Играться с расширенными тактическими настройками не менее приятно, чем участвовать в матчах. В FIFA 19 можно настроить каждый игровой аспект своей команды. Задать ширину построения в защите, ширину в атаке, выбрать глубину расположения всей команды и способ розыгрыша мяча в атаке. Еще можно определить количество игроков, которые будут врываться в штрафную соперника, и поставить определенный тип прессинга. Более того, теперь есть возможность задать несколько планов на игру, переключаясь между ними по ходу матча. Например, если нужно удержать счет, включаем сбалансированный прессинг и владение мячом, и играем по одной схеме, а когда нужно срочно сравнить счет, то активно прессингуем и играем по другой.
Или вот еще ситуация: вы играете за Ювентус против, скажем, Пармы. Ваша команда намного лучше. В прошлых частях выиграть такой матч проще простого, но в FIFA 19, благодаря всем этим возможностям, можно сделать это более изящно.
Включаешь постоянный прессинг, высоко поднимаешь линию защиты и большим числом летишь в атаку. При таком сценарии противник окажется в огне: давление — сумасшедшее, а мяч команда соперника увидит разве что во сне. Это все дарит крутейшие ощущения, но подобное возможно, только если вы играете за топ-команду
Сценарий матча в FIFA 19 меняется чаще, чем это было раньше. Опять же, благодаря расширенной тактике вы эффективнее влияете на ход встречи, лучше чувствуете соперника. В каждом матче важно отыскать его слабые стороны и атакующий стиль. Если он насыщает центр поля, вы повышаете линию защиты, чтобы отодвинуть соперника от штрафной и навязать борьбу в центре. Где-то атакуете по ширине, где-то — играете уже, на коротких передачах. В общем, это очень крутой опыт.
Разумеется, выстраивая план на игру, всегда нужно учитывать уровень вашей команды. Взять, скажем, игру в атаке: если у вас нет подходящих игроков, то о контроле мяча и игре в одно касание можно забыть. В этом случае лучше сбалансированно прессинговать и рассчитывать на контратаки. Разница между игроками в новой части ощущается еще сильнее.
Особенно это касается качества передач: если в FIFA 18 даже у средних игроков был неплохой длинный пас, то в FIFA 19 они будут ошибаться и в коротких передачах, что уж говорить о длинных забросах. Но даже если вы управляете классным футболистом, это не значит, что он обязательно вырежет ювелирную передачу — от вас тоже многое зависит. Сделать выверенный пас в нужную зону сложнее, чем в прошлых частях: мяч стал тяжелее — нужно точнее выбирать силу передачи и направление. Разработчикам удалось достигнуть невероятного баланса между мастерством самих игроков и тем, как вы ими управляете.
Последний штрих в обновленном геймплее — улучшенный искусственный интеллект. Честно говоря, не помню, чтобы в футбольном симуляторе был настолько крутой и умный AI. Все геймплейные новшества работают на полную катушку именно благодаря ему. Игроки делают все именно так, как вы задумали — никто и никогда не тупит. Например, защитники грамотно держат позицию и делают все, чтобы заблокировать удары. Нет такого, что защитник взял и убежал к центру поля. В общем, на каждом участке ИИ ведет себя образцово. Если уж вы пропустили гол, то это только ваша ошибка — ворчать на «тупых идиотов» в FIFA 19 незачем.
Режимы тоже доработали. Только карьера в этот раз осталась прежней — в ней изменились мелочи. Например, во время матчей Лиги Чемпионов (она тут полностью лицензированная) меню карьеры меняет дизайн интерфейса, окрашиваясь в цвета главного клубного турнира. Ну, и сделали удобный скроллинг турнирных таблиц и списка бомбардиров. Конечно, хочется большего, но и в текущем виде режим карьеры невероятно увлекает — как и прежде.
В FIFA Ultimate Team изменений тоже немного, но они важные. Из главного: в FIFA 19 поменяли систему дивизионов — теперь режим называется Division Rivals. Как было раньше: десять дивизионов, всегда начинаешь с десятого. Проблема в том, что если у вас приличный скилл и состав, то первые пять дивизионов — это почти всегда мусорные матчи, где вы раскатываете соперников с хоккейным счетом. Скучно, да и время зря тратишь. Теперь вы проходите квалификацию, играя пять стартовых матчей, и на основе результатов вас определяют в соответствующий дивизион. Ну, скажем, вы выиграли три встречи из пяти, тогда вас, скорее всего, занесет сразу в шестой дивизион. Короче, в FIFA 19 бросают сразу в серьезный бой.
В The Journey все привычно: продолжается карьера Алекса Хантера, плюс можно начать историю за его друга Дэнни Уилямса и сестру Ким Хантер. Что вас там ожидает вы и так примерно знаете. Если коротко, то The Journey — это кино в духе фильма «Гол».
Также в FIFA 19 появился совершенно новый режим — Survival Mode. Это такая «королевская битва» в футбольном симуляторе. В этом режиме игрок, забивший гол, покидает поле. Чем больше голов, тем меньше футболистов остается в игре. Survival, понятно, не претендует на серьезность — это чисто угар для посиделок с друзьями. Ну, почему нет.
Остается только сказать, что новая часть серии — идеальный футбольный симулятор. Тут много классных режимов, в которых интересно проводить время на протяжении всего года. Игровой процесс выверен до мелочей, все изменения расширяют геймплей, делая его более замороченным и детальным. Даже ИИ здесь работает на полную катушку. В FIFA 19 есть все, что нужно современному футбольному симулятору.
Или вот еще ситуация: вы играете за Ювентус против, скажем, Пармы. Ваша команда намного лучше. В прошлых частях выиграть такой матч проще простого, но в FIFA 19, благодаря всем этим возможностям, можно сделать это более изящно.
Включаешь постоянный прессинг, высоко поднимаешь линию защиты и большим числом летишь в атаку. При таком сценарии противник окажется в огне: давление — сумасшедшее, а мяч команда соперника увидит разве что во сне. Это все дарит крутейшие ощущения, но подобное возможно, только если вы играете за топ-команду Регулярные публикации новостей об игре. Maintaining an almost impossible level of polish across its many modes, FIFA 19 might not eclipse PES 19 on the pitch, but it demonstrates its worth via The Journey.
What is it? The latest in EA's annual football sim.
Expect to pay: $60 £55
Developer: EA Sports
Publisher: EA
Reviewed on: GeForce GTX 1070, 16GB RAM, i5 6500
Multiplayer: Local and online
Link: FIFA 19 official site
It’s often said that football’s a game of cliches. Commentators and pundits are only too happy to lean on a lexicon of well-worn expressions to describe the game, and after two decades of fierce rivalry between FIFA and its perpetual adversary Pro Evolution Soccer, there’s a glossary of cliches just for their relationship. They all ring absolutely true of each series’ latest installments, too: PES is once again superior on the pitch but remains twenty years behind in presentation, while FIFA’s wealth of official licenses and modes will make for a superior overall package.
Those high production values are especially apparent in FIFA 19's story mode, The Journey. This is the concluding chapter of Alex Hunter’s earnest and enjoyable rags-to-riches tale, told once again via a mixture of cutscenes and on-pitch action. This time Alex, his sister Kim, and childhood friend Danny Williams all have deep career paths that can be cycled at will, shedding the previous structure in which Kim’s big break for the US women’s national team was an aside in Alex’s story, for example. The new structure works well, depicting the sport in a broader focus than before, across domestic and international fixtures, and the mens’ and womens’ competitions. I was surprised by how invested I’d become in Danny Williams’ plot arc after all this time. Once he was the comic relief, but now seeing him given a run of first team Premier League football I was genuinely proud for the lad. Naturally I expressed that pride by covering him in the tattoos I’d just unlocked by reaching a certain fame level, and giving him a man-bun.
It’s easy to be sniffy about a story this laden with cheese and predictable twists, but the fact is they’re a function of The Journey’s narrative constraints. It’s a story about a footballer becoming a superstar—would it serve its purpose any better if the script was Sopranos-grade literary brilliance? Having thoroughly enjoyed all three story modes across three FIFA titles, I’d argue not. However you feel about the ongoing Hunter family soap opera, The Journey’s passion for the sport’s every facet is infectious, even if its marketing partnerships with Adidas and Cristiano Ronaldo are a bit heavy handed.
