of FIFA 21.

When it comes to the play itself, a series of options will absolutely keep you engaged. You can view the game from its "interactive sim" component, and this allows you enhanced management capabilities, including the ability to take over a player in the middle of a game. You can also engage in training and player development, and this can serve to improve your team in the long run. Like all of these modes, you have limited resources, forcing you to think strategically about what your team really needs.

Limited Changes

Many reviewers noted that there was barely any improvement or changes of the game, particularly when compared to prior iterations. Indeed, IGN gave Switch version of the game a 2/10, noting that there were barely any changes and largely republishing their review of FIFA 20 to prove that point. There are no major changes this year, although reviewers did note that there are a series of smaller tweaks that make the game more enjoyable.

Microtransactions Still Present

Yes, everyone's least favorite option still exists: Microtransactions. You can purchase player packs to enhance your team. Is it pay to win? Not quite...but it is far, far too close to that model for the comfort of many players.

Pros

  • The game's various systems - such as shooting, passing, and challenging - all add to the experience and enhance the sense of realism.
  • The graphics remain exceptional.
  • The various methods of play, including the revamped Volta mode, create a thrill and variance to the FIFA experience. It's hard to be a fan of soccer and feel bored while playing this game.
  • The Volta mode, in particular, can serve to alter your FIFA experience and force you to engage in core aspects of the gameplay that you may very well-loved.

Cons

  • The improvements are limited, particularly when compared to the improvements noted between prior years of the game.
  • As improved as the graphics are, they are starting to truly reach the limit of the current system's technical capacities.
  • Erratic AI makes it too easy for you to score.