FIFA 14 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions (360, PS3)

[Gnemi]

Re: FIFA 14 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions (360, PS3)

With an admittedly a small sample size of five demo games, I think I might be in the minority wherein I found mostly awful things happening, visually and in terms of gameplay.

The Good
Crabwalk is gone. The textures are smoother and more lifelike. The throughball animation looks pretty cool as do some of the other kicking animations.

Wow, you canNOT use simple dribble mechanics to sprint around guys anymore, which is VERY realistic. However, they've fixed that and broken something else that I'll get to in The Ugly.

The UI is a phenomenal improvement. 'Nuff said.

Tackling is of much more value, in particular shoulder tackles. Ever since the dawn of Tactical Defending, tackling had basically become the riskiest investment you could make as a defender and hardly worth it on the whole. Defending was indeed more realistic than the Legacy years of rugby defending, but tackling was functionally near useless. I can see that I'm going to like making the occasional tackle this year without the punitive effect of instant yellow (or red) card + instant counterattack for the AI.

I do get the impression, speaking of tackling, that there will be far more fouls called this year. Sample size too small though...

The Bad
The new changes to momentum and agility combined with the removal of the crabwalk have come at the expense of some very odd animations. Both teams, on the whole, looked almost...geriatric...like dudes suffering low back pain or something, as if they're in mid-spasm every time they begin their runs. This is something I observed in virtually every player on the pitch by the way. It's a wholesale change to the running animation. When players break stride or, conversely, accelerate into a full sprint, they kinda lean forward weirdly and start pumping their arms wildly. It looks borderline ridiculous to me.

The Ugly
It's very early days, gentlemen, but I found the AI defense very difficult to break down because the AI defense plays more competently; HOWEVER, I was blown away by how my AI teammates on the attack were just as dumb as they were in previous years. They stood literally flatfooted with very little help to the man in possession while failing to go on runs and yes, I noticed what ezio and 4EverBlowingBubbles both mentioned - the midfield is No Man's Land, where you only travel to lose possession.

I feel less excited this year than in any other, yet I'm arguably more intrigued that I've ever been about FIFA. This is NOT your pacewhore's FIFA and I really do look forward to seeing how this will all work in the full presentation, in particular within a Career Mode.

[BezO]

Re: FIFA 14 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions (360, PS3)

What I always liked about PC mods, from vids at least, is that in and around the box was more cluttered than the console versions. Way too much space around the box on console versions.

Has this been addressed? Are midfielders getting more involved in and around the box?

[Gnemi]

Re: FIFA 14 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions (360, PS3)

A large part of my concerns with gameplay are admittedly due to my complete lack of ability to break down the AI defense.

In my five games, I think I took a sum total of two shots on goal. No, not lying. Two.

[gopher_guy]

Re: FIFA 14 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions (360, PS3)

Very impressed with the momentum. Seems like you can no longer sprint down the side of the field and stop/turn on a dime to cut inside the defender for a clear run at the goal.

Ball also seems more lively/realistic. Seems like it takes players longer to gain control at times.

[IowaAJ]

Re: FIFA 14 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions (360, PS3)

It felt a lot more realistic. I actually had to think about how I was going to penetrate the defense. I scored a goal on a Corner kick one of my guys headed it and the other put it in the back of the net with his left foot. I only played one game but I thought this game was harder than one's in the past where I could get guys behind the defense all the time. I don't know if I'm going to buy this or not but it is definitely a step in the right direction.

[ROABS]

Re: FIFA 14 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions (360, PS3)

does the cpu foul more? or do they still pinpoint perfect tackle? im reading mixed reviews on this. i have yet to download it due to time restraints.

[electrickeeper]

Re: FIFA 14 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions (360, PS3)

There's a lot of little improvements, but nothing I would consider groundbreaking.

I'm having fun with it so far though.

[infemous]

When I first fired up the demo, I was very very impressed. As I played more and more the same issues that irk me about FIFA 11 (the last FIFA I bought) persist.

Every CPU player has fantastic control, especially in critical situations. If I am through on goal and I fire a shot across goal with my other attacker and a defender streaking after it, the defender will get it and will lift his leg up to his chest, perfectly trapping the ball. No matter how long I hold down shoot or try and run into him to force him into the goal I met with some form of resistance.

CPU defenders are psychic and perfectly anticipate every move you do. There is not a single REACTIVE action by the CPU. Every input I put in with my controller is instantly known by the opposition. I want to lunge into the tackle? The CPU side steps with a CB. I want to move off and lock off a running lane, the player immediately moves away from it. Momentum only exists for the human player.

