FIFA is a video game franchise that has been around for almost three decades, providing a digital platform for football fans to indulge in their passion for the sport. Developed and published by Electronic Arts, the FIFA games have always aimed to provide players with a realistic and immersive experience. However, in recent years, the franchise has faced criticism for its lack of innovation, reliance on microtransactions, and various other issues. In this review, we will examine the different aspects of the FIFA football games and explore why they deserve a score of 2 out of 10.

Gameplay

The FIFA games have always aimed to provide players with a realistic football experience, but the gameplay has always been a mixed bag. On one hand, the games have always strived to be realistic, with a focus on capturing the look and feel of real-life football. However, the gameplay has always been hindered by numerous issues that make the experience frustrating and often unrealistic.

One of the most significant issues with the gameplay in FIFA is the clunky and unresponsive controls. The player movement can feel sluggish and unresponsive, making it difficult to control your players effectively. This can be especially frustrating in high-pressure situations, such as when defending against a fast-paced counter-attack.

Another issue with the gameplay is the inconsistent physics of the ball. The ball can often behave in unpredictable ways, bouncing off players in strange directions and leading to unrealistic outcomes. This can make the game feel unfair and frustrating, as players can lose matches due to factors outside of their control.

The AI of your teammates can also be questionable at times. Your players will often make inexplicable mistakes, such as failing to make simple passes or making runs into areas where there is no space. This can be especially frustrating in online matches, where a single mistake can cost you the game.

Overall, the gameplay in FIFA is marred by numerous issues that make the experience frustrating and often unrealistic. While the games strive to be realistic, they often fall short due to clunky controls, inconsistent physics, and questionable AI.

Innovation

One of the biggest criticisms of the FIFA franchise in recent years has been its lack of innovation. While each iteration of the game introduces some new features and improvements, the overall experience remains largely the same. This lack of innovation has led to a feeling of stagnation in the franchise, with players feeling like they are playing the same game year after year.

One of the areas where FIFA has failed to innovate is in its game modes. While the franchise has introduced new modes over the years, such as the popular Ultimate Team mode, these modes often feel like rehashed versions of previous modes. There is a lack of creativity and originality in the game modes, which can make the experience feel repetitive and dull.

Another area where FIFA has failed to innovate is in its gameplay. While the franchise has introduced new features over the years, such as the ability to control goalkeepers or to use skill moves, these features are often minor tweaks to the existing gameplay rather than true innovations. The overall gameplay experience remains largely the same year after year, which can make the games feel stale and uninspired.

Innovation is a crucial aspect of any video game franchise, as it keeps the experience fresh and exciting for players. Unfortunately, FIFA has failed to innovate in meaningful ways, leading to a feeling of stagnation in the franchise.

Microtransactions

One of the most controversial aspects of the FIFA franchise is its reliance on microtransactions. Microtransactions are small in-game purchases that allow players to buy virtual items or currency using real money. FIFA’s most popular mode, Ultimate Team, is heavily reliant on microtransactions.

In Ultimate Team, players build a team by opening virtual card packs that contain players, items, and other virtual goodies. These card packs can be purchased using in-game currency or by spending real money.

This turns the game into very much a pay-to-win scenario, where those who have the most money will be able to afford the best players and thus more likely to win the game.

Overall

FIFA is a game of skill and speed but more ultimately it is a game of who can afford to pay more money to buy the best players.

So I would score it a 2/10 based on this. If you’re rich… you’re good. If not… single player is for you, but multiplayer is out of your reach.