Anthony Martial has simply scored a belter. He picked the ball up 35 yards out, ghosted previous one defender with a shimmy of his hips, froze the subsequent man with a stepover earlier than shifting the ball to his proper and leathering it into the highest nook from simply exterior the field.
It appeared spectacular in real-time, however once I gradual it down within the on the spot replay, it’s even higher. I can see the defender stumble on the first shimmy, the ball slowly rising after Martial hits it with backspin, and the keeper getting the slightest contact because it fizzes previous.
It’s solely after watching the replay, about 4 hours into my time with FIFA 19, that I actually begin to discover the little issues EA has modified since final 12 months. You crunch into tackles more durable. Strong gamers throw their weight round extra, shielding the ball from defenders. Agile wingers can slip away from tackles quicker, and once you do smash a volley previous a despairing keeper, it feels higher than ever earlier than in a FIFA game.
Yes, it’s one other 12 months of small enhancements, however they add as much as one thing that’s extra enjoyable on the pitch. Even if it doesn’t take the identical steps ahead off it.
The large headline function in FIFA 19 is timed ending. You can shoot the identical manner you probably did in FIFA 18, however in the event you faucet the shoot button once more as you’re about to strike the ball, you’ll hit it with further energy and accuracy. Tap it too early and also you’ll scuff it. Too late and the ball will have already got left your foot.
It makes capturing really feel extra like actual life: in the event you attempt it when the ball is caught underneath your ft, or when it flashes again to you out of a crowd of gamers, you’ll need to react faster to get it proper, and subsequently you’re extra prone to fluff the possibility. But when you’ve got the time and area to arrange a shot, you’re extra prone to join.
You can fully ignore it as a function, if you need. But the standard of objectives you’ll rating once you use it – like that Martial strike – make it a relentless temptation, and I like having a risk-reward battle each time I’m by way of on aim.
I’ve at all times most popular capturing in PES as a result of it feels extra different, however timed capturing closes the hole by providing you with each screamers and scuffs. When mixed with new ball physics, which makes the ball really feel extra full of life, and fewer prefer it’s simply pinging between gamers, you’ll see much more selection in your objectives than in FIFA 18. For each screamer, I’ve scored off a fluky deflection. For each overhead kick, I’ve poked the ball house by way of the keeper’s legs from six yards. The act of sticking the ball within the web merely feels higher in FIFA 19, and it makes a giant distinction.
Things are higher in midfield and on the again, too. EA has reworked the best way gamers battle for the ball, which suggests it’s not a case of simply getting alongside your opponent and mashing L2/LT. If a participant is close to the ball, they’ll go after it aggressively. Defenders will take ball and man in slide tackles, however attackers may also chase down free balls, typically turning a seemingly misplaced trigger of their favour.
In previous FIFA games, it’s typically felt like both tempo or velocity dominates, however EA has acquired the steadiness spot on this 12 months. A pacey winger can nonetheless burst previous a full again, and ability strikes usually tend to incorrect foot the CPU, however a giant centre again will win a shoulder-to-shoulder battle with a smaller ahead. You can actually discover a participant’s strengths and weaknesses, and it makes for a extra plausible game of soccer.
Tactics are one other level of enchancment, however the brand new system isn’t good. You can set separate methods for every of the 5 mentalities (from ultra-defensive to ultra-attacking), shifting plenty of sliders to determine how deep your defenders will drop, or how large your wingers will play.
You can even select completely different overarching kinds for each attacking and defending for every mentality, and there are many choices to select from. When defending, for instance, you may select to get males behind the ball, go for all-out strain, or for one thing in between, resembling speeding after the ball for seven seconds after you lose it. You can actually really feel the impact on the pitch, too, and it creates a variety of freedom for a way you arrange your sides.
