The FIFA franchise has been a force all its own for a long while, but like most sports games, it has a tendency to favor the fans of the series instead of catering to newcomers. With that in mind, we’ve taken to this smaller outing of FIFA with a different mentality: that of a new player. We at PSU have put fresh eyes on a franchise that has made a following all its own, hoping that a new perspective can coax newer players to join in the fray with FIFA World Cup Brazil.
The commentary in FIFA will live and breathe what’s to be expected from a live broadcast, which sets the bar for sports-based franchises. Conversation in loading screens makes for a very welcoming and living experience that’s hard to ignore, and the amount of effort put into that side of the game makes a big difference overall. Loading screens don’t feel so separated from the core game as they also show the stadiums and the festivities and team preparations before matches, leaving the loading screens almost non-existent; they’re still there, but they have a more presentable coat of paint.
The different levels of control complexity make the gameplay accessible for everyone: experienced players will have no problem jumping straight into the more challenging analog control schemes while beginners can take hold of an incredibly intuitive, easy-to-grasp layout that compliments the gameplay as much as it empowers. The gameplay side of the game is almost filed down to a mirror sheen, and the only thing that may make it better is the ability to hasten the game speed.
Even though FIFA World Cup focuses more on the end of the soccer season, specifically the finals, the game features a hearty count of game modes, including practice mode, character creation, training drills, and the like, but there’s nothing too substantial. The game itself feels packed with things to do, but a good chunk of those things are done from the menu and not in game. Native soccer fans will know what’s going on and how to better utilize what FIFA World Cup features, but newcomers may look at the wall of content and not know where to begin. With that in mind, this is still a welcoming edition for new players, because it delivers a hearty experience that embodies the FIFA franchise at a discounted price.
Arguably though, the chances of this game keeping grips on most players for long are slim, but it may last for some fans through the remaining soccer World Cup. With that said, there’s not much time left, so FIFA World Cup Brazil ends up having a slight odor of a cash cow lingering after a while. Though that sounds negative, since this is still a good presentation for beginners and dedicated players, it’s still hard to deny.
Considering all the games out there that are landing on both the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, it’s a bit surprising that World Cup didn’t make its way to the next-gen consoles. Sure, it’s not a deal-breaker for a lot of people, but a lot of other people may wish to spend more time with their new PS4s and having a soccer game at a lower cost might have been more enticing for them. Still, the game looks good on the PS3, but the existence of FIFA 14 on PS4 makes World Cup look like a step in the wrong direction.
The most die-hard of die hards will have already bought FIFA World Cup Brazil, but for those who have yet to really delve into the world that is video game soccer, having this discounted, robust taste of what the franchise has to offer may be more appealing. Outside of that, only the most dedicated to the sport and those with an incling of an interest in playing simulated soccer may want to jump into a second soccer game within a calendar year. Though the gameplay itself is astounding and delightfully complex yet simplistic, the longevity of the game is what may make FIFA World Cup Brazil in the back of the mind instead of in the PlayStation 3.