Skill Games
I confess, like I’m sure a lot of gamers will, that the tutorials of plenty of games are skipped and don’t even get a second thought; however, FIFA 13 has got me constantly try the tutorials and not just because they are to hide the loading screens. The skill games are based on key aspects of the game including freekicks, crossing and even dribbling. Players can use them to improve their skills and try to beat their previous scores at the same time. Personally, the freekick skill game has already helped me vastly improve my technique from the trial and error method I used in FIFA 12 and the best bit is as they are used at the loading screens – so you are constantly improving.
Intelligent Runs
Players that play a ticktacktoe passing style of football will instantly notice the massively improved AI when it comes to “off-the-ball” runs. Not only will players make these defence devastating runs , but they will curve their run to stay onside. Passing and positioning stats are, as a result of these runs, much more important than in previous games: interestingly they seem to be as important as pace for strikers which means the likes of Theo Walcott or Gabriel Agbonlahor will no longer be spammed in every other Premier League team.
NOTs
Awful 12th Man
Firstly, something which many sports titles fail at. There has seemingly been no graphical improvement when it comes to the crowd thus they are marginally better than simple cardboard crowd although they still seem to lack a lot. The crowd sounds amazing this year it’s just a shame that the supposed 12th man of the team looks frankly awful. It isn’t something that affects gameplay or the majority of the games visuals it does nevertheless the sticks out like a sore thumb from what is otherwise a great looking and sounding game.
Server Connection Issues
Even with a decent or moderate internet connection, the connection on FIFA fails to equal that of many other games. While I cannot explain why this maybe the case it is unfortunately something rather noticeable when hopping from one game then onto FIFA, the dreaded lag is occasionally waiting for you. When you have a good connection, it all works fine and the majority of the time even the intermittent lag is completely bearable. Alas, everyone is eventually matched up with an opponent where the lag as a result of bad server connections hit. The game can start off fine with just the odd lag spike but then suddenly everything will slow and freeze momentarily rending the player useless; with any attempt to pass, shot or tackle becomes a waste of time. Lag will most likely never be beaten especially where you can be playing a friend or random FIFA player from around the world. Nonetheless other games have managed to limit its effects whilst the issue remains pretty much the same.
Verdict
FIFA 13 has some issues but on the whole these can be overlooked. For those that moan about it’s just another yearly title with the ominous saying “why buy the same game each year” the first touch feature, the new simple menu designs, the skill games and the homing of previously added features such as the quick freekicks or the impact engine certainly make FIFA 13 worthwhile. The presentation will not blow you out of the water with the best graphics since Crysis 2, but it is still a decent looking title and FIFA 13 has cracked the most important aspect of gaming, it is extremely fun to play; whether it is a quick game at a friend’s house or multiple seasons on the career mode.
[Editor’s Note: FIFA 13 was reviewed on the PlayStation 3. The game was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]
