FIFA 23 review / The best or worst FIFA ever made?

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FIFA 23 the best game or not?

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FIFA 23 introduction

FIFA 23 is a football simulation video game published by Electronic Arts available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch and Google Stadia. The video game is the thirtieth and last chapter of the FIFA series, it was presented during the end of July 2022 directly on the EA Sports Youtube channel. In this edition, as in the last two, there is the French footballer of Paris Saint Germain Kylian Mbappé on the cover of the standard edition; while as regards the Ultimate Edition, in addition to the latter, there will also be the Australian footballer of the Chelsea Football Club: Samantha Kerr, testimonial of the new game mode with the women’s section.

The announcement by the EA Sports team describes the abundance of details and improvements made to HyperMotion 2, a fundamental key with which it will be possible to notice most of the innovations foreseen in the gameplay of FIFA 23. As was appreciated last year with the nextgen version of FIFA 22, the HyperMotion system will be further improved to allow developers to manage almost double the in-game data, for a total of over 6,000 animations acquired from millions of frames of motion capture recordings made with 11 vs. 11 matches for both men’s and women’s sides. Consequently, version 2.0 of HyperMotion aims to offer a much more realistic and enveloping gameplay from a graphic point of view. In this latest edition there will finally be the possibility to make five substitutions per match in progress instead of the classic three, a rule introduced on an extraordinary basis from 2020 due and subsequently definitively approved by FIFA.

FIFA 23 Gameplay

Speaking about FIFA 23 can only start by analyzing its gameplay. Specifically, with the full trial on next-gen, the title promises a football much more devoted to the frenzy of counter-attacks and fast plays from one side of the field to the other, surrounded by greater intensity, as well as physical clashes in the most crowded areas during a probable restart. In some respects it may seem like a small step back from the much sought-after realism in the first months of life of the previous chapter, and considering how much we appreciated a more reasoned ball and chain approach – at least in intentions – we can only express a little regret.

Despite this, such a choice on FIFA 23 is partially mitigated by several small gameplay-side introductions, useful for getting into the mood of an approach devoted almost exclusively to a more arcade context than usual. HyperMotion 2, for example, guarantees incredibly convincing physical clashes and forces the use of more active and suffocating pressing only in certain situations, where the probability of conceding fouls increases – or, worse, a card in delicate moments of a match. AcceleRATE divides sprints and accelerations into three different archetypes, from those devoted to a uniform run and those who prefer a more explosive sprint immediately, up to those more physical players who guarantee a marked stride after a few seconds.

In these cases, there are fears of some slight imbalance in favor of the attackers, but considering an approach to matches, regardless of the mode, in line with the Ultimate Team arcade mood, it is not such an obvious problem. There is also the possibility of making a more powerful shot by simultaneously pressing the dorsal triggers; a choice that goes to the detriment of precision and that forces a few moments of slower running up, dangerous if in the vicinity of some opponent ready to steal the ball from us in no time.

Instead, what made us turn up our noses is the AI ​​​​of the teammates, which especially in the non-possession phase leads the defenders to leave tremendous chasms regardless of their respective actual abilities. A feeling emphasized by the choice, for FIFA 23, to make pressing with a second player almost useless in most cases, in total contrast to its excessive usefulness in past editions. Coming to the Career – both coach and single player – we also find in FIFA 23 the other cornerstone of the offer created by EA.

The gameplay reflects the more arcade and rapid approach of Ultimate Team, with the mere purpose of scoring one more goal than the opponent. Involvement in these specific modalities reflects the pursuit of true simulation more in form than in substance. To be more precise, in both of the Career options mentioned, the cutscenes that give emphasis to the actions that take place off the field have been increased dramatically. We are talking about short videos related to the presentations of new players or the first training sessions, complete with entrances and exits from the venues, almost as if they were the footage seen for years on TV by some correspondent from the sports editorial offices.

Furthermore, the possibility for FIFA 23 to impersonate coaches actually in force for the various teams is interesting, an option that especially in the English championship does justice to a revival of the painstaking English top division and for years a gem for the most attentive players. Furthermore, as regards the single-player Career, I want to confirm all those excellent sensations discovered in the past edition. In addition to the various options related to the growth of our alter ego, there are new ramifications related to our personality and a pleasant rebalancing in the progression gained with the training sessions.

FIFA 23 innovation

I particularly want to mention as a positive note the women’s football matches. On this front, the timid forward signals continue as regards content, where in addition to a handful of national teams it is possible to play with French and English club teams, strictly from the top flight. Due to the movements, contrasts and attitudes of the team mates, on several occasions we have had the feeling of appreciating these matches more than those played by the male counterparts. On the other hand, at times indefensible, regardless of the method played, are the goalkeepers: as skilled with mid-range shots, as impassive and helpless on multiple occasions inside the area (such as lobs) that can’t help but turn up one’s nose, and for which we are sure the team will intervene as soon as possible.

The new set-piece layout was incredibly appreciated, where with the analog both in free-kicks and in corner kicks it is possible to have greater control over the effect to be given to the ball, even if a minimum of training is required. I also want to consider another aspect on the aesthetic sector of FIFA 23, where I want to underline the excellent work for the faces and expressions of an incredible number of athletes. Also noteworthy are the animations related to them, appreciable as never before perhaps with a goal at the end of regulation time or with a successful slide.

The atmosphere of the various stadiums is also fascinating, especially if fired – as for English-owned clubs – ready to underline the plays of the various champions with screams, roars and chants. I still can’t quite digest the polygonal mass of fans present in the stands during close-up shots, despite a more heterogeneous use than in the past of the various aesthetic elements, as well as the sometimes unsteady frame rate that is noticeable, if compared with that solid of the players on the green rectangle.

Final report

HyperMotion 2.0 allows FIFA 23 to focus on intensity, physicality, and dynamism. The result is fun and satisfying gameplay, but a little unbalanced (and a couple of problems to solve).
For the last year of FIFA, EA Sports has thought of a giant content episode, which does not revolutionize, but consolidates a path that began more than ten years ago.
Ultimate Team is increasingly central to the gaming economy (in every sense), and the changes introduced this year are convincing, even in terms of playing without investing money.

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