FIFA 13- Game Review

18 Yard Box has a look at the most awaited game of the year- FIFA 13.

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When Fifa 12 was released, it was hailed as 'the' game to beat. And the statements weren't just dead rubber. It went on to sell the highest number of copies sold by EA on all the major consoles.

Has EA done enough to upsell FIFA 12 this season? 18 Yard Box has a look at EA's one of the most priced franchise.

FIFA 13- Game Review

First look

On the cover, Wayne Rooney has been replaced by Lionel Messi (who also features in EA's FIFA Street) bringing Ronaldo's (brand ambassador of PES) and Messi's epic on - field battle to off the pitch too.
The game box is spartan leave for the CD and a few sheets of glossy paper.

FIFA 13 boots much faster than its predecessor and its latest intro is far more pleasing to the eye.
Also, the game loads straight to the home screen rather than the arena which will surely divide opinions.

The new homescreen, in my opinion is very unconvincing. Especially after last season's high. The apparent ball behind the player looks poor and the skills lack totality.

Cover picture

Whats new?

Every new version of a franchise adds in it some new stuff to catch the eye of the consumer. Let us look at what FIFA 13 has added into its overwhelming kitty .

Major additions

1. Player Impact Engine II

FIFA 13 brings along with itself the second generation Player Impact Engine . Now players not only lose their footing, they lose their footing in style.  PIE does bring physics to off the ball battles and the strength of player now does matter. For example, Toure could simply shove Neymar away while battling for a loose ball.

The P.I.E catches you eye

2. Graphics

If there is one area where FIFA has always been on the backfoot, it has to be the graphics. The players have always looked like rag dolls save for a few who alteast resembled their real world counterparts. And luck has it ,this is one place where PES excels. So with PES really breathing down its neck this season, the designers at FIFA had a tough job in their hands.

When I played the demo first I was pleasently surprised to see almost every first string City player look real and then was disappointed by the Arsenal players.

When I tried the graphics on the released game, I had mixed emotions. Happy because as a FIFA fan I could see the leap taken and sad because EA still fell in the puddle. The graphics still annoy me. Every Newcastle player looks amazingly real while every Arsenal player looks like a cartoon from the 90s save for Arteta and Vermaelen.

And with the fanbase that Mancheser United has all around the world, EA should have had them in the priority list. Valencia, Jones, Rafael, Kagawa, Cleverley, Evans, Fletcher do not even look similar. And RVP's playing style has not been copied. This is one point where I feel PES wins yet again because the graphics in its demo were inch perfect and their player ID is amazing.

The grass in the stadiums definitely looks brighter which makes for a better gaming experience and now 

managers and substitutes stand on the boundary of the field.  Classic Kits are also unlockable for some 

teams.

The gameplay now looks stunning.  EA is like the Manchester City of gaming. Cash rich, they can afford to go around the world and record authentic chants and atmosphere is exactly like when you visit a stadium.

Faces of Arsenal players are just make you laugh

3. Attacking intelligence and First Touch Control

The attack is definitely smoother now with players trying to stay onside . Long Passes now need 

more skill and you no longer have to go tiki taka in tougher levels to score. Plus, last edition's horrendous defensive lapse has been looked into.

This makes for a balance which was lost last year.  The sweet spot in the difficulty has been reached. Last season, a particular level jump  was pretty hard.

The one touch system also brings much more realism into the game. The longer you play the game, the more you understand it and you can actually use it as an advantage. It was correctly stated by one EA spokesperson  that it is the "predictably of unpredictability".

Minor additions

1. Move and Kinect

Playstation  and XBOX users get Move and Kinect compatibility. There are games based on real world form and we also get Training Skills.

Training Skills I must say, has been explicitly copied from PES. But then again, it is an amazing addition 

2. Career Mode

Career Mode has been deepened and like the rest of the game, made more realistic. Unlike the previous editions the teams attach the value to the performance and the importance of the player. Thus buying players like Messi or Ronaldo is no easy task.

Furthermore, players can insist on certain transfer terms like guaranteed first team starts as part of the deal.

Players can opt to play as a manager, player, or a player manager, and as they make their reputation they’re given certain goals to accomplish. If they complete their targets, they’ll receive international call-ups  and they’ll have the opportunity to play in international friendlies, qualifiers and tournaments.

Career Mode

3. FIFA 13 Ultimate Team

Building a team from virtual packs of trading cards, swapping duplicates and auctioning unwanted misfits has always been fun.

This time around, the new additions are that you have seasons to compete in, manager tasks to beat, and team of the week challenges to undertake, all of which unlock goodies and allowing access to better players. 

Ultimate Team

4. Skill Modes


FIFA 13 comes with a new skill games mode which offers a series of tutorial challenges. 

Glitches

• There still are rare cases of players flying away after hitting each other. 
• Team mates get tangled off the ball frequently. 
• The age glitch.

Value for Money?

Coming for Rs. 2999 is it actually worth buying if you already have FIFA 12? Even though I have FIFA13, I would recommend actually buying PES 13 if you have FIFA 12.   FIFA13 actually loses out because of the graphics. EA will have to pull up their socks in order to perfect each and every aspect of the game.

The Final Verdict

There are rivalries. Then there is war. Such is the battle between FIFA and a certain PES. For years FIFA has had the upper-hand, rather, strangle-hold over PES. But with the release of the latest editions of their respective brands, it looks as if PES could soon steal the show if FIFA do not improve themselves

System Requirements

Minimum System Requirements

• OS: Windows Vista SP1 / Windows 7
• CPU: 1.8 GHz Core 2 Duo
• RAM: 2GB RAM for Windows Vista & Windows 7
• Disc Drive: DVD-ROM at 8x Speed
• Hard Drive: 8.0 GB, with additional space required for saved games and DirectX 9.0c installation
• Video: 3D accelerated 256 MB video card with support for Pixel Shader 3.0
• Minimum Supported Video Cards: ATI Radeon HD 3600, NVIDIA GeForce 6800GT
• Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c Compatible
• DirectX: 9.0c
• Input: Keyboard, Mouse, Dual Analogue gamepad, VOIP Headset
• Online Multiplayer: 2-22 players, 512 kbits/sec or faster
• Single System Multiplayer: 2-5 players on 1 PC

Recommended System Requirements

• OS: Windows Vista SP1 / Windows 7
• CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4g / AMD Athlon II X4 600e 2.2g
• RAM: 2GB RAM for Windows Vista & Windows 7
• Disc Drive: DVD-ROM at 8x Speed
• Hard Drive: 8.0 GB, with additional space required for saved games and DirectX 9.0c installation
• Video: Nvidia 8800 GT / ATI Radeon HD 4650
• Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c Compatible
• DirectX: 9.0c
• Input: Keyboard, Mouse, Dual Analogue gamepad, VOIP Headset
• Online Multiplayer: 2-22 players, 512 kbits/sec or faster
• Single System Multiplayer: 2-5 players on 1 PC

Platforms on which it is available

Microsoft Windows,Xbox 360, PlayStation 3,PlayStation 2,PlayStation Vita,PlayStation Portable, Wii U,Wii, Nintendo 3DS, iOS,Mac OS X

Written By,
Nikhil Poddar

Nikhil has contributed this article and 18YB would like to thank him for sharing the knowledge with us.