Like my Liverpool fandom for the past 20 years, I’ve vacillated between my obsession with happiness and my reluctant bewilderment with FIFA. Like Liverpool, when FIFA operates like a well-oiled machine, the play on the pitch is beautiful, slick and gets my football-loving brain excited with hits of dopamine. However, FIFA 23 feels like FIFA 22, similar to FIFA 21, with additions ranging from mild impact to invigorating.
FIFA has focused on one aspect of football for years: attack. It’s almost like a video game when you feel how quickly and smoothly the player changes speed from a controlled dribble to a sprint. Balls across behind defenders for a winger to swoop in are exhilarating. The difficulty of mastering the trick bat is controversial, but even a few dribbles can produce a daring jump or Maradona’s famous spin to beat a defender.
EA’s HyperMotion2 technology allows for more natural animations between dribbling and shooting, but it’s barely noticeable even in playback. Most of the goals look similar to those scored in FIFA 22, which is not bad. It’s just that HyperMotion2 doesn’t revolutionize presentation, making it feel like another yearly update that’s a bit smoother.
One positive addition this year is the ability to play “Moments” in Ultimate Team. Reminiscent of the FIFA 2006 World Cup’s global challenge mode, you play different scenarios, such as a two-goal pass starting with a penalty in the 70th minute of the game. These scenarios reward stars used to unlock cards like Ted Lasso and Coach Beard’s right hand man for Ultimate Team. It’s a fun and fast way to crush cards.
Chemistry in Ultimate Team offers a stat boost to your players if you assemble a team with players in the right positions and of the same nationality or league, and it accumulates differently this year. Players can earn up to three chemistry points, but this time, you can get maximum chemistry points, such as an English strike and a La Liga match, allowing for satisfactory team building. more satisfied and creative.
The career mode is more powerful this year, bringing joy to those who want to spend a solo season with their avatars or real-world players. Players have to complete the goals set out in the game to please the manager, but you still have the feeling of just scoring and assisting your rank instead of just staying in place and completing passes . What sets it apart a bit is the addition of Featured Items that can be played in your player or manager’s career.
You take control in Playable Highlights to try to score or prevent your opponent from getting the ball into the net. These fun little snapshots of the match allow you to change the simulation result from 2-0 to 4-0, but it makes it harder to hit the avatar goal because you’ll mostly be in control. control others on the team. Off the field, you can sign investment contracts to earn money and participate in activities to strengthen your stats or earn points in Maverick, Virtuoso or Heartbeat personality types. Each skill unlocks different skills for your player, like stamina or passing ability, based on whether you prefer dribbling, passing, or shooting.
The addition of women’s club football is long overdue, but it doesn’t get the attention it deserves. You have a handful of national teams, plus professional French and English leagues, to use in classic matches, national seasons and cups. They’re not on Career or Ultimate Team, though, which means if you’re hoping to pair Alex Morgan and Jordan Pefok on your FUT team, you’re out of luck.
There is a famous saying by former football player Gary Lineker that “football is a simple game – 22 men chasing a ball for 90 minutes – and in the end, the Germans always win.” I wanted to give the same review of EA’s annual soccer game: FIFA 23 is a good game – it’s flashy, fun to play, and has lots of modes – but in the end, you realize that it’s mostly Just like the game you used to be. play for many years.
