Gamer Unit

I have often considered FIFA a franchise which refuse to revolutionize itself, it simply evolves. Although I used to consider that as an act of laze and hesitation from EA Sports I now see why in some cases Evolution of a franchise is more valuable than Revolution. After all, how much can you revolutionize in a game which revolves around kicking a ball on grass?  What makes this entry more admirable is that FIFA has made this game knowing well that they have no competition.  
FIFA 14 on next gen consoles has a brand new engine, Ignite. It works like a dream with player animations looking as real as ever. Everything just looks sharper and more detailed than the PS3 and Xbox 360 Version. Yes, there is one thing even the Ignite engine hasn’t managed. The player eyes still have a vacant look to them, but this is such a minor and superficial complaint that it makes simply no bearing on the game. The player running animations have been touched up immensely with the running seeming natural and players reacting instinctively to long balls, immediately running ahead once the ball has been kicked. When you hit a cross-field pass, the player will open up their body and really dig under the ball. It feels like you're making that type of pass. Although these may seem like minute things, they all add up to add a different layer of realism to FIFA 14. There aren’t many notable changes to the gameplay of FIFA, but it didn’t need to many of them as they already had a solid foundation in place. However, one key difference I noticed in FIFA 14 was the defense system has been slightly tweaked to make the player who is attacking more self-aware. Simply slide-tackling some poor sod won’t give you the ball now (Oh the horror).  It produces a more realistic representation of the sport, and I found it a more enjoyable, unpredictable, and a slightly more competitive experience. That sense of life is strengthened by the improved stadiums and crowds. Spectators are now a fully three-dimensional, reactive presence – the home and away fans respond differently depending on the ebb and flow of the game. However, the spectators are by no mean extensive models and they are average at best.
FIFA contains all the usual annual modes, with Season, Online Friendlies, One-off fixtures and Ultimate Team all making a return. If you own FIFA 14 on the PS3/Xbox 360 and have bought the game for next gen, your Ultimate Team will also be transferred ensuring you don’t have to start again.
FIFA 14 isn’t a leap into a new beginning. However it does just enough to make this game worth buying. There are real flashes of potential, though, and hints at where it may go in the future – the sheer variety of animation, realistic players, more palpable atmosphere – but the evolution of the series underway with the graphics slowly mirroring real-life. Football is such a beautiful game.