The on-pitch improvements aren’t always easy to spot, but they’re there. Jostling for the ball now feels less like two players locked into a canned animation with a predetermined outcome, and more like a physical simulation of two solid bodies—that’s not to say it’s easier to muscle past defenders en route to goal across the board, but it does mean the strength and speed player stats carry much more meaning in FIFA 19. And that cover star Cristiano Ronaldo feels more like the real, timber-necked Ballon D’Or magnet when you’re controlling him, pushing his way through defensive lines and recovering after being knocked off-balance with an impressive array of context-specific animations. It might not be the stuff of saved replays to see your striker half-stumble into a goalscoring position before the finish, but it sells the drama of the game that bit better.
And when it comes to finishing, a new ‘after-touch’ mechanic introduces some added risk/reward. Tapping the shoot button again, after charging the shot and just as your player kicks the ball, adds a small boost to the shot to increase its chances of finding the net. For those speculative, edge-of-the-area volleys it’s an interesting added option, but FIFA’s generally a game of goals from headers, one-on-ones, and ground passes in front of the six yard box—in those circumstances, the risk of shanking it by messing up the after-touch outweighs the reward of an almost certain goal.
Speaking of that: there’s another time-honoured FIFA cliche to call upon here. The one about the game conspiring to add drama to games, like the AI director in Left 4 Dead. It lurks in every match, wearing an Arsene Wenger XXL body warmer and deciding that now, in the 89th minute, is a great time for Mo Salah to hit the post instead of converting an easy chance, or for the referee to award a penalty based on the merest graze between defender and attacker.
Whether there’s ever been an explicit system that implements these game-changing moments independently of the player’s inputs is anyone’s guess, but if there is a shadowy director behind FIFA 19’s matches, that director is less of a Steven Soderbergh and more of a McG. Many’s the match I’ve lost through an egregious penalty or an inexplicable defensive breakdown as my backline’s caught way too high up the pitch despite being instructed to play ultra-defensively. These are longstanding problems, but they are at least accompanied by deus ex machinas of a happier variety in this game. Overhead kicks, screaming finishes and fortunate deflections crop up more in one match of FIFA 19 than an entire season of Huddersfield Town’s league campaign, and while that might not win EA Sports points for accurate simulation, it does provide a popcorn-crunching brand of entertainment.
Forward momentum is slight but certainly present on the pitch, then. In career mode, the infamous FUT, and multiplayer seasons, there’s much less evidence of progress. Just like last year, they’re all polished up to a mirror-shine, and touches like actually meeting transfer targets in your office, complete with BioWare-style dialogue trees, still impress in career mode. Coaxing global superstars into your lair feels like a real coup, especially if you’re managing Bournemouth, and in that sense it’s the kind of touch you actively miss in other sports games.
However thrilled one might be to sit down with Griezmann and his agent, however, there’s just nothing to get particularly excited about if you plunged 100 hours into career last year—over-familiarity is FIFA’s constant enemy, and its longform modes outside of The Journey feel in need of a major refresh.
But what am I talking about? Because FUT has seen a major change this year, hasn’t it? The odds of finding each card type in a pack have now been disclosed, and they're not pretty. The odds of finding an In-form card (those mega-expensive and highly sought after black cards you see YouTubers self-combusting over in pack opening videos) are less than 1%. How much less is open to speculation, but that figure certainly lays the sheer extent of FUT’s grind bare. It’s long been an excellent mode, and a masterstroke of Skinner Box game design. It’s just a shame you have to commit such a vast financial or time-based investment to be truly competitive.
You can’t ignore FIFA 19’s obvious and sizeable qualities. Depending on your threshold for corniness, you could argue it’s worth it for The Journey Alone, and although PES feels like the more organic, spontaneous and subtle game of football, EA Sports’ latest effort isn’t far behind it. However, the significant new features feel a bit thin on the ground this year, and that shouldn’t be ignored.
The on-pitch improvements aren’t always easy to spot, but they’re there. Jostling for the ball now feels less like two players locked into a canned animation with a predetermined outcome, and more like a physical simulation of two solid bodies—that’s not to say it’s easier to muscle past defenders en route to goal across the board, but it does mean the strength and speed player stats carry much more meaning in FIFA 19. And that cover star Cristiano Ronaldo feels more like the real, timber-necked Ballon D’Or magnet when you’re controlling him, pushing his way through defensive lines and recovering after being knocked off-balance with an impressive array of context-specific animations. It might not be the stuff of saved replays to see your striker half-stumble into a goalscoring position before the finish, but it sells the drama of the game that bit better. Forward momentum is slight but certainly present on the pitch, then. In career mode, the infamous FUT, and multiplayer seasons, there’s much less evidence of progress. Just like last year, they’re all polished up to a mirror-shine, and touches like actually meeting transfer targets in your office, complete with BioWare-style dialogue trees, still impress in career mode. Coaxing global superstars into your lair feels like a real coup, especially if you’re managing Bournemouth, and in that sense it’s the kind of touch you actively miss in other sports games. Регулярные публикации новостей об игре.
Not all winning teams are truly great.
Zidane’s Real Madrid might have won three Champions League titles in a row, but did they change the way people think about how football should be played? No.
FIFA 19 finds itself in a similar position. EA Sports has assembled another game full of winning features, but is it anything greater than the sum of its parts?
Note: At the time of writing FIFA 19's online modes weren't fully populated, so until they are we're calling this a review-in-progress rather than the final word. Once we've spent enough time with it in more real-world circumstances, we'll update it with a full star rating.
FIFA 19’s biggest signing is its Champions League licence, which pops up everywhere from standalone tournaments to The Journey, so it throws you in at the deep end with a prediction of this year’s final: Juventus versus PSG at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, with a huge Ronaldo tifo overlooking the pitch.
Considering he’s on the front of the box it’s no surprise that you take control of the Italian champions and must score the required CR7 goal(s) to win the cup, lest he come over all Gianluigi Buffon and accuse the game of having a dustbin where its heart should be. Assuming you’re a FIFA n00b, the Trainer is turned on by default, but even if you’ve been playing for years it makes sense to leave it turned on for this first game, because it’s the perfect opportunity to start practising with one of FIFA 19’s biggest gameplay additions: Timed Finishing.
This is a new way to shoot that increases your chances of scoring – as long as you get it right. Get it wrong and you’re more likely to scuff the ball pathetically wide. It’s fairly simple to grasp but very difficult to master: press shoot once to wind up your shot and a second time to unleash it. If it becomes overpowered, that could prove a problem, but it feels like there are enough variables involved in getting it right each time – player ability, positioning, opposition defenders – that the chances of that should be fairly slim.
It’s still sure to be a divisive addition that some players will struggle to get to grips with and just turn off, but that’s the key thing: you don’t have to use it, even when it’s active. For more accomplished players, though, it feels like something that should be obligatory, particularly in the higher divisions of Online Seasons, adding an extra level of skill to your effectiveness in the final third.
FIFA 19’s other headline gameplay changes are Active Touch and an overhauled approach to 50/50 balls. Both have a noticeable effect on the way the game feels to play.
Things feel a bit looser in possession, with the ball less likely to stick to the feet of a player, particularly if they receive it at speed. Active Touch means they have more ways to manipulate and control the ball, though, so you’ll see defenders chest the ball away from opposition attackers; strikers take small touches with one foot in order to set up a better shot with their other; and wingers stick out a leg in an effort to control the ball with their heel. It all helps to keep the game flowing.
Of course, it doesn’t always work. First-time passes on the volley are more likely to skew off at an angle and hurried clearances can easily be sliced into the air giving strikers a second chance to gobble them up. Passing moves can often feel either right on the verge of perfection or one misplaced pass away from all falling apart. It means games can be quite scrappy, although that may change as people get to grips with the new mechanics.
Even with the new Timed Finishing, long shots are far less effective than they were on FIFA 18. That’s a good thing, because it did seem like even the most agricultural hoof-it-and-hope centre-half could fire one into the top corner with relative ease given enough time and space.
Crossing has been revamped too, so it actually feels like a viable tactic now, rather than the game of (low) percentages it was on FIFA 18. Early balls are particularly dangerous if you’ve got an imposing target man or runners breaking into the box.
