FIFA 23 is the last chapter of the series created by Electronic Arts studios, due to the end of the partnership with the International Football Federation. EA will also have to find a new name for its next edition. As for FIFA, it would be looking for another partner for its license.
After a few days on the Xbox X Series version, we have to be honest. The editor did not just change a number on the jacket of his product. The list of improvements and novelties is very long, which probably explains why the game has squatted the top 5 best sellers in Spanish since its release, at the end of September according to SELL. A trend that is found worldwide.
As usual, the FIFA experience is immersive. Advertisements scrolling on giant digital banners along the pitch. The ubiquitous crowd throughout the actions. Player animations. An overexcited public. The sounds of the ball. The referee's whistle. The environment, both sound and visual, gives the impression of being in a stadium. It's ultra immersive, so much so that it's sometimes difficult to know if you're watching a match on your television, or if you're playing. The commentators help set the mood, with BeIN Sports star duo Benjamin Da Silva and Omar Da Fonseca, even if their dialogue is a bit redundant at times.
As improvements, let's talk about HyperMotion 2. Behind this name hides a technology that implements a learning system to double the amount of data acquired in game. The main goal is to offer fluid and realistic animations. The improvement is also noted at the physical level. As can be seen very well for the goal nets which are stunningly realistic. The actions of the players are natural, whether during counters or deflections. Their arms, legs, hands or even fingers adjust to the speed and kicking power of the balls. This is particularly noticeable for goalkeepers.
Regarding the gameplay, the AI has been adjusted so that the players controlled by it position themselves better according to the tactics selected. But also to avoid tackles or collisions. The shooting system has evolved. Known as the Power Shot, it has a skill-based mechanic that can add power and accuracy to a shot, becoming nearly unstoppable. But it will require more preparation time and a high degree of precision. It is also necessary to aim, which is not easy without assistance to guide the shot. Set pieces have also been revamped. It is now possible to choose the point of impact on the ball, in order to give it the desired effect, whether on free kicks, penalties or corners. Corners that have had their cameras repositioned for more realism. About camera, we note the different effects that sometimes bring the action, for the greatest pleasure of the eyes.
Complementary actions have been added, it is thus possible to perform grazing shots, diving shots, with rebounds or even diving heads. The passes are also entitled to their share of novelties: passes from the outside of the foot, passes in the back or on the fly. The releases are enriched with various animations. To counter the opponent, the tackles slipped, supported, or the backheel are part of the game.
The career mode, which always allows you to take control of a player or the head of a club, is endowed with three different personality archetypes. These archetypes improve by doing practice drills, playing games, and various other footballing activities. This makes the career mode more interesting and less monotonous than in previous games. Volta (with six levels of arcade games) and Pro Clubs are back. The hugely popular FIFA Ultimate Team is also making a comeback. Cross-platform is available for single-player play, connecting players across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. On the other hand, players on the old Xbox One and PlayStation 4 generations will remain apart.
For the first time, players are also entering the virtual pitch of FIFA stadiums with the arrival of Barclays WSL and D1 Arkema.
And superstar ambassadors like Vinicius Jr., Samantha Kerr and Kylian Mbappé. In truth :
And in the game:
I'm not going to argue about microtransactions. Nor on the scandal of the quickly patched FUT 23 pack, which guaranteed obtaining FUT Heroes cards, players with totally abused statistics. Good. Not good. Everyone sees noon at his door. Of course, to have the best team, you will have to go through the microtransactions box and the probability of finding legendary players remains obscure. However, this opus will certainly remain the best of all FIFA. And, by way of reverence, I find that EA has won its bet in a beautiful way. Watch out for the pass!
https://www.ea.com/fr-fr/games/fifa/fifa-23
