FIFA 21, Watch Dogs: Legion
It’s goals o’clock as the legendary football sim enters current-gen stoppage time, but this is one squad that could really do with a rebuild
FIFA 21 has arrived at an odd time for much of the football-loving planet, where the packed stands it depicts are possibly the most unrealistic thing about it.
Some people think the only thing that changes with each new FIFA is the kits – and while that’s certainly not the case, there’s more truth to it this year than usual.
While passing and movement are perhaps a touch zippier, making it slightly easier to play through the thirds if you know what you’re doing, FIFA 21 doesn’t feel all that different from last year’s game. It still very much favours the attackers, and crosses are now capable of causing defenders problems again, but online matches in particular are prone to descending into preposterous goalfests.
Apart from a long-awaited refresh for Career mode, most of the game’s structure is largely unchanged. Volta’s five-a-side kickabouts are still there, although it’s not quite clear why, and those who love Ultimate Team’s fantasy squad-building won’t be put off by its new co-op option. If only EA would show microtransactions a red card.
And what are those Career mode changes? Well, you can now choose to watch 2D simulations of your team’s games with the result left to the game’s AI to determine; and training drills are integrated into the day-to-day timeline, which can be useful but soon becomes just another bit of admin.
This version of FIFA was always going to feel like something of a stop-gap – and with its next-gen debut coming on 4 December, early PS5/XSX adopters will be able to find out if the new consoles bring differences that are more than just visual. Fortunately, if you buy FIFA 21 on the PS4 or Xbox One, you’ll be able to grab a free upgrade when you take the plunge on that new console.
At the end of the day, this is still the closest you’ll get to living out your dream of Grimsby Town winning the Premier League.
Tom Wiggins