Overall its feels like a game with more tactical variation than before, something you can exploit using the new Dynamic Tactics, which makes it easier to switch on-the-fly using the D-pad. Pace isn’t quite so pronounced either, which can only be a good thing for Online Seasons.
Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t the only face that returns to FIFA 19. Alex Hunter, star of the scripted-reality style mode The Journey, is back with his entourage for a third chapter, subtitled Champions.
While there is a ‘previously on The Journey’ intro sequence, it won’t help much if you haven’t played the previous two. Starting your relationship with Alex Hunter here is a bit like starting The Sopranos on season four, just with fewer people being sent to ‘witness protection’.
After a brilliant playable flashback that includes a real mud bath of a pitch and John Motson on commentary, The Journey’s pre-season period sees you playing as three different characters: Hunter, now on the books at Bayern Munich, PSG or Atletico Madrid; his mate Danny Williams, who sounds like a mediocre Reading full-back but can be placed at a Premier League club of your choice; and Alex’s 16-year-old half-sister Kim, a rising star of the women’s game based in Los Angeles.
When the season starts you can choose who to focus on, although the game will suggest which player to switch to when something big’s about to go down. Just like before, you do spend a lot of time watching cutscenes, but the production values are pretty high, even if the storyline and voice acting is a bit Hollyoaks.
Still, it’s nice to see Kim’s career featured so prominently, even if the lack of women’s club teams in the game means it focuses entirely on her role in the US national side, which is a little odd.
Ultimate Team might be where all the money is but there’s a real forgotten charm about sitting next to the person you’ve just thrashed 5-0, although you might not feel quite the same if the boot’s on the other foot.
That’s what makes the changes to FIFA’s long-neglected Kick-Off mode so welcome. It’s still entirely offline but you can now use a unique Kick-Off Name to more easily track your record against IRL opponents. Playing on somebody else’s console? You can tie your Kick-Off Name to your PSN ID and take your record with you.
EA knows that there’s only so many friendlies you can play against each other in one night, though, so has added a few new modes to spice things up. They vary from the simple (first to X goals wins) to the slightly absurd (no rules at all) but the most entertaining is probably Survival Mode, which sees a random outfield player ejected (up to a maximum of three per game) every time you score a goal. While you can play these new Kick-Off modes on your own, they’re not half as much fun without a human opponent, which might limit their appeal given that they’re offline only.
Career Mode returns in almost entirely unchanged form, so expect the same bizarre transfer activity (Gini Wijnaldum to Burnley for £32m, anyone?) and unreasonable game-time requests from youth teamers, but as fully playable management sims go, the addition of the Champions League licence is the last nail in the coffin of Pro Evo’s Master League.
Ultimate Team is its old, hopelessly addictive self, showering you with rewards at every opportunity to keep you playing. Packs now display the odds of getting each type of card, though, which really drives home the unreasonable amount of time or real cash you’d have to spend to have any chance of filling your squad with bonafide superstars.
Seasons is similarly familiar, with games against human opponents all too often descending into relentless sprint-a-thons and defending very much an afterthought. If you can accept that, it’s every bit as compelling as ever, but some might find it a little tiring.
Even with the new Timed Finishing, long shots are far less effective than they were on FIFA 18. That’s a good thing, because it did seem like even the most agricultural hoof-it-and-hope centre-half could fire one into the top corner with relative ease given enough time and space. Ultimate Team might be where all the money is but there’s a real forgotten charm about sitting next to the person you’ve just thrashed 5-0, although you might not feel quite the same if the boot’s on the other foot.
С FIFA 17 мы увидели совершенно новый движок под названием Frostbite, который кардинально изменил физику проекта. Если раньше Konami могли похвастаться шикарной физикой в PES, то у EA теперь было чем ответить. В этом же году у главного конкурента удалось вырвать и главное преимущество в виде Лиги чемпионов. Это был, фактически, единственный козырь PES, а теперь и его удалось переманить. Мы уже написали обзор на PES 19 и игра нам понравилась, но у FIFA 19 уж слишком много козырей в рукаве. Вероятно, фанатам подготовили столько всего классного, что оторваться не получится. Посмотрим поближе?
Мультиплеер тоже почти не трогали. Единственное значимое изменение в Ultimate Team заключается в сокращении игр — теперь Weekend лига состоит из 30 сражений вместо 40. Изменение довольно приятное, ведь раньше вам нужно было просиживать штаны перед мониторов все выходные напролёт. Теперь можно потратить на этот турнир немного меньше свободного времени, хотя идеалом было бы сокращение до 20 сражений. Отбор в лигу тоже изменили, теперь ваша позиция зависит от успехов в дивизионе. В целом, режим мультиплеера и так достаточно хорош, чтобы в нём менять какие-то ключевые переменные.
Добавление чемпионата в игру — громадный труд. Нужно переписать данные уймы команд, проанализировать возможности каждого клуба и их игроков, после чего сформировать представление о внешности каждого спортсмена. Характеристики у персонажей же не с потолка берутся. Для мелких лиг это дорого и невыгодно, ведь присутствие в FIFA 19 им вообще ничего не даст. А у EA тоже нет необходимости работать в этом направлении, ведь отсутствие пары украинских лиг не сильно ударит по общим продажам продукта. Хорошо, что игра и без того довольно интересная.
Кстати, если мы уже заговорили о мелочах. Разработчики явно вложили всю душу в Лигу Чемпионов. С Лигой Европы такого ощущения нет, там всё просто хорошо, но не удивительно. У ЛЧ прямо каждый пиксель продуман — красочные анимации, официальная музыкальная тема турнира, даже рекламные баннеры нарисованы с учётом реальных спонсоров. Например, там рекламируют PS4 Pro, на которой мы в FIFA 19 и играем, потому что Sony является официальным спонсором Лиги Чемпионов. Осталось только добраться до кубка и ощутить прилив невероятных эмоций от понимания того, что ты сейчас выиграл один из главных чемпионатов в мире футбола. Пусть и виртуального.
Режим истории изменил отношение к старым частям FIFA. Раньше с выходом новой игры все автоматически забывали о прошлом релизе. Теперь фанаты футбола заинтересованы в том, чтобы пройти историю Алекса Хантера от начала и до конца, а для этого нужно добыть сразу три части FIFA. С другой стороны, если вы берёте только новинку, то проблем с пониманием происходящего тоже не будет. Короткой предыстории достаточно, чтобы вникнуть в ситуацию и получать удовольствие от повествования. В любом случае, в плане карьеры FIFA 19 понравится абсолютно любому геймеру. Да и PES 19 со своим аналогом не выдерживает никакой конкуренции.
Опытные игроки и профессиональные киберспортсмены отметили, что Timed Finishing не только хорошо работает, но и позволяет точнее попадать в ворота. Конечно, никто не гарантирует вам, что если удар был нанесён в зелёном секторе, то вы на 100% забиваете гол. Вратарь может поймать мяч, защитники могут сработать, да и вообще факторов много. Однако, в одинаковых ситуациях новая механика показывает себя лучше, чем старая. Персонажи точнее бьют, плюс нет проблем с пережатой клавишей удара. Немного тренировок и вы заиграете гораздо лучше прежнего.
Вот только есть пара моментов, которые оправдывают EA. Во-первых, вас никто не заставляет покупать наборы. Любой пользователь может сражаться в турнирах с теми спортсменами, которые ему выпадают из простых наборов. И побеждать можно даже со стандартным набором, если вы хоть немного умеете играть. В сети есть масса роликов, где профессиональные геймеры бронзовыми игроками побеждают команды со стоимостью в пару миллионов рублей. Во-вторых, EA в этом году стала указывать шанс выпадения того или иного уровня персонажа из набора. Это необходимо, чтобы удовлетворить требования некоторых стран. Открыли пак, увидели, что шанс получить персонажа 84+ составляет всего 4,5% и передумали вкладывать личные средства.
FIFA 19 оказалась более доброжелательной ко всем геймерам. У новичков продвинутая система обучения, возможность выбрать минимальный уровень сложности и постигать все особенности геймплея без головной боли и страданий. Опытным же геймерам дали больше крутых финтов, уникальное поведение для некоторых спортсменов, совершенно новую для футбольных симуляторов систему ударов. Абсолютно каждый найдёт себе занятие по душе, даже без выхода в онлайн. А уж в мультиплеере вам тем более скучать не позволят — там на вас уже ждёт целая армия ценителей Ultimate Team. Геймпад в руки и погнали забивать!
