While still regarded as one of the best sports game franchises, FIFA has seemingly lacked excitement for the past few years leaving fans begging for a fresh new experience. With new and improved game play mechanics in place, new FIFA ultimate FIFA objectives, and the introduction of Volta football, FIFA 20 really aims to raise the bar and differentiate itself from previous installments in the franchise. I’ve had to rethink how I play FIFA this year, which is something I haven’t had to do for many years. FIFA 20 poses itself as such a broad, deep, intense, realistic offering and here is everything you need to know before you head out and buy it.
It goes without saying that graphics in FIFA has been sort of a backbone in the franchise especially with the current generation of gaming consoles. The game looks incredible from the fans on the stands, players, managers on the sidelines, menus, pause menus, in game footage to the pitch itself. Our guys martin Tyler and Allan smith are also still the primary commentators in most matches like before. And I am digging the new pre and post-match presentation of the game as it truly feels like you’re watching the matches live on tv.
There are some large noticeable changes to various game modes that we fully don’t understand yet but thankfully the bulk of the changes have been made to the pitch. On the pitch, we see some welcome improvements such as more natural first touches and more satisfying ball mechanics once you walk out of the tunnel. FIFA 20 emphasizes intensity on the less loaded end of the pitch, defense, and it’s pretty clear that the quick switch from offense to defense is left needs serious input and skill. In real football, players put emphasis in getting the defenders away from goal and that resonates in FIFA 20 if you want to get those goals going. Tackles have also seen a major overhaul in FIFA 20 and now defensive AI has also been upgraded. Defenders controlled by the user will now intercept and break from long passes, through passes and crosses much better than in previous years. Set pieces and penalty shoots have also been revamped. It’s simply much more skill based meaning you’ve never had so much control of the shot before.
In terms of direct free kicks and penalties, both have a new way of how you want to place the ball, then like last year’s FIFA there’s still timed finishing that needs you to press shoot at the right time and add curve if you wish. This will take time getting used to but you will love that feeling of just curving Free kicks into the top corner.
Onto the game modes, FIFA’s major introduction to the latest installment is Volta football. A merged product of FIFA street from back in the day and the journey mode. Matches here are shorter and more chaotic than the standard 11 aside games. Fancier tricks, simplified tactics and ball flicks make Volta a mode whose main emphasis is on fun but don’t expect the depth FIFA street gave us back in the day. There are no game breaker shots in Volta and it’s not easy to massively humiliate your opponents in a match. Instead Volta focuses on street soccer culture. Here game atmospheres are more casual, relaxed and more expressive and freer with customization. The Volta store and challenges both unlock new gear and combine that with the ability to play against online human opponents in Volta leagues, Volta has a more modern fun appeal than what FIFA street and journey were all those years ago
Volta loads in its own section of the game and it’s so immersive I feel like it could have been a separate game on its own. The fact that it was entirely included in FIFA 20 is a huge plus n my books. You can play Volta online, offline, tour, story and lots of campaign modes. You can play Volta in 3 on 3 ,4 on 4, 5on 5 and the rush version of those that don’t have goal keepers and futsol modes. For Volta tour and story modes you’re going to play fully against AI. Story mode sees you build progress with a character from random pick up footballer to street football world champion. Tour mode takes you all over the globe as you travel to various cities and countries.
Where I spend most of my time in FIFA 20 is career mode and I must say, career mode has some major major improvements and you are going to feel them. You now have a lot more customization options for your manager, including the ability to create a female manager for the first time. Managers also now have press conferences pre and post-match. My only issue with this is that the questions repeat themselves, there’s limited amount of answers and their only impact Is on team morale. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a gimmick, but I feel like it needs more work. Manager and player communication have also been revamped and now managers can reply to player messages. Again, this only impacts the player morale. Overall A nice touch. Another new welcome addition is the cut scenes negotiation in game videos that take you through the process of negotiation to buy or sell players. You also get on screen options to choose from during negotiations making career mode more stimulating and interactive. My only issue is that there’s no audio output from negotiation cut scenes, just text subtitles, it would have been nice to hear the negotiation proceedings. I also like the new dynamic player rating where player ratings rise and fall depending on your treatment to them.
House rules has also been revamped and sees the introduction to 2 new modes this year in FIFA 20. King of the hill and mystery ball. King of the hill revolves around ball possession only which might pass as plain to some gamers. Mystery ball on the other hand has a nice touch to it, here, anytime the ball goes out of play, it returns with an added boost to it. The mystery is which of the offered boosts it has. The boost can be passing, speed, shooting, dribbling or all boosts. Games are short and id personally say mystery ball is the most fun for me.
Now if you don’t buy every FIFA release every year, the game might feel the same to you from the past releases. Hard core FIFA gamers will however feel the difference. There’s always room for improvement and, FIFA 20 brings major improvements in some areas. There better one on one interaction now and the game gives gamers full control in both offense attacks and defense. EA did improve game play mechanics but I feel like the new offense moves are crippled in how fast they can be performed. VOLTA football is the perfect new innovation fans have been begging for. it breathes new life into the FIFA series, which as I said is something that has been direly craved for in the previous years. Its definitely going to appease new and pro FIFA gamers not forgetting the casual gamers. There are some short comings to career mode example the transfer window ends too soon for English leagues, scouting for new youth players are also unchanged for yet another year and there is still no VAR, don’t get me wrong, career mode has taken major steps forward in FIFA 20 but we need a revolution. Verdict. FIFA 20 has its flaws, its perfect iterations, its frustrations, its essentials, its new innovations and remains a complete compelling realistic game and ea sports has me hooked on their game again this year. This is must buy game for FIFA fans and you guys out there looking for a cool new sports game.
Lord Hezion 