FIFA 15 Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS4, XB1)

[BL8001]

Re: FIFA 15 Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS4, XB1)

So many player stats, I just wish one of them was a Support rating. All it would govern would be how closely the player gets to who on their team has the ball.

Skills

74
Ball Control
44
Crossing
51
Curve
63
Dribbling
75
Finishing
53
Free Kick Accuracy
76
Heading Accuracy
43
Long Passing
65
Long Shots
25
Marking
82
Penalties
58
Short Passing
79
Shot Power
25
Sliding Tackle
36
Standing Tackle
77
Volleys


Physical

60
Acceleration
64
Agility
56
Balance
72
Jumping
73
Reactions
64
Sprint Speed
53
Stamina
77
Strength
Mental

71
Aggression
78
Positioning
33
Interceptions
50
Vision

[IlliniMatt]

Re: FIFA 15 Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS4, XB1)

Shots are way too "floaty" feeling, I agree 100%. They lack that zip of a boot pounding through a ball. I moved my shot speed slider to 52 and now it feels much better. I don't understand people like Orion who claim shots are overpowered and should have the slider lowered.

I think what Orion and others are trying to correct is the speed of the shot. Out of the box, FIFA's shots have plenty of speed, but no weight. Every time I hit a shot, I'm just hoping it doesn't float over the bar or into the keepers arms. Shots hardly ever dip like good shots do in real life. It's strange, because most passes feel like they have weight, but the instant I press O, that weight is gone.

[Altimus]

Re: FIFA 15 Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS4, XB1)

I'm loving the BPL presentation and commentary. It even remembers your squad from previous games and points out changes made. It commented that I replaced Herrerra with Mata due to poor form. Love that during goal kicks they add in a graphic about your next match and talking points related to it.

Gameplay is much improved and each game doesn't feel like a carbon copy of the last. I was playing QPR at home (as Man U), was looking more and more like a 1-1 draw, so much in fact I actually changed tactics to make sure I didn't give up a late winner. Then in the 80' minute a QPR player makes a completely idiotic tackle on Rooney and his rightfully sent off (another improvement from '14, I've seen 10 cards in total over my first 4 league matches). I instantly switch to a 4-3-3 used my last sub to bring on an attacking midfielder. QPR who was playing some bright football goes into shell, takes off it's striker for a defender and desperately cling to the draw only to have me fire in a winner during stoppage time, sending the Old Trafford faithful into a camera shaking frenzy!

I don't get why people complain about defending lapses in the game, or that the AI doesn't always pick up the right man. If players were perfect in real life you'd have 99% of games played to 0-0 draws! mistakes happen, assignments get missed, I don't want AI that knows where to be and who to mark every single second of the match. I've seen them get it spot on and seem them totally blow coverage and allow a sitter. Watch some EPL this weekend, some of the miscues are so bad they're laughable from pros. I know it's frustrating when it happens to you in the game, but it's even more frustrating watching Man U's defense stand around ball watching in real life, which happens every week!

The problem more is that you ALWAYS have to control the back line.

Which isn't the biggest issue for me and I've learned to play well defensively over the years that way. However, you can't back track with your winger and help out and hope your back 4 will keep a good line. You have to consistently switch between defenders, press the contain button when need be and be on top of your game. Which isn't a big deal for me. But at times I would like my back 4 AI to do a better job without me taking over.

With the negative, there is positive. I've seen the AI come and help and poke the ball away (contain button is important). I've also seen the AI clear balls pretty well and their logic at times to clear the ball off the line is pretty good as well.

They could be MUCH better but if you control the defense, know when to press and lay back then you will be successful on defense.

[BL8001]

Re: FIFA 15 Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS4, XB1)

The problem more is that you ALWAYS have to control the back line.