Особенности:
- реалистичная физика; отличная графика; новая механика удара; Лига Чемпионов и Лига Европы; тьма соперников в мультиплеере; неплохое обучение; лёгкая в освоении игра.
Может не понравиться:
- в FUT можно покупать паки.
Вот только есть пара моментов, которые оправдывают EA. Во-первых, вас никто не заставляет покупать наборы. Любой пользователь может сражаться в турнирах с теми спортсменами, которые ему выпадают из простых наборов. И побеждать можно даже со стандартным набором, если вы хоть немного умеете играть. В сети есть масса роликов, где профессиональные геймеры бронзовыми игроками побеждают команды со стоимостью в пару миллионов рублей. Во-вторых, EA в этом году стала указывать шанс выпадения того или иного уровня персонажа из набора. Это необходимо, чтобы удовлетворить требования некоторых стран. Открыли пак, увидели, что шанс получить персонажа 84+ составляет всего 4,5% и передумали вкладывать личные средства.
Кстати, если мы уже заговорили о мелочах. Разработчики явно вложили всю душу в Лигу Чемпионов. С Лигой Европы такого ощущения нет, там всё просто хорошо, но не удивительно. У ЛЧ прямо каждый пиксель продуман — красочные анимации, официальная музыкальная тема турнира, даже рекламные баннеры нарисованы с учётом реальных спонсоров. Например, там рекламируют PS4 Pro, на которой мы в FIFA 19 и играем, потому что Sony является официальным спонсором Лиги Чемпионов. Осталось только добраться до кубка и ощутить прилив невероятных эмоций от понимания того, что ты сейчас выиграл один из главных чемпионатов в мире футбола. Пусть и виртуального. 
«Вот начинается новый сезон, снова для FIFA готовится трон!» — такой переделкой старой кричалки фанатов ЦСКА и «Динамо» можно описать ситуацию c футбольными симуляторами сегодня. Действительно, футсим от EA Sports за последний год продался тиражом более 24 миллионов копий, ближайший конкурент от Konami с трудом взял рубеж в один миллион. И учитывая, какой получиась PES 2019, слабо верится, что господство «элетроников» будет потревожено. Однако с трона всегда можно свалиться даже без чужой помощи, если допустить несколько критических ошибок. Вот их сейчас и будем выискивать.
Начнём с самого главного — с футбола. Здесь те, кто видел три последние серии «ФИФЫ», совершенно не удивятся, ведь основы остались примерно теми же, что закладывались осенью 2015-го и потом были перенесены на Frostbite, где работают до сих пор. Нас ждёт довольно вязкий в середине поля, но одновременно с этим атакующий футбол, где надо хорошо уметь защищаться, чтобы не пропустить три-четыре гола. Это очень приятный баланс, игра не скатывается в чистую «аркадность», но и не становится симулятором до мозга костей.
По-прежнему финты, ложные замахи и тому подобные хитрости решают слишком много, поэтому дриблеры в атакующей группе здесь очень нужны. Теперь логика первого касания заметно переработана, правым стиком можно выделывать различные подбросы и обработки (даже грудью!), от этого очень сильно зависит отскок мяча. Одновременно с этим выросла роль разрезающих пасов, а вот банальные забросы вперёд стали работать чуть хуже. Играть головой стало чуть приятнее, забивать — легче, даже если у вас не Питер Крауч на острие, главнее стал выбор позиции и борьба за неё.
А вот удары ногами переработаны полностью, но опционально. Если нажать «круг» (в стандартной раскладке) второй раз, появится специальная шкала с меткой, движущейся из красной зоны в зелёную. Если ваша реакция достаточно хороша, то повторное нажатие вовремя позволит лупануть в угол так, что вратарь вытащить не сможет. Система требует тренировки, освоить её непросто, поэтому при желании можно не пользоваться. Но именно с системой Timed Finishing можно забивать потрясающие «банки» издали, по-другому заколотить с 35 метров будет сложно.
Ещё одна вещь, которая порадует привыкших к футсиму от Konami, — расширенные возможности для тактики. И это очень крутая, пусть и полностью скопированная у PES, особенность. Настраивается абсолютно всё — широта расположения защиты, поведение при потере мяча, степень прессинга на чужой половине и даже количество игроков на угловых. Более того, для каждого из четырёх типов атакующей стратегии можно выбрать свою тактику. Забили «Барселоне» два в первые полчаса и хотите «засушить» матч? Пожалуйста, ставим для сверхзащитной стратегии какую-нибудь 4-2-3-1 и врубаем прессинг. А если надо смять соперника в конце — просто перед матчем ставим для сверхатакующей стратегии 4-2-4 и подключаем на стандарты ещё и пару защитников.
Не то чтобы это всё было обязательно для побед над компьютером, но в матчах с человеком будет очень полезно. Тем более что вариантов для соревнования с живыми оппонентами стало больше. Главное из нововведений опять же знакомо любителям PES — это еврокубки. Лига Чемпионов, Лига Европы, Суперкубок УЕФА получили свои полноценные воплощения, у главного турнира даже есть отдельный режим для максимальной аутентичности. Так как у Electronic Arts нет трудностей с лицензиями, групповой этап ЛЧ в FIFA 19 точно такой же, как в жизни. Все три наших участника — «Локо», армейцы и «Спартак» — на месте, их составы повторяют реальные, хотя рейтинг некоторых игроков вызывает вопросы.
В режиме FIFA Ultimate Team, самом популярном и в рекламе не нуждающемся, настоящих изменений тоже немного. Появились карточки героев Лиги Чемпионов, добавился режим Division Rivals, где вас «мэтчат» с соперниками примерно того же уровня и даже соседнего региона. Упростили «Лигу выходного дня», снизив количество матчей в ней до 30. Всё это сделало путь к высшим дивизионам чуть проще, но от необходимости либо «гриндить», либо платить до конца не избавило. Впрочем, чтобы стать киберспортсменом, надо вкладывать много времени.
Маловато перемен и в «Карьере». Тут вообще кажется, что на принципиальные улучшения решили забить — кроме косметических правок, позволяющих проще отслеживать необходимых футболистов, в режиме за менеджера отличий от прошлого сезона не обнаружить. Ну да, есть дополнительные детали «для погружения», типа изменения интерфейса в дни той же Лиги Чемпионов, но фанатам давно хочется большей вариативности — чтобы начинать с клубов низшей лиги и пробиваться наверх, например. Даже пара комментаторов будто устала и решила ничего особо не менять (кроме фраз про сами понимаете какой турнир) — хотя Черданцев и Генич озвучивают уже четвёртую серию симулятора, их реплики по-прежнему звучат оторванно от контекста. Хотя под гимн сами понимаете какого турнира они зачитывают неплохо — даже веришь, что это трансляция.
FIFA уверенно остаётся лидером среди футсимов. Игровой процесс, презентация, вариативность, возможности для совместного развлечения с людьми, база лицензий — всё у EA Sports как минимум на очень хорошем уровне. Но в сезоне 2018—19 это лидерство напоминает то, что происходило со «Спартаком» на рубеже веков: развития почти нет, а в некоторых моментах начинаются заимствования и даже самолюбование. Как помните, 2000-е резко изменили соотношение сил в российском футболе — свежими лидерами стали «Локомотив», ЦСКА и «Зенит». И если главный симулятор «ногомяча» не начнёт делать ощутимые шаги вперёд, его может ждать аналогичная участь.
Плюсы: очень приличный футбол, балансирующий между симулятором и аркадой; интересно переработана система ударов; много дополнений в тактике; ещё больше лицензированных клубов, стадионов, лиг и реалистичных спортсменов; Лига Чемпионов.
Минусы: в целом маловато изменений, особенно в режимах «Карьера», FUT и геймплее вообще; нет российской лиги и всех наших участников еврокубков.
