![]() Pace will probably never return to being as all-important as it was five years ago, but it certainly feels like they may just have got the balance right this time around.įans have been screaming out for EA Sports to revive its much-loved FIFA Street series pretty much ever since the last edition was released in 2012. No longer do lumbering 35-year-old centre-backs magically track down lightning-fast players like Sadio Mane, Adama Traore, or Kylian Mbappe. Dare I say it - the differential between fast and slow players is close to spot on. ![]() ![]() There’s also a big emphasis on individual player attributes. Combine that with tighter close ball control than previous years - probably owing to the influence of Volta - and gameplay feels not-insignificantly different. Instead, the developers have promoted possession football, with quick passes and well-timed balls the order of the day. Gone are the days of easy goals from corners or sending the wing-backs up to lob crosses into target men. On the other hand, while crosses are better, headers are far weaker. Spin placed on balls in the air also adds a further level of authenticity and nuance in this area. This is particularly noticeable when chasing aerial through balls, where weaker players will slow down to control the ball or else take a poor touch at high speed, while quicker players can bring down the ball in all manner of new ways. Crosses now have far more variety, as do the touches of receiving players. Frustrating to say the least.Īnother major change was to the physics of aerial balls. So when Ngolo Kante darts across the pitch to cut off a pass, his first touch will often bounce straight back to an attacker. When defenders make tackles or intercepts the ball often sprays farther than it should, regardless of the ball control or ability of a player. That’s just one example of a range of structural changes that have resulted in defending having a genuine skill gap - where experienced players can really show their ability. Calling on a second player to jockey or delay an attacker then diving in with a figure you control is a skill that, once learned, is quite enjoyable. Things have also improved when defending with multiple footballers. A defender can stick out a toe to poke the ball away at the last second - or clip a striker’s ankle and send them sprawling. The players and structures of defending have been significantly revamped and - good news - defending is fun again! The variety of tackle animations has increased, and bodies come together with a genuine feel of physicality. The biggest change players will notice when taking to the virtual park is defending.
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