I find myself being so aware of CPU processes that I forget how to play football and instead think how I can counteract psychic CPU AI.

I played vs the Red Bulls with PSG on Professional and found that despite winning possession 61 to 39, when they had the ball, every player moved exactly the same as Barcelona, Milan and Spurs did when I played them. I don't even know who the midfielders and defenders were, but they appeared to be just as good on the ball as Xavi.

My first impression was a complete WOW as I was trounced 3-0 by Spurs and I carved some nice opportunities. The goals they scored were nice and Bale turned a ball onto his left foot to shoot!!!
Ball physics looked good and there was a minor deflection that pushed his shot onto the crossbar but it still bounced in.

After that game I just constantly felt the game cheating, with the absence of fouls being called on them a constant source of frustration. I would get barged off the ball and nothing would happen, yet I'd run into a player by accident and get a foul called against me.

Also, instances that really frustrate me, and this may be down to playing with default settings, were that I never felt fully in control of my player. There were numerous one on one situations for the ball in which my player would suddenly stop or try a soft header out of nowhere, when all I'm trying to do is charge towards the ball to challenge the CPU from getting it. I then overshoot them and my player is madly out of position.

Its the same crap that makes a singleplayer experience with the game a source of frustration than pleasure, and couple that with the embarrassing career mode options and all you're left with is a head to head online game which in my opinion never warrants the price of the game out of the box, especially having to deal with the people who cheese and pause the game excessively, quit or get you disconnected.

I'll be saving my money another year, and I hope the PES demo I'm downloading now lives up to my now lofty expectations of it. That looks like a real game.

[infemous]

To the people saying Crabwalk is gone. Control Pastore on PSG and say that again.

I'm not aware of what Crabwalk necessarily is, but I'm assuming its the super sideways dribble that certain players do and he does it.

Its still there if that is what it is.

Also, penalty animations are still a ****ing joke. When will they get people to kick a dead ball properly???? Never see any velocity on penalties either, I don't know how this can still be wrong.

[Gnemi]

Re: FIFA 14 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions (360, PS3)

To the people saying Crabwalk is gone. Control Pastore on PSG and say that again.

I'm not aware of what Crabwalk necessarily is, but I'm assuming its the super sideways dribble that certain players do and he does it.

Its still there if that is what it is.

Also, penalty animations are still a ****ing joke. When will they get people to kick a dead ball properly???? Never see any velocity on penalties either, I don't know how this can still be wrong.

I noticed velocity issues elsewhere, too. If a player has 90+ shot power, you wouldn't know it by watching them strike the ball in the game. Everything has a sort of...lofted trajectory for lack of a better description.

This year in particular seems bereft of power and physicality. I still can't help but use the description that it looks like a bunch of old men with back spasms running around. I'm going to play more tonight and see how my impressions change. I'm in the "not buying on day one" camp at this point and looking at PES for the first time since 2006.

[Gnemi]

Re: FIFA 14 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions (360, PS3)

I was also noticing that every time I took possession, my attacking players were being run down from behind. Against PSG, Ibrahimovic in particular was ferociously defending 100% of the time and dispossessing guys. It was very odd looking, kinda took me out of the game.

I've been watching that dude since his time at Ajax and he's never been a highly active deep lying defender! lol...

[Gnemi]

Re: FIFA 14 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions (360, PS3)

This year in particular seems bereft of power and physicality.

I have to retract that after reading The Mirror's write-up on the demo.

This year's offering most certainly has the most 50-50 ball realism yet. I was able to win headers with powerful defenders where I'd expect to win. Picking out headers, etc. seems radically better.

Anyway, gonna play a bunch more tonight and give proper thoughts once I've exorcised the "It's so different than FIFA '13!" overreaction.

[infemous]

Re: FIFA 14 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions (360, PS3)

I noticed velocity issues elsewhere, too. If a player has 90+ shot power, you wouldn't know it by watching them strike the ball in the game. Everything has a sort of...lofted trajectory for lack of a better description.

This year in particular seems bereft of power and physicality. I still can't help but use the description that it looks like a bunch of old men with back spasms running around. I'm going to play more tonight and see how my impressions change. I'm in the "not buying on day one" camp at this point and looking at PES for the first time since 2006.

Completely! Nothing feels slick or fast. Fast players and more agile ones are just rubbery. Messi is no different from alba when in a physical battle with a defender, the outcome is the same: messi/alba have a spazzy animation where they fall away and lose possession.

