HAVING A BALL
We go hands-on to discover this year’s new features
Our FIFA first impressions.
THE FASTEST AND MOST AGILE VERSION OF FIFA YET.
02Football didn’t come home in the end, but it did pop round for a cuppa. Which was nice. But now the World Cup is over all eyes turn to the new season, and that means a new FIFA from EA. There are a number of new gameplay highlights coming to FIFA 19, and we get to test them out during our hands-on at Stamford Bridge.
Possibly the best inclusion is 50/50 balls, where physics decides what happens when players challenge for the same ball. Kantcho Dokov, the gameplay producer, says: “Depending on how strong one player is compared to the other player – the aggressiveness of the action, whether it’s a tackle versus trying to delicately nudge the ball away – that’s going to decide where that ball goes and who’s winning possession.”
In game this means, finally, tackling in FIFA is becoming practicable and even fun. Stopping a marauding Hazard can be done by putting your beefiest defender in his pass. The clash sees the ball bobble free, but there’s still an element of finesse as if you press pass at the right time Hazard can nudge the ball to a team mate. The 50/50 addition also affects attacks; in our hands-on Kane and Lukaku were monsters at holding up the ball.
“Fatigue affects everything. […] If you’re more tired you’re more prone to making mistakes, and, of course, if you’re going into a 50/50 battle and you’re more tired you’re not going to be as strong on trying to get your foot through the ball,” adds Dokov.
TOUCH AND GO
Once that ball does bounce free you’re going to want to own it, or, as Dokov says, “control the pitch at every moment.” To enable this FIFA 19 is including ‘Active Touch’ – players react to the ball in even more realistic ways. As we take to the pitch, we’re impressed. There appears to be an animation for any situation, with players stretching for balls as they’re going out of play, chesting passes to team mates, and flicking the ball with their heel if a pass is slightly behind them. Active Touch means this could be the fastest and most agile version of FIFA yet.
There are some nifty new tricks in here too, such as being able to disguise your first touch and flicks – clicking the right thumbstick flicks the ball up; combined with movement and o you can juggle the ball over an opponent or lunging tackle to perform a sole flick trick.
The final two new additions are Timed Finishing and Dynamic Tactics. The former enables you to hit more powerful and precise shots by second-tapping shoot, but timing is everything – get it wrong and the ball scuffs off your boot. The latter offers the chance to alter your team’s mood and tactics on the fly by pressing 46 or on the D-pad. These can be customised ahead of matches, too. PES has this already, but we welcome it to FIFA.
Come back next issue, on sale 28 August, for an extended preview.