From the instantly recognisable introduction music to the graphic overlays used throughout the season, every aspect of the tournament is recreated perfectly. All of the pomp and circumstance of Europe’s premier club competition is present and correct.
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.
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. 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 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. 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. While the resulting imprecision takes some getting used to, it’s a rewarding and welcome improvement over the laser-precision passes of FIFA 18. 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.Įlsewhere, passing accuracy is a lot less automatic. Consistently coming out second best against stronger opposition can be frustrating, but that reflects real life with greater accuracy than in previous editions.
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. 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. However, get it slightly wrong and the player embarrassingly fumbles the shot. 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. It’s activated by pressing shoot a second time after powering up a shot, in time with when the player strikes the ball. 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.įlicking 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. 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. 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. But for every slick piece of control there is an equal moment of miscontrol as the ball gets away from you. 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.įIFA 19’s gameplay innovation is precision ball control which, when used effectively, creates new openings through subtle movements, body feints and fancy flicks. FIFA’s foundation has always been based on two things: presenting a fun, free-scoring game of football and unparalleled authenticity.