В режиме FIFA Ultimate Team, самом популярном и в рекламе не нуждающемся, настоящих изменений тоже немного. Появились карточки героев Лиги Чемпионов, добавился режим Division Rivals, где вас «мэтчат» с соперниками примерно того же уровня и даже соседнего региона. Упростили «Лигу выходного дня», снизив количество матчей в ней до 30. Всё это сделало путь к высшим дивизионам чуть проще, но от необходимости либо «гриндить», либо платить до конца не избавило. Впрочем, чтобы стать киберспортсменом, надо вкладывать много времени.
Плюсы: очень приличный футбол, балансирующий между симулятором и аркадой; интересно переработана система ударов; много дополнений в тактике; ещё больше лицензированных клубов, стадионов, лиг и реалистичных спортсменов; Лига Чемпионов. FIFA’s foundation has always been based on two things: presenting a fun, free-scoring game of football and unparalleled authenticity. FIFA 19 takes a small step forward in terms of the former, adding a handful of gameplay tweaks that refine the well-trodden FIFA formula rather than reinvent it in any significant way, but a huge stride forward with the latter, thanks to the inclusion of the Champions League.
FIFA 19’s gameplay innovation is precision ball control which, when used effectively, creates new openings through subtle movements, body feints and fancy flicks. But for every slick piece of control there is an equal moment of miscontrol as the ball gets away from you. It’s unforgiving at first, resulting in untidy passages of play with balls bouncing off the knees, chests, and heads of supposed top-class professionals. However, once mastered, the free-flowing football (using the right analogue to lead the ball away from you first time) creates some of the game’s most eye-catching moments. Letting the ball run across your body or flicking the ball before hitting a first-time shot adds a new level of satisfaction to attacking play.
Flicking the ball before hitting a first-time shot adds a new level of satisfaction to attacking play.
Similarly, there’s an extra layer to finishing that works much like Gears of War’s active reload mechanic to add a level of risk to any potential goal threat. It’s activated by pressing shoot a second time after powering up a shot, in time with when the player strikes the ball. Get it right and the shot will fizz like a rocket, and although it doesn’t necessarily guarantee a goal it certainly improves your odds. However, get it slightly wrong and the player embarrassingly fumbles the shot. Overall, my experimentation with this system left me feeling that the reward didn’t justify the risk when shooting the traditional way still works so well.
There is welcome authenticity to the way 50/50 battles are now decided, taking into account both of the timing of a tackle and the attributes of the players involved. Consistently coming out second best against stronger opposition can be frustrating, but that reflects real life with greater accuracy than in previous editions. It’s definitely an improvement on the old system because I was able to judge whether to challenge for a loose ball to a better extent.
Elsewhere, passing accuracy is a lot less automatic. While the resulting imprecision takes some getting used to, it’s a rewarding and welcome improvement over the laser-precision passes of FIFA 18. Pace is no longer as easy a route to goal and even a player as quick as Leroy Sané will need to check back on occasion when a chasing fullback catches up to him.
This puts more emphasis on finding and using space properly, rather than relying on a player with 96 sprint speed to glide pass defenders and win you matches. Strength is also now a much more useful tool for winning and keeping possession of the ball, but as a result the agility stat feels slightly sidelined, with some players resembling a Sherman tank when performing tight turns. This slower pace results in a much more robust game of football and, ultimately, a much more authentic one befitting of FIFA 19’s lavish presentation.
The fidelity of that presentation has long been FIFA’s calling card and the addition of the Champions League is welcome, taking away the one licensing bragging right Pro Evolution Soccer always had over perennial rival. All of the pomp and circumstance of Europe’s premier club competition is present and correct. From the instantly recognisable introduction music to the graphic overlays used throughout the season, every aspect of the tournament is recreated perfectly. The level of detail is outstanding and I found myself constantly impressed by how accurate each match setting was.
That authenticity goes beyond the Champions League, too - there are 16 new La Liga stadiums, along with carefully reproduced atmospheres that fill them with life. Each venue genuinely feels different and makes each match a fresh, enjoyable experience. Such is the endeavour of EA’s design team to recreate some of football’s most iconic arenas that they even have managed to fully build Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium before construction on the real thing has been completed in North London.
Each venue genuinely feels different and makes each match a fresh, enjoyable experience.
The players inside the grounds look better than ever also: little details, like beads on sweat on players’ foreheads or the slight rustle of their shirt sleeves on a windy day, add to the atmosphere. They move more fluidly than ever, appearing to sense and react to the ball and the players around them. Defenders will back into opposition forwards to shepherd a ball out of play and will attempt new ways to trap the ball if it comes to them at an awkward angle, making them feel more human as they more naturally adjust to each situation they find themselves in. Players appear to tire slightly more as games go on as well, adding to the realism.
The UEFA competitions also bring with them two new commentators, Derek Rae and Lee Dixon. Although neither will give much of a tactical insight, it is always a bonus to have an extra pair of voices as an alternative to Alan Smith’s monotone drawl. The new licenses have been woven into every game mode possible too: the Champions League (and its little brother, the Europa League) can be played as part of the career mode, with former also found in the Kick-Off menu, with each stage available to play separately. Integration with Ultimate Team in the form of live content updates is promised, but at this stage it is unclear whether this will be any more than some in-form FUT cards.
FIFA’s Kick-Off mode has been long stagnant, offering little other than standard exhibition matches, but this year it has undergone a substantial overhaul with nine new game modes available. The most memorable can be found in the House Rules section, which is FIFA’s answer to Overwatch’s Arcade. These match types introduce new rule subsets to the core 90-minute match experience and do so to varying levels of success. Some are ripped straight from the playground, such as my beloved Headers & Volleys, while others bring a more anarchic edge to the beautiful game, like No Rules mode. With no offsides, fouls, or bookings enabled, this quickly descends into chaos and there’s no denying it’s a whole lot of fun.
Latching onto the current battle royale zeitgeist, the most enjoyable of these new additions is Survival Mode. In short, it consists of players being randomly ejected from your team after you score a goal, theoretically giving the trailing team the advantage. The different tactical approaches you can take to these matches due to its evolving nature give it much more depth than others. Going attack heavy at the beginning leaves you at a disadvantage later on, with reduced numbers and dwindling stamina all having an effect. Should you play it safe and try to nick a goal at the end, thus keeping all 11 players on the field as long as possible? I played numerous matches against both other players and the CPU and did not find myself tiring of it at all.
House Rules is a welcome breath of fresh air that contrasts against what the traditional matches continue to do so well.
These new modes go some way to restoring some of the quirkiness that has since diminished over the two decades since FIFA ’97 briefly introduced indoor football. House Rules is a welcome breath of fresh air that contrasts against what the traditional matches continue to do so well. True, it’s unlikely many of the modes will hold much appeal in the months after release, especially because they’re exclusively (and bafflingly) available offline, but they’re a welcome addition, especially considering both Career Mode and Pro Clubs remain virtually untouched.
Ultimate Team, is also fairly unchanged this time around, controversial microtransactions included. The only addition of note is Division Rivals, a mode that allows you to compete against others of an equivalent skill level for weekly rewards. It provides more structure to how best spend your time in FUT, but doesn’t really add a great deal. The Journey returns once again, now in its third (and final?) year of Alex Hunter’s story, with a 16 hour campaign that’s more soap opera, than Sopranos.
The Journey: Champions tells three separate storylines – one for each of the three protagonists – as they tackle their own challenges. Alex, the ‘Galactico,’ is adjusting to stardom in Madrid; his teenage sister Kim’s battling between being a World Cup star and finishing her schoolwork; and Danny Williams, a parody of a Premier League footballer who is at odds with the people that surround him. In particular, his estranged brother who is a twirly moustache away from being a pastiche of a 1920s Hollywood villain.
This story - which can be played as one complete interwoven narrative or split into three separate threads - is bookended by some of the most compelling scenes in any of The Journey modes, but suffers from a second chapter that’s way too bloated and would have benefitted from fewer laborious training drills and post-match interview sequences, which are frankly painful to watch. I found myself crying out for some variety, and especially disappointed that none of the new House Rules modes found their way into the mix.
The Journey is a heavily scripted story hidden behind a thin veil of choice, both on and off the pitch.
Disappointingly, choices you make seem without consequence, with key decisions having little impact. One such choice I had to make was how “The Williams” should represent his new sponsor, a fictional fish and chip shop chain called McMillan’s. A photoshoot or a radio advert? It’s a so-called ‘monumental decision’ that I never saw any repercussions of along the way.
