FIFA 15 adds an all new level of responsiveness and control. Run Touch Dribbling allows players to better keep the ball under control in a sprint and in close-touch situations, giving personality to the most recognized players in the world. Leo Messi will dribble and move like he does in real life. Updated player biomechanics means that players will now react and move with balance and closer control when in possession of the ball. More precise steps and turns at low speed, and closer control at high speeds give fans more control and increased mobility when commanding players on the pitch. I'm nitpicking here, but there's another thing. The camera rocks when goals are scored and that's cool when you bang home a 90th minute winner to claim the Premier League, but it gets annoying when you've scored your fifth against Chesterfield in the League Cup.

 

Slower, more dependable on passing. Over-the-top through balls and crosses are no longer OP. Which means that now, there has to be a NEW OP play. Yes, ground-through balls. Strikers get through the defensive line easier and ground Y passes, if well done, are deadly. For what ever reason the pitch feels larger and there's more space. This is though, NOT A GLITCH. This is the new game. Learn it! Use it in your favor. This year, it's no longer the "pace" the "strength" that make the difference, is the PATIENCE. It's unfortunate Clive Tyldesley has been given the boot from the commentary team as hearing Martin Tyler talk about Steven Gerrard's World Cup campaign for the 100th time begins to grate a little.

 

He shoots, he scores. Well, that appears to be the focus in FIFA 15. Plenty of effort has been taken in ensuring that the passing and shooting mechanics work and they do so extremely well, enabling you to twist and turn around opponents. At times, you'll even manage to waltz (not literally, but almost) into the opposition goal. The attacking controls are smooth and responsive. There’s a great game of soccer to be had, and there are multiple ways to play with seasons, tournaments, weekly real world challenges, and more. You have the option to play authentic teams, yet with your own collection of players gathered from various packs of cards.

 

As mentioned earlier, the game is free to play, but the in-app purchases mainly just tie into collecting new players for you team. It’s not essential, since you get a few free packs to start to create a competitive four star team. The best part is that there’s no energy meter, or any restrictions on playing soccer, unlike the terrible Madden NFL Mobile. All of the soccer action looks good for a mobile device, and it’s controlled relatively easily even with the somewhat large on screen virtual controls. There are choices for the controls of either classic, or casual, and there are also six different difficulties to choose from to add to wide appeal. Don't spend your coins all willy-nilly, as the only way to get them is to play matches and sell items. It helps keep the economy of the game in order since you can't directly just effortlessly buy coins and wreck the transfer market. If you're smart and handle your money wisely, you can buy more valuable card packs instead of spending money on dinky lower-tier packs. And remember: every card pack (the exception being that limited-time RED pack) can be bought with coins. We've talked a lot about the structure of the FIFA 15 Ultimate Team meta-game, but the settings of the game itself are important, too!

 

Since it launched in 2009, FIFA 15 Ultimate Team has proved to be an extremely popular game mode, and has seen some major changes in FIFA 15. Arguably the biggest alteration is that Trade Offers has been scrapped in favour of loaning players for a set amount of matches. This is a great implementation, allowing gamers to improve their squad with world class players, rather than having to grind or use real money. The chosen formation allows for just that, with Messi sitting just behind the potent duo in a free-roaming role that links the midfield and attack with devastating impact. While many players will favour a 4-3-3 system, this relegates Suarez and Neymar to wider positions where their finishing ability is somewhat wasted.

 

Moreover, the blistering speed and excellent technical ability of Barcelona’s wing-backs means you won’t struggle to dominate down the flanks either. It is inevitable that in certain periods of a match, your opponent will be on top of the game. They will press more, and control the ball in your midfield. You must learn to respect and accept this reality, and realize that at times it is necessary to focus all your efforts on defending, and controlling your opponent as they attempt to attack.