In this article, we’re taking a closer look at EA Sports FC 24, the first game to emerge with the changed name of the FIFA series, one of the most popular series in the gaming world.
Undoubtedly, one of the most popular series in the world of gaming was the FIFA series. I say “was” because, as you know, the FIFA series has come to an end, and now Electronic Arts is continuing the series as EA Sports FC. I usually don’t enjoy doing FIFA reviews, nor do I find them very necessary, but this time, I wanted to because I was curious if anything would change after the FIFA name was dropped. So, while I won’t delve into every technical detail of the game, I’d like to share my experiences from the approximately two weeks I’ve spent playing it.
Generally, when big games are released, the general opinions tend to be quite similar. For example, Spider-Man 2 was recently released, and the majority of players had similar opinions. Some, like me, couldn’t find exactly what they were looking for, but in general, both those who found and those who didn’t found the game enjoyable. However, interestingly, this isn’t the case for the FIFA series. One player’s favorite FIFA game might be another player’s most disliked one. That’s why I won’t make comments like “this part was good, that part was bad.” However, there are observable improvements, such as graphics and physics mechanics. FIFA has been doing this job well for about ten years now. Especially the ball physics, player animations that resemble reality, and the recent use of artificial intelligence, which is a popular topic nowadays, have made this series quite realistic. EA Sports FC, as essentially a FIFA game, has preserved the mechanics that were previously well-implemented. In fact, it’s essential to explain this aspect from the beginning. The only difference between FIFA and EA Sports FC is the game’s name. There’s no other difference.
Every year, EA Sports FC makes improvements in various aspects, as you know. They advertise that it’s becoming more realistic, more lively, and more enjoyable. However, when you move from the previous game, you might think, “It’s quite similar; where’s the innovation?”. Then you realize that some parts have been changed, and you need to adapt a bit. After a while, you get used to it and start liking it. When the next game comes out, the cycle repeats. However, when you go back a few years and make comparisons, you realize how much progress has been made, at least in technical terms. I can say that I was impressed by EA Sports FC 24 after spending a lot of time with FIFA 22 but not so much with FIFA 23. They’ve truly started to make use of the next-gen hardware. Player movements, ball physics, and wear and tear on the field are even more realistic. So, I can say I enjoyed this aspect. However, to enjoy a competitive game like FIFA, the game must run smoothly first, and secondly, you need to win the match you’re playing or be in a good competition. Otherwise, even the smallest details can be frustrating, just like for me and many other players. This is why reviewing EA Sports FC is actually a challenging task. To summarize the technical side, the game I saw appealed to me, and there are improvements. However, as far as I’ve seen on the internet, technical issues are still ongoing. So, it’s probably best to wait a few more weeks.
Now, let’s talk about the gameplay aspect of the game. There are different modes, various activities to spend time on, just as always. While EA Sports FC may seem like a single game, it’s actually a game that everyone looks at differently because of its modes. Areas to play with friends, areas for season matches, areas for Ultimate Team, or areas for the career mode. Frankly, my priority is season matches, followed by playing with friends. I have to admit that I have all the FIFA games released since 2011, but I haven’t even entered Ultimate Team once. So, I don’t know what’s there. As for the career part, it’s as we know it. There’s no deficiency that we could call “this is a shame” or a novelty that we could call “what kind of innovation is this.” So, if you’ve played any FIFA career mode before, adapting to this game takes just a few minutes. Season matches are similar, and there aren’t any new innovations there either. But what I do know, I haven’t seen any change that I find comforting.
When we come to the core of the game, there’s no need to describe EA Sports FC anymore. But compared to the previous games, I can mention the differences I’ve seen. However, as I mentioned earlier, these opinions can vary depending on each player’s playing style. So, keep in mind that these ideas are specific to me. First of all, I like to hold the ball and enjoy circling around with a single player to take a shot. So, FIFA 23 was a challenge and disappointment for me because player control had become more difficult (because it was more realistic), and taking a shot required a bit more effort. Somehow, FIFA 23 felt like they had made player control and taking shots easier again. So, I have to say that I’m happy about this. I felt like they simplified the previous game’s more simulation-like gameplay. One detail I didn’t like as someone who takes many shots is that the shots used to feel the same way, but in this game, they’ve diversified it a bit. It’s not as easy to predict the direction of the bouncing ball anymore. Another favorite detail of mine is the curled shot, which was fixed last year. You know Electronic Arts likes to change the system and then bring it back again. The same thing is happening this time. Especially penalty and free-kicks are now easier. You can make more personalized shots by adjusting where on the ball you hit it. Finally, I can say that I’ve noticed the artificial intelligence of the players. As I said, it may only seem that way to me, but it seems like the artificial intelligence of the defense and the goalkeeper, in particular, has been reduced. Especially with the goalkeeper, I’ve had so many problems, and my opponent had the same issues. It might be a mistake that will be fixed in the future. Lastly, it seems like the threshold for fouls called by the referees has decreased. I don’t remember playing such a stop-and-go game before. I constantly see the “advantage” sign on the upper right corner, and sometimes I don’t even understand what I did and who did it.
In terms of controls, many customizations have been added along with new features. But for those who have been playing for years and love the standard settings, the first game is a torture because everything needs to be turned off. This is a bit frustrating at the initial entry.
In summary, regardless of what others say, as long as EA Sports FC, or the former FIFA series, doesn’t release a disastrous game, it will achieve remarkable sales success every year. I don’t think they will release a bad game as long as they don’t change the gameplay drastically. So, I can say that I’m satisfied with my experience with every FIFA game that comes out, just like this one. Whether FIFA 23 is worth switching to and whether it deserves its price is.