Which isn't the biggest issue for me and I've learned to play well defensively over the years that way. However, you can't back track with your winger and help out and hope your back 4 will keep a good line. You have to consistently switch between defenders, press the contain button when need be and be on top of your game. Which isn't a big deal for me. But at times I would like my back 4 AI to do a better job without me taking over.

With the negative, there is positive. I've seen the AI come and help and poke the ball away (contain button is important). I've also seen the AI clear balls pretty well and their logic at times to clear the ball off the line is pretty good as well.

They could be MUCH better but if you control the defense, know when to press and lay back then you will be successful on defense.

Yep this.

And because you can't really control the RM, CM or LM and drop back and support your D because you have to be in control of the back 4 or pay the price of allowing an easy chance on goal you are stuck facing the double edged sword.

In that you can tell your MF's to drop back on D in the team tactics but from what I have seen this also takes down their fatigue levels they more they have to support on D. Which is fine, but I don't see the CPU suffering the same effect when their MF come back and help defend.

So the CPU will get you coming or going, fight off the attack with no MF help or have MF help but have really low fatigue in the 2nd half.

[orion523]

Re: FIFA 15 Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS4, XB1)

I think what Orion and others are trying to correct is the speed of the shot. Out of the box, FIFA's shots have plenty of speed, but no weight. Every time I hit a shot, I'm just hoping it doesn't float over the bar or into the keepers arms. Shots hardly ever dip like good shots do in real life. It's strange, because most passes feel like they have weight, but the instant I press O, that weight is gone.

That's exactly what it is, the speed at which the ball travels at default is crazy fast. Because of that it's simply much to easy to have a pop at goal from 40 to 50 yards. Nerfing that to me is more important than trying to combat the floaty feeling of finesse shots.

[gopher_guy]

Re: FIFA 15 Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS4, XB1)

Re: Emotion

I actually disagree with you guys, I think it's been a wonderful addition to the game. LOVE the way players get pumped up when they score. I think it's so cool.

And as far as player interactions go, I think there is a decent amount of it. You don't want it every time, it would feel too forced.

I am actually playing against Chelsea (with Spurs) in my CM right now, and Lamela was just fouled rather hard by Matic. I just watched the replay, and all in the span of about 15 seconds there were several different reactions on the pitch. Lamela goes up to Matic, to confront him. John Terry and Christian Eriksen both hold their arm up, pleading their case from afar, and Adebayor does a fist pump, because we won a FK near the box.

Like anything else, it could obviously be improved, but I think they did a very good job in that regard.

[Gnemi]

Re: FIFA 15 Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS4, XB1)

That's exactly what it is, the speed at which the ball travels at default is crazy fast. Because of that it's simply much to easy to have a pop at goal from 40 to 50 yards. Nerfing that to me is more important than trying to combat the floaty feeling of finesse shots.

Gonna have to disagree with this, with one caveat that I'm playing 2nd tier football in my career. I think the default speed of the ball is fantastic for both passing and shooting.

And, that said, I did change my sliders to reduce run frequency and increase first touch problems for the CPU, which helped significantly. I changed pass error to 67 like Gonira's last year, and that also helped but the CPU (we're talking Millwall by the way) is still able to pass the ball around like they're coached by Pep Guardiola.

I think I might pick up the slack from Gonira and start some sliders in the spirit of his from last year. Brahvocado, you out there and wanna help?

[Gnemi]

Re: FIFA 15 Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS4, XB1)

P.S. - By saying these sliders *helped* I should have said, they made for a few matches that were the most fun I've had with FIFA in two years. 3-3 draw with Milwall was the toast of the results. Incredible stuff. Millwall were time wasting to earn the point! I was like, "FU, you smart damned computer!" Getting the ball off the CPU's wingers near the corner flag is equal parts awesome and totally frustrating.

[fearwhatnow]

Re: FIFA 15 Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS4, XB1)

Another positive imo: You have the opportunity to play dirty as the colission system allows you to apply "dirty" pressure even off-ball. This is useful when playing against big rating teams.