In truth, it’s a heavily scripted story hidden behind a thin veil of choice, both on and off the pitch. The start is promising but falls into the pitfalls of ox-bow lake-style storytelling. Ultimately everyone will play a very similar campaign resulting in a couple of different end scenarios and even having a poolside life lesson from Neymar feels like a slog.
With a plethora of new modes and some significant gameplay tweaks that make ball control more convincing, FIFA 19 is a distinct improvement upon last year's effort. Not all of these additions hit the mark, however, such as the Gears of War-style shooting mechanic and a handful of the new Kick-Off modes. When coupled with an underbaked The Journey single-player campaign, those slow down its momentum a bit. That said, FIFA 19’s simply more fun than recent entries with a level of variety that should only increase its longevity.
House Rules is a welcome breath of fresh air that contrasts against what the traditional matches continue to do so well.
Disappointingly, choices you make seem without consequence, with key decisions having little impact. One such choice I had to make was how “The Williams” should represent his new sponsor, a fictional fish and chip shop chain called McMillan’s. A photoshoot or a radio advert? It’s a so-called ‘monumental decision’ that I never saw any repercussions of along the way. 
Generally favorable reviews - based on 67 Critics What's this?
Overwhelming dislike - based on 844 Ratings
Overwhelming dislike - based on 844 Ratings
- Summary: EA Sports FIFA 19 delivers a champion-caliber experience on and off the pitch. Introducing the prestigious UEFA Champions League, offering authentic in-match atmospheres, featuring gameplay updates including elevated on-pitch personality and a striking overhaul, and providing new and EA Sports FIFA 19 delivers a champion-caliber experience on and off the pitch. Introducing the prestigious UEFA Champions League, offering authentic in-match atmospheres, featuring gameplay updates including elevated on-pitch personality and a striking overhaul, and providing new and unrivaled ways to play. Champions Rise in FIFA 19.
* UEFA Champions League coming to FIFA 19 -- There's no higher level in club football than the UEFA Champions League. Dreams are achieved and legends are made in this historic tournament that showcases the best clubs in the world. FIFA 19 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch is infused with the UEFA Champions League, thanks to official match presentation, a variety of tournament experiences that includes the Europa League and Super Cup, and an all-new commentary team in Derek Rae and Lee Dixon.
* Brand new modes -- Experience the all-new standalone UEFA Champions League mode to play the famous tournament from the group stage to the final at the The Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid. Discover deep integration of the massive club competition in both Kick Off and Career Mode. Build your dream squad with live UEFA Champions League and Europa League content updates in FIFA 19 Ultimate Team. No matter where or how you play FIFA 19, you can experience the greatest club football competition in the world. … Expand
Generally favorable reviews - based on 67 Critics What's this?
Overwhelming dislike - based on 844 Ratings Регулярные публикации новостей об игре. Not all winning teams are truly great.
Zidane’s Real Madrid might have won three Champions League titles in a row, but did they change the way people think about how football should be played? No.
FIFA 19 finds itself in a similar position. EA Sports has assembled another game full of winning features, but is it anything greater than the sum of its parts?
Note: At the time of writing FIFA 19's online modes weren't fully populated, so until they are we're calling this a review-in-progress rather than the final word. Once we've spent enough time with it in more real-world circumstances, we'll update it with a full star rating.
FIFA 19’s biggest signing is its Champions League licence, which pops up everywhere from standalone tournaments to The Journey, so it throws you in at the deep end with a prediction of this year’s final: Juventus versus PSG at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, with a huge Ronaldo tifo overlooking the pitch.
Considering he’s on the front of the box it’s no surprise that you take control of the Italian champions and must score the required CR7 goal(s) to win the cup, lest he come over all Gianluigi Buffon and accuse the game of having a dustbin where its heart should be. Assuming you’re a FIFA n00b, the Trainer is turned on by default, but even if you’ve been playing for years it makes sense to leave it turned on for this first game, because it’s the perfect opportunity to start practising with one of FIFA 19’s biggest gameplay additions: Timed Finishing.
This is a new way to shoot that increases your chances of scoring – as long as you get it right. Get it wrong and you’re more likely to scuff the ball pathetically wide. It’s fairly simple to grasp but very difficult to master: press shoot once to wind up your shot and a second time to unleash it. If it becomes overpowered, that could prove a problem, but it feels like there are enough variables involved in getting it right each time – player ability, positioning, opposition defenders – that the chances of that should be fairly slim.
It’s still sure to be a divisive addition that some players will struggle to get to grips with and just turn off, but that’s the key thing: you don’t have to use it, even when it’s active. For more accomplished players, though, it feels like something that should be obligatory, particularly in the higher divisions of Online Seasons, adding an extra level of skill to your effectiveness in the final third.
FIFA 19’s other headline gameplay changes are Active Touch and an overhauled approach to 50/50 balls. Both have a noticeable effect on the way the game feels to play.
Things feel a bit looser in possession, with the ball less likely to stick to the feet of a player, particularly if they receive it at speed. Active Touch means they have more ways to manipulate and control the ball, though, so you’ll see defenders chest the ball away from opposition attackers; strikers take small touches with one foot in order to set up a better shot with their other; and wingers stick out a leg in an effort to control the ball with their heel. It all helps to keep the game flowing.
Of course, it doesn’t always work. First-time passes on the volley are more likely to skew off at an angle and hurried clearances can easily be sliced into the air giving strikers a second chance to gobble them up. Passing moves can often feel either right on the verge of perfection or one misplaced pass away from all falling apart. It means games can be quite scrappy, although that may change as people get to grips with the new mechanics.
Even with the new Timed Finishing, long shots are far less effective than they were on FIFA 18. That’s a good thing, because it did seem like even the most agricultural hoof-it-and-hope centre-half could fire one into the top corner with relative ease given enough time and space.
Crossing has been revamped too, so it actually feels like a viable tactic now, rather than the game of (low) percentages it was on FIFA 18. Early balls are particularly dangerous if you’ve got an imposing target man or runners breaking into the box.
Overall its feels like a game with more tactical variation than before, something you can exploit using the new Dynamic Tactics, which makes it easier to switch on-the-fly using the D-pad. Pace isn’t quite so pronounced either, which can only be a good thing for Online Seasons.
Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t the only face that returns to FIFA 19. Alex Hunter, star of the scripted-reality style mode The Journey, is back with his entourage for a third chapter, subtitled Champions.
While there is a ‘previously on The Journey’ intro sequence, it won’t help much if you haven’t played the previous two. Starting your relationship with Alex Hunter here is a bit like starting The Sopranos on season four, just with fewer people being sent to ‘witness protection’.
After a brilliant playable flashback that includes a real mud bath of a pitch and John Motson on commentary, The Journey’s pre-season period sees you playing as three different characters: Hunter, now on the books at Bayern Munich, PSG or Atletico Madrid; his mate Danny Williams, who sounds like a mediocre Reading full-back but can be placed at a Premier League club of your choice; and Alex’s 16-year-old half-sister Kim, a rising star of the women’s game based in Los Angeles.
When the season starts you can choose who to focus on, although the game will suggest which player to switch to when something big’s about to go down. Just like before, you do spend a lot of time watching cutscenes, but the production values are pretty high, even if the storyline and voice acting is a bit Hollyoaks.
Still, it’s nice to see Kim’s career featured so prominently, even if the lack of women’s club teams in the game means it focuses entirely on her role in the US national side, which is a little odd.
Ultimate Team might be where all the money is but there’s a real forgotten charm about sitting next to the person you’ve just thrashed 5-0, although you might not feel quite the same if the boot’s on the other foot.
That’s what makes the changes to FIFA’s long-neglected Kick-Off mode so welcome. It’s still entirely offline but you can now use a unique Kick-Off Name to more easily track your record against IRL opponents. Playing on somebody else’s console? You can tie your Kick-Off Name to your PSN ID and take your record with you.
EA knows that there’s only so many friendlies you can play against each other in one night, though, so has added a few new modes to spice things up. They vary from the simple (first to X goals wins) to the slightly absurd (no rules at all) but the most entertaining is probably Survival Mode, which sees a random outfield player ejected (up to a maximum of three per game) every time you score a goal. While you can play these new Kick-Off modes on your own, they’re not half as much fun without a human opponent, which might limit their appeal given that they’re offline only.
