Title: FIFA 14
Format: PS4, Xbox One(reviewed) PS3, Xbox 360
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Publisher: EA
Developer: EA Canada
Price: $59.99
ESRB Rating: E
FIFA 14 on next gen consoles offer an overall better game than on current gen systems, making one of the best sports games this year even better.
Presentation: The presentation hasn't changed drastically at all, you may want to wait for the next gen version in November for the new level of visual fidelity, but the current gen versions still look really good. There are a lot of subtle changes to the physics, that improve the game's animations and player movements. The visuals have pretty much peaked, with the current generation. When I reviewed Madden 25 and NCAA 14, I pretty much said the exact same thing. During the 8th year of this current gen, you won't really see anymore drastic improvements visually. EA is clearly saving the big dramatic improvements in aesthetics for the next generation. Even with that said however, the game can still really impress at times. FIFA's commentary never ceases to amaze me. The great chemistry between the commentators has evolved over the many years, and it may even be considered as the best duo in sports games. The duo in NBA 2K14 is the only pair that could be considered better than FIFA's, and that's really saying something. There has been other minor improvements off the pitch, with noticeable UI and menu improvements that make navigating the game's robust list of modes a bit more seamless than before. Other than that, there's isn't much else new here, aesthetically speaking.
Core Gameplay and Multiplayer:Just like Madden 25, most of this year's game improvements come under the hood, and this year's FIFA feels the best. The physics engine has been improved, and it feels that with every move you make, the players move accordingly. Each player feels different, and they all have their strengths and weaknesses, and figuring out which player is suitable for each situation is essential for victory. It's also a lot of fun to just play with each player on your favorite team and figure out which player works the best at scoring, passing, and on defense. Showboating skill moves are a lot easier to use this time around, you no longer have to hold down a modifier, you just have to wiggle the right stick to pull off the fancier skill moves. Off of the pitch, the modes haven't been drastically changed Head to Head Seasons, Ultimate Team, Virtual Pro and Manager are still some of the best modes to play. All of the teams are kept up to date, thanks to Real World statistics. The EA Sports Football Club keeps track of all the points you earn, and it ties them to the real world team and pools them into a global ranking system. Right alongside Career mode, that has received the bulk of the improvements and tweaks. Some new fun mini games, brisk loading times, and refined gameplay really put the finishing touches on this year's game. 
*Next Gen Edge
With all the extra horsepower in these new systems, you would come to expect a significant leap in visual fidelity. You don't get the huge leap in visuals as we got in NBA 2K14, which looks like a completely different game, FIFA 14 makes a number of minor graphical tweaks that improves the game's overall look and feel. There are more camera angles that highlight the visual improvements. The crowd is still pretty generally static, which is disappointing seeing as how EA managed to improve the crowds in Madden 25. The gameplay in FIFA 14 still shines, and the Xbox One and PS4 versions feature much more lifelike ball control and footwork. The ball can sometimes take some weird bounces at times, but the overall, it's a lot more realistic this time around. If you enjoy the Ultimate Team mode, the Xbox One version features exclusive Legend cards, so Xbox One users have that one advantage over PS4 users. I'm not the biggest fan of Kinect, but the Kinect functionality is there in FIFA, and it works. Using the Kinect works well with substituting players in and out of the game, even though I probably won't be using it at all. 
Final Thoughts: FIFA 14 on next gen is a worthy upgrade if you've been playing the current gen versions. Although the visual upgrade isn't what I was hoping for, but the gameplay improvements pushes the next gen editions over the edge.
S&S Rating:8.5/10 @whatsPlay