[woody2goody]

Re: FIFA 15 Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS4, XB1)

No, it's just a really poor defensive system. And for the record, I don't have problems winning matches and keeping the CPU from scoring. It's just that the way defending is implemented is not a good system, it leads to far too much space, not enough tackles, and a major imbalance in gameplay.

Play the PES demo and you'll immediately notice the problem with FIFA's defending. PES still has issues with its one-on-one defensive mechanics, and the overall physicality of its game is no where near as complex and realistic as FIFA's, but PES actually allows you to get close and put a tackle in fairly easy.

In football, getting tight and sticking a boot in is not difficult. Being successful at it is, and the penalty for failure can be huge. This is why you'd contain rather than tackle. But in FIFA, it's extremely difficult to get close and stick a leg in. You simply can't do it consistently because of the gameplay mechanics and it's a huge lapse in realism.

The defending is further exacerbated by the AI. There's a huge lack of tactical discipline, most notably with midfielders. This is most relevant in transitional phases when you'll regularly have your holding midfielders not holding. It's slightly improved this year but even with the individual instructions set for players to stay back in attack, you'll still find them making runs into the box, leaving massive space and easy counterattacks. Then there are all the times when teammates are caught ball-watching when they should be getting back and providing support.

Meanwhile, the backline defensive AI has been shored up since being atrocious in 14, but there's still major issues. Strikers are often given far too much space to receive the ball, again leading to easy counterattacks, while I'm having a very easy time putting througballs into my forwards through the outside channels, often leading to easy scoring opportunities.

I will most certainly agree that there is a learning curve with FIFA's defensive system, and I agree that there is a way to use it effectively to defend, if by defending we mean limiting goals and scoring opportunities. However, the actual defensive mechanics and AI are not implemented well, leading to unrealistic one-on-one defending and inflated CPU possession stats; if you're successful at defending in FIFA, it's in spite of the system, not because of it.

And remember, no amount of getting better will improve the CPU's defensive AI, which like is highly suspect at times. I don't know about you but I take no real satisfaction in scoring easy goals that are the result of flaws in the game, no matter how pretty they are to watch.

I agree with most of what you said, but I guess my opinion about the game is just different to yours. Not a bad thing.

PES (nearly) always seems to understand defending, but in general, I find that the backlash against the 'tactical defending' is generally from lazy players who were just used to running at a player, pressing X and winning the ball nearly every time.

This isn't directed so much at you, more at the comments I've seen over the past few years since they changed it.

I'm good at defending but not brilliant, and to be honest that's why I use a containing style, because I can minimise the chance of myself making a mistake.

[Paradingwolves]

Re: FIFA 15 Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS4, XB1)

Yep this.

And because you can't really control the RM, CM or LM and drop back and support your D because you have to be in control of the back 4 or pay the price of allowing an easy chance on goal you are stuck facing the double edged sword.

In that you can tell your MF's to drop back on D in the team tactics but from what I have seen this also takes down their fatigue levels they more they have to support on D. Which is fine, but I don't see the CPU suffering the same effect when their MF come back and help defend.

So the CPU will get you coming or going, fight off the attack with no MF help or have MF help but have really low fatigue in the 2nd half.

I don't know how you make this assumption since we can't see the fatigue of their players, and I've noticed most subs have been midfielders which leads me to believe they are tired.

Anyway I play as Man U who have a horrid back 4 right now and have kept 2 clean sheets from 5 matches and average about 6-8 shots against on 10 minute halves and playing WC. What I've found to work well for me is to turn off that damn auto switch as it was always what screwed me up. I'd be covering with a fullback running one way then the auto switch would move me to a CB who would then be taken way out of position by me (not the AI). I generally stick with 1 player during each defensive sequence try and contain and use the CPU contain when the ball carrier changes until I know I can take control.

