FIFA 15 is trying to solve this conundrum by making only slight changes to the way its brand of football works, instead focusing on making broad sweeping alterations and additions to the way it presents the game.
"We want our fans to feel the highs and lows of the drama that is football, and experience the emotional rollercoaster that plays out during a match," he said. "We're now able to immerse you in the game and let the story of the match unfold based on new commentary, crowd activity, and the natural reactions of the players, which make every game unique."
In this regard, the goal has always been to replicate the look and feel of what we're used to seeing from a television broadcast. While camera angles, replays and commentary has generally improved over the years, the players themselves have forever felt mechanical - FIFA has never succeeded in having its players act and react in a way that makes them seem human.
.jpg)
Players, depending on their personalities, now have plenty of subtle gestures that will help build atmosphere in a match. Teammates may clap at a good effort in the first half, but keep squandering those chances and they may begin to start throwing their arms up in frustration when players miss again – or yell when you should’ve passed the ball. With over 600 new emotional responses, players on the pitch will certainly make their reactions noticed.
Players can now take smaller steps and movements, which has an impact on quick ball turns and dribbling at speed, where a player will readjust their stride to align with the pace of the ball. Ranging from calm through to upset and aggression, their starting state when entering into a match is based on its stakes – a cup final or end-of-season league battle will make them more tense - while on-pitch action will also ratchet it up considerably.
The demo features one match at Anfield, letting you choose sides between Liverpool, Manchester City, PSG, Barcelona, Boca Juniors, Chelsea, Napoli, and Borussia Dortmund, and it also lets you play a little Ultimate Team.
As with player emotion, entire teams are now aware of the importance of the match in question and the situation surrounding it; this awareness directly playing into how they set up for a game. A new player emotion system and body model, overhauled lighting system, and improved A.I. are steps forward for a franchise that had a good debut on the new consoles, but which didn't truly wow.
