Here we are, the time has come to draw the final conclusions FIFA 21. Like every year, the usual football title is preparing for its debut, but this time it seems to have hit the full post. Let's immediately remove the elephant from the room then, FIFA 21 is a significant step forward from the content point of view, but as regards the gameplay something, again, does not return. The historical flaws of the series are still quite evident, highlighted in some ways even more evident with the new football direction. The model that aims to create EA, it is now evident, has flaws that undermine the gaming experience, penalizing the players and putting them in surreal situations. But be careful, not everything is to be thrown away, the game still remains fluid and some things have inevitably improved, but what you feel is the feeling that an element is missing that binds spectacularity to usability.
Ball in the center!
The gameplay of the new FIFA 21 almost relies on the basics of the previous edition, however it significantly improves the contrasts of the various players, now much more realistic and impactful. The players will move in a much more dynamic way: you will actually be able to create a well-constructed game maneuver, also thanks to the possibility of controlling the players without the ball. Although interesting, this last mechanic is still impractical, but we are sure that this is only the starting point and that, slowly, it can be really important for the future of FIFA. Therefore, the athletes in the attack phase will move more intelligently, always trying to remain compact and always providing an effective solution to the user.
The problem, however, is when it comes to the defensive phase: despite the aforementioned compactness and the good positioning of the players, the AI is unable to react quickly and effectively to the opponents' changes of pace, so much so that it will be enough to put into practice a simple one. -two to go directly into the goal. Players in possession of the ball are extremely favorites, both in speed and in strength. Going to counter attackers of the caliber of Salah and Manè becomes almost impossible, as dribbling in this edition of FIFA 21 has also been significantly enhanced. The fastest players will be decisive, with extreme joy of the show but, on the contrary, an extreme disaster for the rear. The defense, in fact, on more than one occasion does not exactly make a good impression, with all the peace of us players who will be forced to see the opposing sprinters go one on one with the goalkeeper almost undisturbed.
Looking for a conservative defensive tactic will not pay, it seems immediately evident that what FIFA 21 wants to propose this year is a football devoted to total attack, with the consequence that the matches will inevitably end with a disproportionate number of goals. The management of rebounds was much worse than last year, you will see for yourself comic situations to the limit of reality. Also noteworthy is the ever-present kick off glitch, also encouraged by a lot. The lack of response of the players in the defensive phase will give you the possibility to finish in goal with a few touches or even solitary solutions. In fact, with the great return of the aforementioned dribbling, skills will also return this year in an important way. Almost canceled in the last edition, in FIFA 21 for some users they will be decisive, learning how to perform them will give you a significant advantage against other players. Little advice but mandatory: in one-on-one situations with the opponent attacker try to stall, do not go out on impulse because you will end up in a ruinous void. Go out with the player at the right time or call the double if necessary, better retort a shot from the edge than create a situation of numerical disadvantage.
A new coach in town
It is now known that FIFA is not only purchased by those who focus on the online sector, but also by users who are passionate about the career mode. The latter, for too many years needed an important improvement, e FIFA 21 creates a new starting point balance. The innovations introduced bring the EA football title close to the style of Football Manager, although it has not yet managed to match it. The biggest introduction is certainly represented by the interactive match, that is the possibility to start the game in manager mode and, when you decide to do so, immediately enter the field to control the various players. This solution is very practical if you want to take a penalty kick or if you want to take control of the team at decisive moments. Finally, the possibility of "Simulate the rest of the game"If, for example, at the end of the first half you are winning 4-0, you can simulate the instant mode for the rest of the game and save a lot of time.
FIFA 21 opens up more to the player growth: now users will have various options available to outline the profile of a growing youngster, especially for the spring team. The game will allow you to plan the work of the whole team during the week, being able to carry out specific training sessions for each individual player. It will be possible, in fact, adapt the players to another role in which they will improve gradually over time, giving rise to not indifferent tactical options. A young person may have a more defined growth path, you will be able to shape it from the beginning according to your needs. A small novelty is also included lucidity system, which, however, for now, does not seem particularly focused.