Agree to disagree I guess, I find the fact they make mistakes more human, and don't really notice that they ALWAYS make mistakes since I get realistic scores. The odd 4-3 game but that happens as well. Could it be improved? of course, everything can be improved, but all in all I definitely don't see it being as bad as people here make it out to be.

[BL8001]

Re: FIFA 15 Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS4, XB1)

Gonna have to disagree with this, with one caveat that I'm playing 2nd tier football in my career. I think the default speed of the ball is fantastic for both passing and shooting.

And, that said, I did change my sliders to reduce run frequency and increase first touch problems for the CPU, which helped significantly. I changed pass error to 67 like Gonira's last year, and that also helped but the CPU (we're talking Millwall by the way) is still able to pass the ball around like they're coached by Pep Guardiola.

I think I might pick up the slack from Gonira and start some sliders in the spirit of his from last year. Brahvocado, you out there and wanna help?

What difficulty level are you on Gnemi?

I ask because last night I went into a kickoff match between Heerenveen and Ajax on legendary and I lowered the CPU accel to 30 just for testing and observation.

What I noticed with the CPU operating at a slower pace is, on that higher level there is a clear and evident halo that surrounds the CPU player with the ball, not visible of course, but what it is, is a pass reaction halo, it's about a 4 foot circle.

If you get within that 4 foot circle they pass. 4 feet is just far enough that you can't get a foot in to tackle.

It's an automatic response. If I stayed right around 4 feet or just back of it the CPU would dribble. As soon as I got any closer they immediately pass the ball.

But seeing this happen over and over again you can control the CPU offense by doing the opposite of what is logical. Stay away from them.

This is why people who are commenting that they just use LT to jockey and don't get in for tackles are having higher defending success.

There is also a "touch" of error applied to passing the closer you get to goal.

So you add in the components of a CPU more than happy to dribble if you don't get close to them, with space compression because you are retreating and then pass accuracy being more error prone the closer they get...

No wonder this works.

The problem is this makes defending very one dimensional. Basically you just retreat until the CPU loses the ball.

[BL8001]

Re: FIFA 15 Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS4, XB1)

I don't know how you make this assumption since we can't see the fatigue of their players, and I've noticed most subs have been midfielders which leads me to believe they are tired.

Anyway I play as Man U who have a horrid back 4 right now and have kept 2 clean sheets from 5 matches and average about 6-8 shots against on 10 minute halves and playing WC. What I've found to work well for me is to turn off that damn auto switch as it was always what screwed me up. I'd be covering with a fullback running one way then the auto switch would move me to a CB who would then be taken way out of position by me (not the AI). I generally stick with 1 player during each defensive sequence try and contain and use the CPU contain when the ball carrier changes until I know I can take control.

Agree to disagree I guess, I find the fact they make mistakes more human, and don't really notice that they ALWAYS make mistakes since I get realistic scores. The odd 4-3 game but that happens as well. Could it be improved? of course, everything can be improved, but all in all I definitely don't see it being as bad as people here make it out to be.

Fatigue is right on the screen. You can see it change in real time as you run with a player. CPU fatigue is on the screen too.

[Paradingwolves]

Re: FIFA 15 Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS4, XB1)

Fatigue is right on the screen. You can see it change in real time as you run with a player. CPU fatigue is on the screen too.

oh right the HUD, I turn that off so I always forget about it. Change their sliders for fatigue if you think it's unbalanced?

[gopher_guy]

Re: FIFA 15 Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (PS4, XB1)

Just to finish off my point on Emotion:

Just finished my game against Chelsea in my CM, won 2-0. Aaron Lennon scored the clinching goal late in the game, and his reaction to scoring perfectly illustrates what I'm talking about

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/591Og8Y37Tk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

You can just see the relief and happiness after that ball hits the net. Really makes you feel like the game is alive, rather than just controlling a bunch of robots.

As someone who isn't going to get very worked up about AI (I get my sim experience from Football Manager), this really puts the cherry on top of this game.