Career Mode returns in almost entirely unchanged form, so expect the same bizarre transfer activity (Gini Wijnaldum to Burnley for £32m, anyone?) and unreasonable game-time requests from youth teamers, but as fully playable management sims go, the addition of the Champions League licence is the last nail in the coffin of Pro Evo’s Master League.
Ultimate Team is its old, hopelessly addictive self, showering you with rewards at every opportunity to keep you playing. Packs now display the odds of getting each type of card, though, which really drives home the unreasonable amount of time or real cash you’d have to spend to have any chance of filling your squad with bonafide superstars.
Seasons is similarly familiar, with games against human opponents all too often descending into relentless sprint-a-thons and defending very much an afterthought. If you can accept that, it’s every bit as compelling as ever, but some might find it a little tiring.
Of course, it doesn’t always work. First-time passes on the volley are more likely to skew off at an angle and hurried clearances can easily be sliced into the air giving strikers a second chance to gobble them up. Passing moves can often feel either right on the verge of perfection or one misplaced pass away from all falling apart. It means games can be quite scrappy, although that may change as people get to grips with the new mechanics. Not all winning teams are truly great. Регулярные публикации новостей об игре.
FIFA 19 is a great game, packed with plenty of detail. It isn't a huge step forward in terms of raw gameplay, but the sheer amount of stuff to do will mean you keep coming back for more.
- Fantastic presentation UEFA licenses complete the package Small tweaks benefit the gameplay So much to do
- Review Price: £49.99 Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PS3, Xbox 360, PC Genre: Sports Release Date: Out Now Developer: Electronic Arts
There are a few things that are oh-so-predictable with every new season of football: Tottenham bottling it at some point; Newcastle parking the bus against every top-six side; and Mourinho moaning about his transfer kitty. Oh, and a new version of FIFA on pretty much every format possible.
FIFA 19 is a worthy successor to the generally excellent FIFA 18 for a number of reasons, but none of them are really in terms of gameplay. Yes, there are some nice tweaks here, and it does feel smoother and more fluid to play. However, the big upgrades come in the form of Even more game modes and Even more licenses.
However, what I care about most with regards to a football game is how it feels to play. This year, EA Sports has worked on a few specific areas, and to give the developer credit, each of the changes makes a noticeable difference to the flow of the game. The most notable new feature is the ‘Active Touch System’, which basically means that on the pitch gameplay feels far more natural.
When the ball is coming towards you, it’s now possible to flick the right stick to either bring the ball down with greater control than ever before, or chip it up slightly to set yourself up for an audacious volley. How successful you are at this largely depends on the quality of the player. So, if you’re controlling, say, Mahrez or Eden Hazard, then you’ll be able to comfortably bring the ball down on your thigh and continue running forward. Try it with Wes Morgan and the ball will likely end up rolling away.
Alongside providing an opportunity to begin a decent attack quickly, these new animations just look far more realistic.
Also implemented this year is a greater focus on 50/50 challenges and battles. Like the Active Touch System, this adds a realistic layer to the game rather than redefining how you play. There’s much more physicality when you’re battling for position, and you have greater control over retrieving the ball – even if it was your mistake in the first place.
Everything feels less pre-determined than in did in previous versions of the game – and now, with the right player – I’m looking at you, N’Golo Kante – you can wrestle the ball back in situations I’d just have given up in with FIFA 18.
After plunging far too many hours into PES 2019, jumping back into FIFA’s frenetic pace proved initially jarring. There’s no doubt FIFA 19 lacks a focus on build-up play, which makes its Konami-made rival so good. Nevertheless, this is still a very good game of fast-paced football here.
The biggest changes to FIFA 19 aren’t in the way that it plays, however. It’s things you can do in the game – and in this area, it firmly has PES 2019 beat.
FIFA 19 is stacked with game modes, customisation options and things to do. The once ignored basic Kick-off mode has been given a facelift with options to track your victories against a mate offline, and the ability to tweak your game by turning off cards or having a player sent off every time you score a goal. These are welcome touches that add a party-game feel to proceedings. You’re probably not going to play it each time you boot up the game, but it’s ideal if you’re playing with someone who isn’t a die-hard FIFA fan.
Another touch I really like is the ability to play a Kick-off game as a cup final, semi-final or even a group-stage tie. This adds a real intensity to friendlies and, considering such care has gone into the presentation of these marquee matches, it’s great to be able to constantly replay them.
EA Sports has probably made such additions because it wants as much focus as possible on its biggest signing this year – official licenses for the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Super Cup. Plucked from Konami, this has been the only big license missing from FIFA’s arsenal.
In typical fashion, these new licenses are handled with the utmost quality. Everything from the ball to the anthemic “CHAAAMMMMMPIOOOOOOOOONNSS” music, to the specific advertising hoarding, has been reproduced in sublime detail. There’s so much atmosphere packed into these matches that I almost want to play them every time.
The Champions League licenses are baked into the Career mode, too, and here you’ll see new graphics for the homescreen when a European week rolls around. Sadly, that’s it for Career mode.
Actually, my only issue with the new UEFA licenses is the poor commentary provided by the uninspiring duo of Derek Rae and former Arsenal stalwart Lee Dixon. Rae – best known for commentating for NBCSN in the US – just doesn’t feel natural here; there are many times that he hasn’t finished screaming the name of a player by the time the ball drifts away for a corner. Considering the quality of the commentary in other modes, the shortcomings here stand out obviously.
Like the gameplay, the visuals have received minor tweaks rather than wholesale changes. There’s more personality to those in the crowds and you’ll see them waving crested flags or taking selfies, while player faces have slightly more detail and movement. Lighting in the accurately represented stadiums looks fantastic when playing in HDR, but I have noticed some dropped-frames on a PS4 Pro when playing in arenas that are particularly detailed in rainy situations.
There are two other significant aspects of FIFA 19 that I haven’t touched upon yet: the final chapter in the story-driven ‘The Journey’ campaign, and the uber-addictive Ultimate Team.
The Journey surprised when it debuted a few years back with how good it was, and last year’s follow-up was equally engrossing (even if I felt it was a good way to end the series). For this final chapter EA Sports has used those new UEFA licenses to full effect. ‘The Journey: Champions’ continues Alex Hunter’s journey with a Champions League run, and it adds in a few more playable characters for variety.
Alex is still the focus, and you can ignore the others completely if you wish, but being able to switch between his half-sister Kim and friend Danny freshens up the formula.
It’s still trashy, cheesy, straight-to-DVD-quality writing and dialogue throughout. Yet it’s fun to play and introduces some fun mini-games and decisions to make. EA has really hit on something with this story, and it will be interesting to see where it goes next.
Ultimate Team returns, obviously, and it will likely be the mode used most by hardcore fans. It’s very much the same as before and will likely eat away at your wallet if you get really stuck in.
FIFA 19 is a great game, packed with plenty of detail. It isn’t a huge step forward in terms of raw gameplay, but the sheer amount of stuff to do will mean you keep coming back for more.
Unlike other sites, we thoroughly test each product we review. We use industry standard tests in order to compare things properly. We’ll always tell you what we find. We never, ever accept money to review a product. Tell us what you think - send your emails to the Editor.
Also implemented this year is a greater focus on 50/50 challenges and battles. Like the Active Touch System, this adds a realistic layer to the game rather than redefining how you play. There’s much more physicality when you’re battling for position, and you have greater control over retrieving the ball – even if it was your mistake in the first place.
FIFA 19 is stacked with game modes, customisation options and things to do. The once ignored basic Kick-off mode has been given a facelift with options to track your victories against a mate offline, and the ability to tweak your game by turning off cards or having a player sent off every time you score a goal. These are welcome touches that add a party-game feel to proceedings. You’re probably not going to play it each time you boot up the game, but it’s ideal if you’re playing with someone who isn’t a die-hard FIFA fan. Регулярные публикации новостей об игре. Over the past few years, FIFA fans have generally known exactly what to expect from each new release. The polished overall experience will be added to incrementally with small quality of life tweaks, Alex Hunter’s journey will continue, and live content will ensure that Ultimate Team only grows in popularity. However, each year also sees gameplay issues that aren’t addressed, the play can feel inconsistent and unreliable, and any on-field changes feel insignificant, leaving an impressive spectacle that doesn’t hold up under close inspection. The changes touted for FIFA 19 also seemed quite underwhelming at first, but in action they have created fluid, balanced, and challenging gameplay, without losing any of the presentation flair the series is known for, making for the best FIFA package we’ve played in years.
