2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

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Information
Developer: EA Canada
Publisher: EA Sports
Series: FIFA World Cup
Engine: Impact engine
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Release date: April 15, 2014 (and onwards depending on region)
Genre: Sports
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer

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Synopsis
2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil is the official video game for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, published by EA Sports for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It was released on April 15, 2014 in North America, April 17 in Europe and Australia, and April 24 in Brazil and Japan, as was the case with the 2010 edition.

With the World Cup fast approaching I decided it was time to do a review on the official game, hope you enjoy.

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Gameplay
The gameplay here is very similar to FIFA 14 and has only a small number of improvements in this regard. They have improved the dribbling making it easier and more fluid, the passing know feels more secure and players mess up a smaller percentage of the easier passes that can be quite frustrating on FIFA 14. The first touch is definitely an improvement gameplay wise as you see less frequently the huge touches that make the ball roll several metres in front of you just because it was coming with a bit of pace, this is good as this can be infuriating in FIFA 14 and professional footballers especially the ones at the top of their game would be able to control the ball easier than they could on this games predecessor. Other improvements include the ability to accelerate and change direction faster and accurate before both with and without the ball this allows for better runs and more freedom when playing football. There are over 100 new animations to help players experience a more immersive game as it feels less stiff and rigid than previous instalments. The core of the gameplay is the "Road to the FIFA World Cup" which allows players to play through the qualification stages and the tournament finals. This mode is excellent and it is really good to see you carrying your team from beginning to end seeking for glory, it is definitely satisfying to be able to lift the most prestigious trophy in world football knowing you took your team there. The game contains all 203 teams that took part in the qualifying stages, this is good and means anyone can play with their team but the lesser known teams have a tendency to look very generic and as if not much work has been put into them, the players and teams of the big football nations are very detailed however. The game contains a number of stadiums; 12 that are going to be used in the tournament and a selection generic ones from each of the qualifying regions, the main stadiums have a great carnival atmosphere typical to Brazilian football and they are really colourful, vibrant and fun to play in. The biggest let down is that this game is not available on "next-gen" EA stated that they would not be bringing this out on the later generations of consoles as they felt it didn't have enough of a market in the poorer football nations around the world, especially in Brazil where most do not have access to the new consoles. I feel like this is a bit of a letdown on EA's behalf with a flimsy excuse to back it up. Whilst the gameplay is very good, it just doesn't feel as good for me after playing a lot of the next gen FIFA 14 and that was the biggest disappointment, I'm a big football fan so I was always going to get this game but if you have played next-gen or are just looking for a football game you'd probably be better off with FIFA 14 as it has more modes and its World Cup counterpart looks and feels very similar. It is also worth noting that this game has a fantastic soundtrack to listen to whilst you are playing.

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Multiplayer
The best component of the multiplayer is undoubtedly the "Road to Rio" game mode. This is an online tournament which consists of multiple players and takes place in the 12 World Cup venues in Brazil. Anybody who is familiar with the FIFA 14 online tournament gameplay will feel right at home here. This mode is fantastic as it captures the intensity and drama of the World Cup and feeds it right to the player. You will find yourself feeling a range of emotions whilst you play as everything is on the line and one bad pass or on the contrary on piece of individual genius can change the match. The co-op matches that you can take part in adds a nice balance and variety to the game and can be great fun to play with your friends. The head to head matches are really good as well and is in my opinion much more fun to play against that the AI. You will feel the tension as when you play friends on FIFA as many a fan of the series will know it becomes less about the game and more about your pride, so the emotions run high and you can really get caught up in the atmosphere.

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Graphics
I'm in two minds about the graphics on this game. Coming from next gen the first impressions are that the graphics are not as good as what I have been used to (obviously) so I will try to put that aside while I judge the graphics. The first thing that hits you is the vibrant colour palette that will hit you when you open then game the colours are bright, sharp and vivid. You will really feel caught up in the atmosphere of the game and it does a really good job of capturing the carnival atmosphere of the Brazilian lifestyle. The players look good on the pitch but only the well known ones, the other players who aren't as famous look generic and there is a distinct lack of detail on their faces which is a shame. The main stadiums look fantastic and the crowd is done well which gives you a really immersive experience when you are playing the game. They utilise the lighting and shadows very well to make the players and pitches more lifelike. The new animations help to make the gameplay look less rigid and the game is improved for this. The graphics don't look as good as next gen but are very good when looked at in context the feel of the visuals is very nice. I will put some screenshots below so please use them to get a feel for the graphics yourself.

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Controls
The controls to this game are very good. If you have played any of the previous instalments in the FIFA series then you will feel right at home. The button layout is very good on its default settings although there is the option to change the controls in the menus if you would like to although I really don't think it is necessary. You will not find yourself struggling to control your player of his passing, shooting etc. as a result of the controls and you will not find it awkward to play with. The controls are very good at allowing you the freedom to play the kind of football style you want to with little to no hindrance. The controls for this game feel very good.

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Ratings
Gameplay - 7/10
Multiplayer- 8/10
Graphics - 8/10
Controls - 8/10
Replayability- 6/10

Overall - 7/10

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Conclusion
The game is definitely fun to play and if you are a football fan then you will definitely enjoy it. My main concern is that the 40 you have to pay to be able to play this game is simply too high for a game that isn't on next gen, has licensing issues which leads to generic stadiums and kits (something not present in FIFA 14), and the fact that it is essentially a copy of FIFA 14 with a different skin and only small improvements gameplay wise. I would say only get this game if you are a die-hard football fan who loves the World Cup or you can get it for cheaper/rent the game before the World Cup ends. Other than that you are probably best getting/playing FIFA 14 whilst waiting for FIFA 15 to come out. Don't get me wrong though it's a very entertaining experience while it lasts.