'FIFA 14' review: Realistic soccer play
Unlike the "Madden NFL" and "NHL" series, this EA Sports mainstay doesn't seem to be striving for photorealism.
When rain falls, it looks more like static than the perfectly formed droplets you'll see in more image-obsessed video games.
More than perhaps any other entry in the sports video game genre, "FIFA" strives for gameplay realism.
[...] with apologies to the excellent "NHL 14," this may be the video game that most closely resembles the sport it represents.
Formerly known as "Winning Eleven," the PES series has pushed "FIFA," much as the "NFL 2K" series did before Madden secured the exclusive rights to NFL players.
In the mid-2000s, "FIFA" seemed to be striving for a higher-scoring form of soccer, which was theoretically more attractive to casual gamers in the United States.
The teammate artificial intelligence seems especially improved in this game, with strikers making smart dashes at the right time, and goalies acting as if their livelihoods depend on each successful defense.
The new Ignite Engine is set to debut for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, promising even more player and environmental realism.