The FIFA series has long reveled in its own pomp and circumstance. Awash in league licenses and Ultimate Team microtransaction money, its self-belief was arguably greater than its on the pitch accomplishments. That being said, EA Canada deserves recognition for continually working on the series, adding to an ever-growing and vital list of game modes and chipping away at its gameplay to-do list. FIFA 15 is the big pay-off you've been waiting for. It isn't perfect, but it's a quality title that finally aligns many of EA's ambitions with firm results. Make no mistake - this is a golazo.

 

I've been playing FIFA 15 on the Xbox One in the past two weeks and I'm hooked. I don't follow football closely, but I love playing this game. It looks great, and it features several modes that are going to make Xbox One owners keep coming back for more. Whether it is a quick single player game, tournament, or online multiplayer, it's hard to get bored with FIFA 15. I haven't even mentioned FIFA Ultimate Team yet, which is EA Sports' most popular mode that I thought would be overwhelming, but has become my favorite feature of this game.

 

The presentation has been revamped to feel more like watching a match on TV. Player models are slightly improved and animations are much smoother. Ghosting, which is when characters go through each other, rarely occurs, although it sometimes leads to awkward animations in order to avoid it. The most obvious enhancements are seen with the goalkeeper, who dives through the air realistically and uses every inch of his body to ward off shots.

 

 

It’s also bizarre that a game that’s supposedly faithfully recreating the beautiful game negates the pace and intensity of it. Fast players in FIFA 15 don’t really have as much of an edge as they should. And that teammate AI? Well, I know footballers are generally seen as less-than intelligent beings, but FIFA 15 makes them look like amoebas. Just once in a while it would be nice to see them get into sensible areas of space and make darting runs. Just once.

 

The EA Support have also informed fans on Twitter that the issues connected with matchmaking was connected with Xbox services. Replying to a request on why Battlefield 4 wasn't available, the EA team confirmed: "It seems the Xbox Services are limited currently .

 

Player Control heightens the responsiveness of player movement, giving you more control and personality on the ball, and makes Man to Man Battles more rewarding than ever before. Football is the greatest drama on earth and FIFA 15 for Xbox One puts fans centre stage allowing them to feel the emotion and intensity of the world's greatest sport.

 

While the off-pitch changes this year are relatively minor, the on pitch ones in FIFA 15 are important and generally good. The goalkeepers are going to be what divides the fanbase this time around. Some will love them, whilst others will generally hate them. At one point or another though, everyone will have a problem with them. The changes to their AI should be applauded for the most part, but what are probably the two most important players on the pitch shouldn’t make nearly as many mistakes as they do. You can spend hours building your team, arranging tactics, conducting transfers and generally preparing for a match, only to watch it all be for nothing as your keeper folds under seemingly non existent pressure. A game without a goalkeeper slip-up is still a much better game than you'd find anywhere last year, but those slip ups happen too often for our liking. Still a fantastic game for football fans, but probably not one that those prone to tantrums should play.

 

All these changes is beneficial for players to feel the game. It makes FIFA 15 better and more realistic. Hope a better one come out sooner.