ФИФА 14

By 2013, a series of football simulators from EA had accumulated so many changes that the next part turned into a transitional one: something in it was done for the future, something remained from past years. The cover and advertising campaign were taken by Lionel Messi, then the leader of Barcelona, ​​and the match itself had several notable mechanics - the “Immaculate Shot”, which requires calculating the approach to the ball and the length of the step for a powerful blow, and the fight for position by pushing back defenders with the body. You can feel the difference in an instant: players now cover the projectile with their shoulder, and defenders do not jump away from the contact as before. The life of a goalkeeper has also been made more difficult - attempts to play on the way out turn into ricochets and ridiculous mistakes, which fans remember from real matches. The career mode has acquired a scouting network: in order to assemble a strong squad, you have to send observers around the world, receive reports and only then enter into negotiations, and not buy the first high-rated player you come across. FIFA Ultimate Team continues to work as a collection designer, where cards are used to assemble a dream team and build chemistry between football players. The online game deserves special praise: seasons, friendly matches and card collections work stably, and matchmaking tries to match up opponents around your level. For group gatherings, there is a mode for several people behind one screen, where teams are distributed fairly. The modern player will only be confused by the graphics - the movement and facial models are long outdated - but the football itself is still played cheerfully, and the controls are clear from the first minutes. It is also worth noting that this is one of the last parts where the mechanics of physical collisions remained the same, and for some it is that version of the matches that still seems the most understandable. The ФИФА 14 is a strong representative of an era when the series was still experimenting with the feel of its controls.