But it nonetheless looks like a primary try. It’s fairly fiddly to arrange your techniques, and there’s no option to copy a template between two mentalities. I wished Paul Pogba to have a free position on the balanced, attacking and ultra-attacking mentalities, which meant flicking between the three and setting it every time. During matches, you may’t change techniques for any mentality aside from the one you’re at present utilizing, which appears weird.
The new first contact mechanics are equally up and down. Tapping the fitting stick in any route earlier than you obtain the ball will make your participant do a elaborate flick. It feels nice once you pull it off – but it surely’s too simple to drag off. If you’re in area, you may reliably flick the ball up and blast a volley house.
These are each minor gripes that EA may repair, however the greatest grievance about FIFA 19 is that it merely feels too simple in opposition to the CPU. In profession mode, I performed on Ultimate problem, which was beforehand solely in Ultimate Team. I anticipated an actual problem. Instead, I ran away with the league as Man United. Opposition defenders will constantly fail to select up runs out of your midfielders, resulting in simple objectives.
In one six-minute half in opposition to Watford, I ran up 4 objectives, 17 pictures and 65 % of the possession, and I missed solely two or three sitters. Yes, my crew was stronger, but it surely shouldn’t be occurring on FIFA’s highest-ever problem. FIFA has at all times been extra end-to-end than the extra thought of Pro Evo, however I’d’ve preferred to see EA gradual the tempo down barely, and make it more durable to create possibilities.
Still, you may at all times go into the settings and fiddle with the gameplay sliders, altering every thing from the CPU’s default dash velocity to the possibility of a passing error, or the doubtless severity of any accidents. Those sliders are one in every of my favorite issues about EA’s sports activities games, and you may actually make FIFA 19 really feel like your individual.
Off the pitch, FIFA 19 doesn’t make many strides with its game modes. EA have secured a brand new Champions League license, and it’s undoubtedly cool to stroll out whereas the voice everyone knows so effectively sings “THE CHAMPIOONSS”, however I’d’ve a lot slightly they revamped Career Mode, which hasn’t modified in years.
The Journey story mode receives extra consideration, and now you can management three characters, together with the primary man Alex Hunter, who’s taking part in at Real Madrid. Switching between gamers once you need is novel, however I couldn’t convey myself to care in regards to the characters, who’re largely unlikeable. Lanky striker Danny Williams, who’s climbing up the Premier League ranks, merely calls himself ‘The Williams’. Ugh.
Worst of all, you’re requested to finish numerous coaching classes early on, so that you’ll need to battle by way of a pair hours of boredom to get to the meaty bits.
And then there’s the behemoth of FIFA Ultimate Team, which is greater than ever: within the new Division Rivals match you’ll play placement games earlier than competing in opposition to gamers of the same ability degree in tournaments. As in earlier years, I nonetheless suppose you accrue gold cash too slowly in FIFA 19, which funnels you in the direction of spending actual cash to get higher gamers. But build up your crew together with your favorite gamers is admittedly satisfying, and few different games can beat the fun or frustration, relying on which facet you’re on, of a detailed on-line match.
The greatest modifications, maybe unexpectedly, are in Kick Off. You can arrange matches in numerous situations, essentially the most imaginative of which is Elimination, the place you lose a participant each time you rating. But my favorite addition is the power to create an account to trace your outcomes throughout completely different consoles, and document your matches in opposition to different gamers who’re additionally logged in. Last 12 months, I performed 50 games of FIFA over a few months with a good friend, and we wrote each outcome and scorer on three A4 items of paper. This 12 months, FIFA will care for it for me.
I’d fortunately play one other 50 games with my good friend, and numerous extra on-line and in opposition to the pc, in FIFA 19. It’s a disgrace EA has uncared for profession mode and taking part in in opposition to the AI feels simpler than regular, except you’re prepared to tweak gameplay sliders. But the modifications EA have made – notably to capturing – have paid off. FIFA 19 is healthier than FIFA 18 in virtually each manner, and it’s extra enjoyable to play than some other soccer game proper now.
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