FIFA 23 review: Already a look at next year

Let’s get down to business; EA hasn’t tried to reinvent the wheel with FIFA 23 and never intended to due to its focus on EA Sports FC starting next year. Our FIFA 23 review covers the latest FIFA game as we know it, a series that almost It’s been 30 years since their debut in 1993, but as much as I’d like to say it’s cream of cream football games… he still hits the body a couple of times.

There is one aspect that should immediately stand out the moment you step onto the pitch this year, and that is realism. This word is often used in the world of video games, but it is particularly relevant in FIFA 23. This game is more like a real football simulator than an old pick-and-play arcade game.

Gone are the days when pace was the only deciding factor between a one-on-one with the goalkeeper and hitting or losing the ball with your muscles before it hit the box. Of course that always helps and having fast wingers will allow you to easily get through the defence, but there are other ways to play and since custom tactics haven’t changed much in a few years you might want to back off. their default line of defense and frustrate an opponent who only knows how to play the old-fashioned way.

Overall FIFA 23 feels a bit slower than 22, which in turn feels a bit slower than 21. changing the meta. resolved, but at this early stage, it looks like all the virtual players have put on a few pounds over the summer.

However, there is always one typically powerful mechanic every year, and this time it’s powerful new moves that win the prize. Press both bumpers on the controller at the same time while throwing (previously the low throw method) and your player will swing their leg around and hit the ball at the speed of a traction motor. Hit your target and the back of the reticle will ripple in no time. Miss a goal and you’ll blow the poor spectator’s head off.

Goalkeepers are pretty much doomed every time they get hit with one of these powerful shots, but the trade-off is that they require manual aiming. A normal shot doesn’t require as much precision with the left analog stick, but if you don’t take a hard shot carefully, you can put yourself in an awkward position. There’s also no on-screen icon to guide this, it’s pure instinct.

Also Viewed Sets other reviewed, which pains me to say this as someone who has absolutely nailed the free-throw system the last two games. Instead of adding spin to the ball during your swing, you can decide exactly which part of the ball you want to connect with before you hit. It also tells you what type of shot it will be: chip, knuckleball, inside curl, etc. Of course, it’s easier to understand, but, for me at least, much harder to rate. This also applies to corner kicks, and they really didn’t need to be complicated: the method of moving the goalkeeper with the right stick to defend still makes it almost impossible for a competent player to score.

The thing is, FIFA 23 is still an almost undisputed football game, and even if there were another game of comparable scale to match, it would be a very difficult challenge. Few things are more satisfying than luring an opponent into last minute penalties or snapping them of their rage as you dance around their defenders with spinners, rainbow flicks and a McGeady spin. measure. Powerful shots generate screams and moments that instantly slice and slash at your comrades, and the skill cap is insanely high if you spend time with it, meaning there’s still a lot to love here.

While the action is the most important thing on the pitch, it’s how much time you’ll spend in the FIFA 23 menus, especially in Ultimate Team. They are identical to last year, for better and for worse. On the other hand, going from the squad to the transfer market is just a click away, so you can find exactly the player you need.

On the other hand, the objectives section is still difficult to navigate. After the first couple of matches, you’ll complete countless simple tasks like “win a match in any mode” or “help pass a ball,” but each of these still needs to be redeemed individually for very small rewards like stadium cosmetics or new balls. Each redemption always includes a long animation that you will inevitably want to skip each time. It’s painful, and it’s confusing why it hasn’t been sped up with a button to redeem all the rewards.

I’d be remiss not to discuss the chemistry changes this year as well. The previous system, which had links between players on the pitch to improve their performance if they played alongside other players from the same league, club or country, had been a staple of the FIFA series for decades, many years. Now that has been thrown out the window in favor of a points-based system that divides opinion in the community.

Hybrid teams are much more difficult to create from multiple leagues or countries, and team building tasks are more difficult to complete, but it allows those who don’t put countless hours into the game to jump in and build a core team using just one few people. . different criteria. The biggest change is that players have no chemistry at all if they play out of position; even a right winger playing on the right side of midfield is heavily fined. On the other hand, all players start with seven chemistry points in previous games.

The only new addition to Ultimate Team is Moments, which is actually quite revolutionary. These are small challenges for which you earn stars, which can then be spent in the shop separately from FIFA Points and real money. They start out simple – a shot on goal and a successful tackle are two of the first – but they get more complicated, eventually requiring you to score a goal against some of the best defenders in the game without losing possession of the ball. one pass, all in four minutes of play.

Most moments offer a star reward, but some allow you to double the difficulty. Rack up 64 stars to earn the most expensive reward yet, the Jumbo Premium Gold 26 Pack, or you can spend smaller amounts on smaller packs and rewards, including Apple’s Ted Lasso and Beard Trainer TV, faithfully recreated in-game.

There’s not much to write about FIFA 23, but hopefully EA removes everything EA Sports FC needs rather than just rebranding an existing series. Career Mode is largely unchanged this year, except for minor new features, and while the Pro and Volta clubs are now linked, the gameplay hasn’t changed. It’s time for EA to change things, but FIFA 23 is the same.