FIFA 19’s gameplay still possesses the series’ signature arcade feel, with pace and power being important traits in a player, but many of the aspects that have frustrated in recent years have been tightened up and refined. From front to back, the play feels smoother –the new Active Touch System clearly having an impact on how players move and interact with the ball. Midfielders and defenders feel more assured on the ball and, aside from a few stray first touches, more reliable. Instances where attackers win loose balls unrealistically and tackles seeing the ball pop back to the opposition as they’re clean through on goal are less frequent, and player intelligence seems to have been boosted across the board. Positioning is better than ever before in both attack and defense with the importance of stats like reactions and strength in FIFA 19 seeing top quality defenders play a vital role, and their ability to cut out danger safely is improved.
In attack, players make more positive runs than before. Passing the ball into your striker from the midfield will see three or four players drive on towards the opposition’s backline, especially in formations that utilize wingers to run down the outside of full backs or diagonally through the channel between them and the CB. Through-balls aren’t reliable to the degree that this tactic is overpowered, sometimes being wildly over-hit, but the runs players make clearly lean towards an emphasis on counterattacks and spreading the play quickly. The smooth, flowing nature of the gameplay opens up more options for tactics, in turn giving more weight to the tweaked Custom Tactics system. Also, with the increased importance of stamina in FIFA 19, you need to be smarter about how you use your players throughout a match.
It is the new shooting mechanics that are the biggest change to how FIFA 19 plays, however. The introduction of Timed Finishing is interesting because it’ll likely frustrate at first. It completely changes how you need to act in certain attacking situations, and that’ll be scary if you’re a FIFA fan who has shot inputs essentially programmed into your muscle memory. Since it asks you to press shoot once, and again at the right time to get the perfect connection, you can no longer spam shoot from corners or scrambles in the box because, without considered timing, your shot will be completely wayward. For a while, it’ll feel wrong. However, after some time, you’ll learn that, while it does decrease the range of shooting options slightly, it’s great for the game for a few reasons.
Not only does it finally decrease impact of low driven shots by replacing its button input, but it adds a risk/reward element to shooting that’s not really existed before. Choosing to shoot with Timed Finishing from a position you could score from without it could see your shot cannon into the top corner with more power and precision, or you could shank it out for a throw if you get the second press wrong. The possibilities for the spectacular are high, but so are those for embarrassment, and you need to consider when it’s worth using. It also adds a much-needed skill gap to FIFA, giving those that can master Timed Finishing an advantage that’ll be vital in FIA 19’s more competitive modes.
Away from the pitch, for the most part, FIFA 19’s presentation is the same as it was last year. Player faces and cutscene animations aren’t noticeably improved, and some FUT features, such as the pack animation, are a downgrade on last year’s options, but EA Sports’ acquisition of the rights for the Champions League and Europa League competitions see some variety in The Journey and Kick-off. The iconic Champions League music and the blue and white overlays are a welcome change to the usual match presentation, with the new commentary duo of Derek Rae and Lee Dixon improving the authenticity and overall variety. It’d be fun to mix and match Champions League elements into other modes, particularly Ultimate Team, but the variety is welcome nonetheless.
Some of Ultimate Team’s biggest issues from last year have also been addressed. Complaints about a lack of stuff to do during the week and an overly intensive weekend were frequent, but the mode has seen a structure rework that makes it fairer and more rewarding. Draft and Squad Battles remain, with Divisions Rivals replacing the old Divisions system. Now, you play to accumulate points that translate into rewards in a more competitive ranked ladder system, where you’re able to jump divisions, play as little or as often as you like, and attempt to qualify for FUT Champions. The competitive Weekend League and Divisions Rivals are closely tied, with players of any quality having the chance to qualify by playing enough games.
The Weekend League has also been reduced to 30 games, which will delight anyone who struggled through the 40 at any point in FIFA 18, and the rewards are changed slightly so that you’re not punished for missing a weekend. That change cannot be underestimated as it has the potential to remove frustration from the mode and reignite FIFA’s competitive scene, and EA’s excellent new Pitch Notes program shows that the development team are embracing their community by being more open about the changes and how the game works. The changes to qualification, rewards, and structure have made online FUT more appealing to players of all abilities, and it’s the perfect change that the mode needed. Ultimate Team should be about more than just live content this year.
The third part of The Journey, called Champions, doesn’t feel as refreshing, however. As Alex Hunter joins Real Madrid, himself and his mate Danny Williams are vying for Champions League glory, while his 16 year-old sister, Kim, is beginning her World Cup adventure. That story, however, isn’t an engaging one. Switching between the three characters feels disjointed, with the story jumping between parts of the season at will, but it’s the writing that’s The Journey: Champions’ downfall. It’s awkward and unrealistic throughout. Williams is self-aggrandizing to a degree that even Zlatan Ibrahimovic would cringe, and although the game tries to approach issues a player might face in the real world, such as sexism and burnout, it often feels rushed due to the amount of loading and filler content in the mode. Also, since Danny and Kim are low rated players, the mode is often not as fun as it could be. For me, Williams is Arsenal’s first choice striker and he’s slow and clumsy on the ball, asking the coach to go and practice his headers at the local park. The unrealistic nature of those scenes and others is only eclipsed by in-game Unai Emery’s insistence that Danny Welbeck should start every Arsenal game at Left Wing. The Journey’s characters aren’t interesting enough that you’ll want to see their story out, let alone step away from the more engaging modes on offer.
The only other mode to see any significant changes, with Pro Clubs and Offline Career disappointingly staying largely the same, is Kick-Off. The classic mode that’s been the home of makeshift tournaments and embarrassing your friends has embraced its fun side. You can now play with No Rules, jump into a match that sees you lose a player each time your team scores, or see long shots worth two goals. It adds fun and variety to the mode that elevate it beyond the choice for playing a quick game against your friend on the couch.
While the underwhelming finale of Alex Hunter’s story and the lack of meaningful changes seen by some of the modes will be frustrating for some fans, FIFA 19 is generally a huge step forward for the series and shines in the ways that matter most. Ultimate Team has been made more appealing by a fairer and more rewarding structure, but it’s the gameplay changes that add fluidity, precision, and reliability to the play that make FIFA 19 the best game the series has seen this generation.
- Gameplay feel more fluid, realistic, and responsive than ever before. Timed Finishing, while tricky at first, adds a skill gap to shooting. Ultimate Team restructuring will reinvigorated the mode’s competitive element. New Kick-Off modes adds much needed level of fun.
- The Journey: Champions is a slog to play and is full of awkward writing and uninteresting characters. Few meaningful changes for Pro Clubs or Career mode.
For more information on how we review games, check out Twinfinite’s review policy here.
The Weekend League has also been reduced to 30 games, which will delight anyone who struggled through the 40 at any point in FIFA 18, and the rewards are changed slightly so that you’re not punished for missing a weekend. That change cannot be underestimated as it has the potential to remove frustration from the mode and reignite FIFA’s competitive scene, and EA’s excellent new Pitch Notes program shows that the development team are embracing their community by being more open about the changes and how the game works. The changes to qualification, rewards, and structure have made online FUT more appealing to players of all abilities, and it’s the perfect change that the mode needed. Ultimate Team should be about more than just live content this year. FIFA 19’s gameplay still possesses the series’ signature arcade feel, with pace and power being important traits in a player, but many of the aspects that have frustrated in recent years have been tightened up and refined. From front to back, the play feels smoother –the new Active Touch System clearly having an impact on how players move and interact with the ball. Midfielders and defenders feel more assured on the ball and, aside from a few stray first touches, more reliable. Instances where attackers win loose balls unrealistically and tackles seeing the ball pop back to the opposition as they’re clean through on goal are less frequent, and player intelligence seems to have been boosted across the board. Positioning is better than ever before in both attack and defense with the importance of stats like reactions and strength in FIFA 19 seeing top quality defenders play a vital role, and their ability to cut out danger safely is improved.
