Review: FIFA 13

The Beautiful Game,  at it’s finest. 

FIFA 13 | X360 UK Cover featuring Joe Hart, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Leo Messi (Photo credit: EA SPORTS FIFA)

When FIFA 12 released the simulation soccer crowd went crazy. Now that FIFA 13 is out, everything that you loved about FIFA 12 is back, and it’s better than ever. The physics don’t produce as many funny animations, players don’t fall over absurdly or hug it out in the penalty box, and it looks very refined and it doesn’t even look like the engine is still running. But that’s the thing, it is. FIFA 13 looks amazing. It plays amazing and everything you wish other sports games did right, FIFA 13 does it.

Gameplay

Between the refined physics engine and the improved graphics, FIFA 13 has shown us a new addition in “First Touch Control”. What this does is add a new level of uncertainty to the game. If you’re in a dead sprint and steal a pass there’s a good chance the ball will shoot up in the air or deflect in a very uncontrolled way. While it does add this new element to the game, there are ways to adapt to it. For one hold the left bumper and the left trigger to slow down the player and put more control into your dribble.  Secondly making smart plays and passes will increase your control.

FIFA 13 also refines the passing game and the shooting game. Shooting height is now controlled by the shot button. While holding it down makes the ball go higher, tapping it keeps the ball lower. Previously this button always seemed to correlate with power, and while it still does it doesn’t seem to make as big of difference in ball speed.

Dribbling has also been upgraded. FIFA 13 added moves from last year’s FIFA Street. The controls are now very similar and allow for over the top dribbling moves that can create a very exciting attack.

Game Modes

FIFA 13 adds a few new modes, and some of these put the game on a whole new level. The introduction of Season mode in FIFA Ultimate Team is refreshing and fun. Season mode allows you to play against different teams at different difficulties. The higher the division, the tougher the teams. They also limit how strong your team can be. This keeps it from being too easy for you.

Skill Games are FIFA 13′s greatest addition. They are fun, addicting, and quite frankly the best way to get better. You can play games that teach you free kick techniques, learn how to manually control your shots, and even practice long passes and crosses. Once you can master these games you can take this into a real game and compete with the best of them.

There have also been new additions to the career modes in FIFA 13. You can now play and manage your international teams. I cannot wait to run the US Men’s Team, and I look forward to International Friendlies and competitions with my created player.

Match Day, FIFA 13′s most touted mode replaces the typical “play-now”. Although you can still choose each team, the rosters are synced with real life records allowing you to play with their current style. Is Messi on fire in real life? Then you can bet he’s pretty unstoppable in the game. Same thing goes for a player who is out of form, or a team who is out of form. Team’s who are losing on the real field are most likely going to struggle on the game. It’s an interesting feature and reminds me a lot of the updates featured in NBA Live 10.

Final Thoughts

With the new additions and refinements in FIFA 13, it’s tough to argue that this is a must-have game for any soccer fan. Between the in-depth career modes for both player and manager and the never ending FIFA Ultimate Team, there is never a lack of things to do.

FIFA 13 is also more than a casual update. Although it may seem to be on the outside, once you get past the shiny new coat you’ll see a whole new game. It’s more unpredictable, you can play more than just possession styles effectively, and it’s the closest soccer simulation on the market.

Match Day adds a new layer of roster updates to a game that already tries to stay fresh. Ultimate Team is more refined and better than ever.

Overall FIFA 13 is the best soccer game I’ve ever played. The Pro Season/Club teams are a blast to play with up to 11 of your friends on the field at once and ever more for the bench. It’s one of my favorite games, and easily the best sports game this year. This is from a huge fan of this year’s Madden and MLB The Show. I cannot believe the refinements in FIFA 13, and I look forward to what the EA team does in the future.

*Note- This proves just how vital competition is in the market. With Pro Evolution Soccer continuing to improve it’s game, FIFA is forced to improve as well. Without PES, FIFA could potentially get stale.

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