FIFA 13 review

And here we are finally reviewing what, for some years now, has been considered the “football title to beat”.
Without dwelling too much on the rivalries between the followers KONAMI and the fanboys IT’S AT let’s analyze this new title of the FIFA series which for some years has replaced the title of the Japanese competition in the hearts of fans of this splendid sport.

From year to year EA tries to amaze its players by introducing new features that make the gaming experience always different, complex and as similar as possible to reality
Last year was the year of the new game engine created usingimpact enginea risky step that cost the Canadian company some criticism and some teasing, but which, once improved, will give you an absolute feeling of realism in this FIFA 13.

For this year the real novelty, among the many and for which we refer you to the preview of the title for a more specifically detailed analysis, is certainly represented by the First Touch Controla new system for ball control which, once fully understood, will give you great satisfaction (however, I won’t deny that at the beginning, getting used to the transition from the always perfect stops of FIFA 12 to the difficult ball controls of FIFA 13 was quite frustrating and, especially in online games, where no mistakes are allowed, I often found myself having to stop myself from throwing the pad at the TV… you have been warned!!!).

GRAPHICS AND MENUS

Talking about the specifics of a game that thrives above all on fierce competition with a worthy rival without making comparisons is practically impossible for me, so I’ll tell you straight away that, on a graphic level, FIFA is worse than PES, but this is certainly not a novelty.

However, analyzing the title in its entirety it is possible to notice how EA has dedicated itself to improving the graphics of its flagship title in the sports line, from the menus to the in-game graphics it is possible to notice the developers’ effort in making the first ones easier , readable and quick and the second more similar to reality.
In fact, while we play, we will be able to notice coaches shouting insults on the sidelines and trying to attract the attention of their players with large gestures. If we find ourselves at a disadvantage and our goalkeeper grabs the ball in the 85th minute, for example, we will be able to see him gesticulating, inviting the his companions to come up en masse to attempt the final assault on the opponent’s goal; and again, we will be able to see the players warming up on the sidelines or having increasingly realistic reactions to the whistle of a foul or to a card.

AUDIO AND NEWS

The FIFA audio track has always been noteworthy and this year too we will have respectable music in the menus and with Top 10 groups and singers (among others, FloRida and Lil Wayne).
The ability to customize the menu with imported music according to your liking has also been preserved in this new FIFA 13, as well as the ability to customize the in-game audio with choirs and hymns at the start of the game; this thing certainly contributes to making the atmosphere of this title more magical, which certainly suffers from the lack of an important and official license like that of the UEFA Champions League which the competitor PES 2013 can boast of.
A slightly discordant note is represented by the commentary which perhaps would also be time to refresh and update a bit.
While on the one hand the interventions of the correspondent from the sidelines have been introduced who will update us on the conditions of a recently injured player (among other things ALWAYS telling us that the injury, whatever it is, is not serious and the player can remain in field despite some pain), the moment good old Fabio Caressa speaks again he will ALWAYS find himself saying a “Thank you…” then badly cut by whoever edited the commentary; something that wasn’t felt even in the worst patches released at the time of the unforgettable PES 6 on PS2.
On the other hand, to aggravate the situation, there are now heartfelt and resentful interventions, old comments that it would be time to modernize, if we really don’t want to change this couple of commentators, at least recording A THOUSAND of new jokes wouldn’t be a bad thing idea. The old, hackneyed ones have really exasperated almost all the players who continue to complain about them (I’m talking about those who still listen to the commentary and haven’t completely eliminated it or set it to another language).

GAMEPLAY AND ONLINE

Finally we get to talk about the real game, about what will make you forget everything else and will also make you indifferent to the rubbish said by Caressa.
The gameplay of the title has been further improved, the player movements are absolutely realistic and the cunning of the CPU, especially in the defensive phase, is something scary.
Starting from the first touch control which will make your life hell if you try to stop a running ball with any player who blows, but which will make you fall in love if for example with a random Ibra you stop the ball, dribble with your knee, turn around on yourself and drop a bomb that leaves the goalkeeper petrified. It’s all here, if you control a poor player don’t expect to do who knows what… if you control a champion you will have something to indulge yourself with.
Other new features are the use of the body to defend the ball or to win it with players who will fight like crazy to get to a ball and with rocky opponent defenders who will interpose themselves like walls between you who run towards the ball and yours. objective.
The improvements in artificial intelligence can also be seen by observing how on a counterattack your teammates controlled by the CPU will immediately launch themselves into spaces to offer you support and the possibility of better developing the maneuver, rather than remaining almost static.
Small gems of realism can also be seen at the moment of free kicks, with schemes that give the possibility of passing from one to three men on the ball, feints, crosses, raised balls and which, in the defensive phase however, will allow you to add men in the block, prepare to move away from the barrier to meet the ball in the most incorrect way possible and even approach the defensive wall… but be careful of the referee who will not forgive you for such behavior so easily.
The game seems to reflect a real football match, with actions that in some situations will seem sudden and immediate with very quick reversals in front that will set lethal counterattacks in motion and others that will slow down the pace, putting the match to sleep a little.
The difficulty levels are good and well balanced and you will be able to verify this in the many game modes that the EA title offers, from online ranked matches (Seasons) to the now characteristic FIFA Ultimate Team, passing through challenges proposed by EA and the daily updated in real time.
An interesting new feature is a new version of what last year was the live season (for a fee) and which this year is more complete and above all absolutely free with weekly updates on lineups, form and any injuries of the players (with the possibility of playing matches choosing whether to use it or not obviously).
There are so many online and offline game possibilities, although at the moment we can report some bugs that we hope EA will resolve quickly with a patch, such as the linesman who enters the field abandoning his position on the line following a ” advantage” questionable in the seasons mode, in the pro club mode somewhat random expulsions from the match and some freezes of the game before the match, as well as a constant warning of a latent band… with possible subsequent lag during the match.
Let’s say that the servers that EA so vaunted would need greater care especially in these initial phases.
For those who play pro clubs, however, I would like to point out that the endless waiting in the arena (among other things this year in a very futuristic version) is over and the loading times of the matches, barring any blockages, are really limited.

CONCLUSION

FIFA 13 is football.
FIFA 13 is football in the myriad of licenses present in the title, in the passes, in the shots, in the reactions of players, in the development of actions and in the movements of the players.
The graphics engine and the realism of the impact engine have been improved, the first touch control makes the construction of the actions difficult but satisfying, increases the realism and the other further goodies introduced by EA to further increase the realism of this splendid title they once again elect it, albeit slightly, as THE football game.
FIFA 13 will keep you glued to the pad, given that, beyond the beauty of the title itself and the pleasure that will come from playing it, the more you play the more credits you will unlock for in-game bonuses, such as extra points for your CV , bonus shirts and balls, the possibility of unlocking boots and celebrations and other bonuses for FUT and career mode… in short, a big incentive that will increase your desire for FIFA.
Recommended for all football lovers, a must purchase for fans of the series and a fascinating testing ground for some old PES players who have the desire and courage to try something truly new and innovative.