EA Sports has officially announced FIFA 14, the next title in the long-running and intensely popular football series, and revealed a little bit about the interesting enhancements and additions that the developer had padded in. The platforms for which the game has been revealed include the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC, with more to be announced in the coming months.
Yes, the franchise, with its yearly releases, is starting to feel like it’s just being slightly modified year after year. While that might seem the case, changes are for the better, and there exists a huge difference between 10 and 13, for example. But we’re not here to judge, so let’s get right into the new features and abilities that the sports title brings.
Pure Shot: There will be a change to the way in which the ball is struck called Pure Shot. The publisher says players will adjust their stride in the run up, making it look more realistic. But there will also be new shot types such as ‘pure strikes’ and those taken when a player is off-balance and rushed.
Real Ball Physics: More realistic ball physics have been added and is something that gets updated with each passing year and game in the series. The trajectories of the ball have been expanded to account for low drilled shots, strikes from distance as well as dipping balls, all of which will give a dimension of realism to gameplay.
Protect The Ball: A continuation of last year’s first touch mechanic, this feature will allow players to block opponents from reaching the ball. It will also enable players to jostle for position just prior to receiving a pass, in a move to unnerve defenders and make away with the ball.
In addition, teammate intelligence has been improved for both attackers and defenders, while there have been changes made to ball control. ‘Sprint Dribble Turns’ allows players to turn in any direction at full speed and the Variable Dribble Touches feature allows for skilled players to take more touches on the ball and therefore have greater control at higher speeds.
Apart from gameplay, changes will also be seen in the game’s career mode, with the ‘Global Scouting Network’ bringing the experience of professional scouting to life. Plus, there are also changes to the Ultimate Team portion of the title and a new online mode to foster social competition. Many changes to EA Sports Football Club are also expected.
FIFA 14 is being developed by EA Canada and is scheduled to make its way to store shelves in the fall.