The only player I've felt has some purpose to the way they move is Ibrahimovic, as it seems he has the size and ball skills to actually move around well. He's not overpowered so I can run through or around everyone but he feels the most natural and the most like I am in control of him when using him.

With this I still don't feel any shot has a bite or danger to it and am surprised when a shot goes in. It's all very tame and tailored to being able to respond to it.

The ball is still too tethered to the player and until a ball reacts independently from the player in possession or from the tackler, I think FIFA will continue to feel 'off'.

The old men with back spasms is definitely the best way to describe the stiffness of animations, and while there are some nice ones, they are few and far between. The stiffness is counteracted by a rubberiness which just makes the contrast between the two feel that much weirder.

I am downloading PES still and can't wait to see how that is.

[Nox_Caelum]

Re: FIFA 14 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions (360, PS3)

Downloaded the demo's of both FIFA and PES(pes was unbearable and I couldn't finish the 1st game, I also don't see how that game can sell) but onto FIFA.
I've been playing 13 alot lately with a Man Utd Manager Mode so reading about how "different" it was going in, I was interested to say the least.
I started up the demo, professional difficulty(because, I suck at FIFA, but I enjoy it), favourite team Barcelona, etc.
First thing, the menu's are quick, responsive and very nice to use +1 on that.
Went into practice arena, it gave me Messi, I shot and(I'd heard/read alot on the new ball physics, and wow, colour me unimpressed) the ball felt like a mix between a 60's ball and a rock, I'd fill up the shot bar and Messi'd sky the ball, slowly.
Fire up a game, Barca-AC Milan, i noticed how much the opposing AI has improved at attacking(unfortunately to the extent where practically every team is almost flawless, but alas), had it not been for Puyol(and I'd gone with current line-up I'd have been slaughtered, still, I made it to 45 min, then 90 min too quick for my liking but at 0-0, penalties and I hadn't checked the screen size option and couldn't see the penalty bar, managed to only lose 2-3 on their 5th penalty, but I wasn't happy with how the game played, went into settings, changed the screen size and adjusted sliders, brought their sprint speed down to 48 and acceleration to 47 and, while not game-changing made it more fun, except for the lack of any time when attacking in their half and the lack of foul calls for you(against you though the ref has no trouble blowing the whistle), the re-match ended 1-1 and this time I won on penalties. Fired up a 3rd game BVB(me)-Spurs(ignoring that while Mkhitaryan, Paulinho, Neymar, Cavani and Aubameyang are on their right teams, Bale, Dempsey, Soldado, Assou Ekotto aren't) this game played no better and was still annoying, especially the refs, but I did thoroughly enjoy playing with Reus the only positive I could take from that match, which ended 0-0 and went to penalties, I think I won, to be honest I'm not too sure I cared, that's how little the game was appealing to me.
So I fired up another game, PSG(me)-Man City. It played slightly better, Ibrahimovic being noticeably one of the few players who actually seem to move somewhat realistically, but still shot's seem to be so slow in the air, like a really heavy slab of concrete thrown slowly through the air, back to the game, I conceded a penatly... because Cavani was for god knows what reason back defending and slightly nudged Yaya Toure which got City a penatly that Silva scored, I managed to keep them at bay from open play thanks in no small part to Blaise Matuidi who was a beast for me on the defensive end, i managed to get an equalizer with Lavezzi, I think, but the match ended 1-1 and went to penalties(notice a pattern?).
I've played about 10-15 games, I've switched between full manual, semi-assisted and assited controls but the game still feels... not enjoyable. Ultimately, the only player midly enjoyable to use attacking was Reus, and defending Matuidi and Puyol were lifesavers, I can't predict how the full game'll turn out or if the game's more enjoyable with longer halves(not 3min) and slightly more chances, but I feel if nothing else the way the ball is in the air needs a definite change. And on a final note: if EA aren't going to make it relaistic(I'm sorry this doesn't seem realistic to me, at all) I just wish they'd make it enjoyable. I've since deleted both FIFA and PES demos and gone back to FIFA13 manager mode, I just wish the EA servers weren't down for... "maintenance". Oh and if you enjoyed the demo, frankly, I wish I could as well, but I don't see how you can.

Spoiler

Sorry for the length, this is probably the first thing entirely text this long I've written on OS

[pk500]

Re: FIFA 14 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions (360, PS3)

Here's one of my niggling, longtime beefs with the FIFA series that still hasn't been addressed in the FIFA 14 demo: The CPU almost never passes the ball in the air unless it's a cross from the wings deep in the offensive zone.

The CPU never attempts a lofted through ball or changes field with a long pass to the opposite wing in the defensive zone or midfield.

Unrealistic. Annoying.