EA Sports 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Preview

The core gameplay isn’t wildly different to FIFA 14 on the PS3 and Xbox 360, but the changes that EA has made certainly improve the on-pitch action. If anything it’s moving more towards the next-gen version of FIFA 14 than anything else. Dribbling is notably better, with a tighter more fluid and explosive feel to it. This is especially prevalent with the top players such as Hazard, Ronaldo and Neymar. Passing has also received some attention, although results here are somewhat mixed. EA call it ‘Pinpoint Passing’ and it’s a pretty apt description. With any level of assists on passing feels a little too accurate, almost feeling like skill isn’t taking into consideration. It’s not always the case as you will find yourself misplacing passes on occasion, but only when you move to manual will you have a good level of freedom. It seems like it’s a considered move on EA’s part as throughout our time at Guildford checking out 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil the word ‘accessibility’ was quite a bit. They’re trying to find a nice balance so that the game appeals to both the hardcore and casual audiences (there is a new beginner mode after all), something they’ve managed to do quite well for the most part. I thought I would find it really difficult to play 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil after spending many hours with FIFA 14 on the PS4, but I found myself enjoying the game on many levels. The speed was a bit too fast coming from the PS4 version, but I found myself adjusting to it pretty well after a few hours. Plus, you can always pop the speed down a tad in the settings.

On the visual and presentation front, I was left very impressed. FIFA 14 on the PS3 and Xbox 360 looked dull and lifeless, 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil is anything but that. It’s a whole lot more vibrant and there’s an extra level of polish that just wasn’t present before.

EA Sports Talk Radio is another noteworthy addition, giving you the option of choosing between English and American hosts that comment on stories as you progress through the main mode. It’s great.