FIFA 23 review: HyperMotion 2’s lifelike play blurs FUT’s greasier influence

Pace is almost everything FIFA23In fact, it was probably the first thing you noticed, especially in the first match.

but FIFA twenty threeHyperMotion 2 system’s motion capture and machine learning is by definition an iterative process, with buzz marketing jargon applied, not incremental. By capturing, analyzing, and processing more 11-on-11, 90-minute real-world soccer matches, EA Sports is driving sales. FIFA23 As a game where the player has more control over the ball, at least a deeper understanding of how the on-screen soccer player can manage the ball. When it’s low, it wastes a lot of energy trying to keep the ball under control and slows the pace noticeably. You can. Oh, i could do it all the way.

Last week I spoke with Kancho Doskov. FIFA23We asked his EA Vancouver Gameplay Director what the first four or five things to notice in a series where improvements are often subtle. This kind of control and pace and differentiation between players was at the top of Doskov’s list. “There are so many subtleties in gameplay that you’ll feel over multiple games or after a while,” he said. “But that’s the first big thing you notice.”

he is right Even if the game feels slower overall, the defense will still swarm you if you haven’t thought about building your offense beforehand. and can turn 39 minutes of a 0-0 game into a desperate and justifiably important moment for either side.

“Basically, it’s a basic dribble,” Doskov said. This means that explosive movements are possible with just the left stick, without any other modifiers or commands on the gamepad. “It’s not just a change of direction. […] About speed change. I see the best soccer players doing this. It starts moving, slows down, explodes and launches into space. ”

After 12+ full matches in HyperMotion2, my impression is that the strengths and weaknesses of the players are much clearer, whereas in previous FIFA performances were still calibrated by on-field role. is. This will make player management decisions more meaningful, especially in FIFA Ultimate Team. It also adds the depth needed to develop certain parts of the skill tree in Be a Pro singleplayer mode.

For all the oily sheen FUT’s microtransactions and calls to action have left on that mode, learn how the new game works before heading to a ‘real’ playthrough in career mode It’s a great testbed for… Of course, I want to do everything perfectly the first time. In FUT, you typically look at your top 11 players in overall ratings and find formations that put them on the field.game play changes FIFA23 I mean it’s not such a great idea. A good forward or striker he has three and if you have a midfielder who is not good at stealing the ball or maintaining possession the back strengthen his line and play a more defensive game It might be better. Not too flashy—especially for full matches or higher difficulties.

My point here is that the benefits of HyperMotion 2 aren’t just about the feel of the pitch or the gamepad. They also make my administrative choices more deliberate and immersive. A dedicated player may feel compelled to spend extra money to develop a team that truly exemplifies his skill and his style of play. Still, streamlining Ultimate Team’s arcane “Chemistry” system means players can get more value out of the cards they hold. FIFA23.

In previous editions, chemistry not only depended on player characteristics (such as being from the same country or from a professional club), but they had to be adjacent to each other in the chosen formation. Removing that physical connection requirement lowers the overall chemistry you can achieve (from 100 to 33) while increasing the chances of your Ultimate Team club maxing it out.

The change in chemistry also means that great players like Kylian Mbappe (everyone goes on loan for five games to start Ultimate Team) have zero chemistry with other members of other clubs. I mean This is actually a consumer-friendly change, allowing players to use the best players they have packed. You can add it to your club.

Image: EA Vancouver/Electronic Arts

FUT’s new Moments (bite-sized challenges instead of full matches) also help showcase some of the new gameplay changes. In fact, they are structured almost like tutorials. In particular, we spotlight the new targeting system for free kicks. The system allows players to choose which part of the ball they want to hit, curling it around, above, or even below the defensive wall. There’s also a “Power Shot” challenge, highlighting the new charged-up shooting command (hold both bumpers) that can score spectacular goals from well outside the goal box. That risk-reward capability – you need to be really clear to charge and aim such a shot accurately – is another match 1 signal. FIFA23 is a more complicated game than last year.

Despite all these changes, moments and other additions, FIFA23 No more being awarded big plays or spoiled by players who try lightly. This has been a common criticism in the past, at least not when compared to the technically accurate Pro Evolution Soccer. I was just as successful in building an attack as I was bombing everyone forward and firing a cross in hopes of landing. On defense there is a new “Partial Team His Press” that pulls in multiple defenders instead of the whole club. When used in combination with more precise tackles (both standing and sliding), Ultimate Team quickly launched a counterattack. That wasn’t my style of play before, but now it is.

Gameplay changes are the most important improvements. FIFA23‘s add-ons don’t just give you more things to do or moves to memorize with your gamepad, as they work across all modes of play. By opening up new ways to leverage my team’s strengths, they actually tell me I’m better at soccer (video game soccer) than I praise myself. increase.of all that i’ve noticed FIFA23 Right out of the box, it may have come last. But it mattered most.

FIFA23 Released on September 30th Google Stadia, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, When Windows PC; also released version missing some features in this review nintendo switch, PlayStation 4When Xbox OneThe game was reviewed on PlayStation 5 using a pre-release download code provided by EA Sports. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not affect editorial content, but Vox Media may earn commissions on products purchased via affiliate links.discoverable Additional information on Polygon’s Ethics Policy can be found here.