FIFA Series Review (Xbox, PlayStation & PC)

Electronic Arts’ FIFA is one of the few franchises that can chalk over the same lines a hundred times over and still retain a global following. This isn’t a jab at EA; it’s acknowledging the fact that, despite it having a knack for orbiting the same infrastructure, fans will continue to bend over backward for another chance to conquer the Premier League and quell the World Cup. Granted, each new iteration adopts a vast amount of technical polish and a few seasonal changes, but the blueprint remains identical. It might be in receipt of a new mode, a time-appropriate roster or a seasonal event or what have you, but FIFA is, and always will be FIFA. The thing is, it doesn’t need to be anything else to find triumph in the hands of its frequent users.

FIFA is a lot like Call of Duty, in that die-hard fans will devote their undying support to the same game several times over regardless of whether or not it’s good, or if it’s in possession of anything particularly special. Years on, and it still stands tall as one of the most popular series on the market, with enough installments, spin-offs and E-sports tournaments to keep its blood flowing and its audience captivated. Sure, it’s still the same ol’ football, and it’s still the same time-consuming competitive affair as it always has been. Yet, in spite of its natural tendency to lean on all of the same genetic hooks, FIFA is, in short, eligible for the apex.

The Ball’s in Your Court

Personally, I’ve been dipping in and out of FIFA for the best part of twenty years, give or take. Even if I take a lengthy hiatus between chapters, I still find myself coming back to it to mop up another podium finish. And it’s difficult not to come back to, because at the end of the day, the familiarity is what makes it so darn appealing. Frankly, I could skip four mainline installments, yet still easily slip back into old habits and score a hat trick without having to endure the unnecessary training montage. That’s the thing with FIFA: you don’t need to keep to the timeline to enjoy the rolling benefits that pop out of each new chapter.

It’s a bit of a blessing and a curse, really — FIFA not altering its mechanics since its inception. Suffice it to say that, gameplay-wise, there isn’t much to learn, but rather, a control scheme that, once mastered, can keep you scoring goals and executing well-oiled trick shots throughout the entirety of each season. For this reason alone, it’s so very rarely that you stumble upon something original. Granted, a couple of new skills or celebrations might be added to spice things up every once in a blue moon, but at no point has Electronic Arts ever gone above and beyond the reinvent the wheel, so to speak. Again, a blessing and a curse; there is comfort in familiarity, yet an unquenchable desire that yearns for something fresh. FIFA, sadly, rarely innovates, but instead chooses to keep to the same old formula. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it though, I guess.

Football Is Forever

To tell the truth, there are plenty of great features that make FIFA the standout franchise that it is. Aside from its weighty Player Career and vast offline modes, each chapter has, in all fairness, also been able to find something to bring to the table, be it a seasonal belt of online multiplayer activities or a ranking system that allows you access to a wealth of cards, perks, and in-game benefits. The pay walls are a pain in the neck I’ll admit, but at no point has FIFA ever made it difficult to advance deeper into its competitive mode without needing to splurge on booster packs or add-ons.

Granted, FIFA has sadly gravitated more towards a pay-to-win model in recent years, with its Ultimate Team requiring special booster packs and progression enhancements to truly compete against higher ranked teams. It isn’t a mandatory requirement, though to be honest, the odds of competing on a higher level are pretty slim for those without the added benefits of a costly incentive. And that’s a shame, really, as a lot of newcomers tend to feel disheartened and, above all, out of their league before ever being able to get so much as a foot on the ladder. But then, that’s online multiplayer for you; it’s brutal, absurdly competitive, and oftentimes a pain in the backside.

In spite of all its major disadvantages and flaws, FIFA continues to hold its ground as an enjoyable and addictive series with all of the hallmark elements of an evergreen sport. Little by little, it expands its borders to incorporate more customizable features, progress-locked milestones, career-based avenues of play, and quality of life upgrades that serve only to enhance the overall gameplay experience. It’s still football, and it’s still the same game as it always has been. However, there’s a reason as to why fans continue to roll back to the pitch, and frankly, Electronic Arts knows all too well how to keep the ball in the net.

Verdict

There aren’t all that many franchises that have the power, much less the audacity to dribble over the same lines and keep out of the penalty box, but for the world according to FIFA, familiarity is key, as is the act of keeping a traditional formula intact and with the heart of its seasoned players in mind. Again, it’s a comfortable series that doesn’t do much to reinvent the wheel. But then, with all of the right tools already in place, at no point has it ever needed to alter the format to garner attention. The point is, FIFA has the influence and the infrastructure to maintain a client base. And, again, while you could argue that EA has been relying on its reputation alone to mirror the same experience for the best part of thirty years, there is no denying the fact that, lack of innovations aside, FIFA is, and probably always will be the go-to series for fans of the sport.