For anyone who benefits from a career, a preponderant importance is given by the transfer market. This year we finally have more lively and dynamic sections, with teams that will try to compete at their best every season. It will be necessary to see in the long run how the various teams will react, but certainly in the early years they are really very active and proactive. Negotiations change quite a lot and do not have a real balance, but luckily at the beginning of each career there will be the possibility to choose the difficulties, so as to have managers more inclined to carry out any business.
An Ultimate Team open to all
Impossible not to mention what, for the vast majority of FIFA players, is the core of the experience. Ultimate Team had a nice winter, useful for making life easier for old users and bringing new ones closer. As for the online games, we have analyzed the game system well, reaching quite important conclusions. Given the defensive AI problem, the best way to approach games is to throw yourself into the attack. We found our attempts to set up organization in the defensive phase useless, given that the slightest mistake will inevitably lead to the goal. The matches will end with many goals regardless, so granting important opportunities will be the order of the match. It is worth trying to maximize the game by voting it completely on the attack, which we strongly believe is the goal of FIFA 21 to give space to the show. The games, however, continue to have surreal scores, do not even think about throwing in the towel even at 3-0 after a few minutes, it will take very little to overturn the result.
Although packages are always predominant in the title model, now creating a competitive team will be slightly easier even for users who do not want to spend money. The system of seasonal objectives has been deepened, with the inclusion of special events that will involve the entire community. These mostly consist of challenges that will have to be completed within a certain time limit, and will guarantee you prizes of various kinds. Among all, those dedicated to your stadium stand out, this year customizable from the lines of the field to the goal net. If this novelty led to the introduction of many cards, the developers necessarily had to remove others. Among all the physical form stands out, finally removed for the relief of all. For too long, in fact, this mechanic represented a real burden, now we can focus only on the eleven owners.
For the rest you will find the classic FIFA Ulimate Team, the developers have also thought of new challenges for those who earn credits in single player, so as to please everyone in a certain sense. The final feeling, however, is that this year it will be easier to create your dream team, as well as the fact that there will be more rewards that you can get.
This TIME it got better
As already mentioned last year, Volta has exactly what it takes to carve out an important slice of users. The introduction is definitely the new narrative story called The Debut, which without going too far will introduce the game system of this mode. The feeling is that this one wants to focus a lot on customization, offering moments of leisure completely different from the classic FIFA. Compared to FIFA 20, however, the developers have given Volta a more defined and online-oriented identity, inserting mechanics that wink a lot at Pro Club. Like any self-respecting online mode, you can create your team in a similar way to what happened in the past, so as to gradually climb the divisions.
The gameplay and the response of the commands will be very different from the classic modes, but you will see that in a short time you will be able to get carried away. The team also thought of different skills only for Volta, so as to give further depth to the game system. Although it is particularly satisfying and spectacular, it all fades as the hours go by. Once again he can't keep the player glued, EA should aim at it more decisively reproducing, with the necessary balances and changes, what was done in FUT. The motivations that push you to play this mode run out in a short time, the development of your avatar is not needed, already from the next FIFA you will need to take an important step forward since the potential to do well with Volta is all there.
On the bench
From a technical point of view, there is nothing to say, with even more real animations and increasingly defined faces. Our final judgment is that FIFA 21 is good, but definitely not so good that it makes a miracle scream. The feeling is that the game is still quite held back by this current generation of consoles and that its cross-generational nature has somewhat clipped its wings. We will have to wait some more time before we see the EA work in full shape, and we are sure that the developers will work out during the year. At present, however, despite a good dose of fun (guaranteed), we are slightly tired of still seeing gods defects signals still present several times. The developers must give the shock otherwise, in a few years, the only real strength of FIFA will be the licenses.
