FIFA 15 Review

FIFA 15 REVIEW

The EA Sport football simulator game has proven to be one of EA's best ever games. It is rated a PEGI 3. Its graphics are so good that one could mistake that it is a real  match.  And as for the players, Their faces are much more expressive and EA claim that there are 600 emotional reactions that could potentially be seen during the game; players from opposing teams push, shove and bark at each other after having engaged in a series of aggressive physical battles over the course of the match. Strikers look pleased with themselves after scoring a belter and assistant referees … twitch their noses when making an offside call. These tiny details that add layers of realism to the most realistic football sim on the planet.

Blades of grass (and, if it’s raining, water) go flying into the air in slow motion when the ball is struck during replays, the pitch develops physical signs of wear and tear over the course of the match, shirts are visibly pulled by defenders chasing a zippy winger.

The game now has disallowed goals, rather than laser-accurate robotic linesmen that will instantly stop play for offside the moment the ball goes anywhere near an offending player. That rollercoaster of jubilation followed by disappointment when your team is stripped of a winning goal in the dying moments of injury time is, to borrow a phrase from EA Sports, “in the game”.

Also in the game are fully licensed stadiums for every team in the Premiership. As well as looking the part, real fan chants have been recorded, and crowds have been given custom behaviours based on the team. You probably won’t make it through a match at Anfield without a chorus of “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, and commentators notice and remark on Manchester City’s supporters doing the Poznan.Nothing has been left un-animated in FIFA 15. Substitutes celebrate from the bench when their teams score – sometimes the camera even cuts to a close up of a major player on the sidelines, while there are 10-man goal celebrations on the pitch. Ball boys supply players with another ball when one has gone out of bounds, and corner flags bend when pushed against.

Manchester United vs Arsenal

     

Manchester United vs Arsenal

The quarter-finals of the FA Cup took place on 9/3/15 and consisted of a tight match between Manchester United vs Arsenal; it took place at Old Trafford with kick-off at 7:45.

I was supporting Manchester United as I always have done before. The match kicked off as I buzzed with excitement- I couldn't help breaking into a wide grin as Wayne Rooney, Di Maria and Falcao were all in the starting line- up for Manchester United.

26 minutes into the first-half, Oxlade- Chamberlain danced through four Man Utd defenders including Antonio Valencia (who left his position to come to tackle Chamberlain, therefore leaving Nacho Monreal unmarked). My heart jumped as I sensed danger. I knew it. I just knew it. Chamberlain played a pass to Monreal that was as quick as a bullet. This left Monreal a simple finish to make and the net almost ripped with the power that Nacho Monreal put in his shot.

I was sweating and burning with anger; Manchester United were losing 1-0. I swallowed nervously as Arsenal attacked. Oh no! They had broken past our defence and Alexis Sanchez was left one on one against De Gea. My heart was thumping heavily as Sanchez put the shot away. De Gea lost his balance and stumbled but he still stuck his leg out. The ball curled in the air as I held my breath. Sweat was beading up on my wrinkled forehead and it streamed down my chubby cheek. The ball bounced on De Gea's leg and...hit the crossbar! I shot up as my elation was almost an unbearable gurgle in my stomach. The scoreboard hadn't changed; it was still 1-0.

A few minutes after, Di Maria was dancing through the right wing and he curled an early cross in for Rooney. Rooney and my heart leapt as he met the ball with his head. The shot was a rocket flying through the air and it smashed the back of the net and bounced back out. I almost screamed with happiness. I was as delighted as a lark. I was in the seventh heaven. The crowd seemed to be just as happy as I was as they were loudly shouting:

"Glory Glory Man United!"

About half an hour after, Manchester United were passing the ball around and it went to Valencia. He was pressurised until he was left with no choice. He played a back pass to De Gea. Only, it wasn't just any kind of back pass. It was underpowered and De Gea had to rush out of his area to reach it but it was too late.  Danny Welbeck -against his former club at his former club's stadium- intercepted the pass and with one touch, he went around the keeper. There was only one outcome to come from this: a goal. And believe it or not it was a goal. I bit my nail angrily as Danny Welbeck danced around doing his celebration that he never had a chance to do at Manchester United because he rarely ever had a chance to score.

With 10 minutes left, Di Maria broke into the box as I jumped with a mixture of hope and happiness. He was pulled by an Arsenal player and he dropped down. The referee Michael Oliver sprinted towards the penalty area and took out the yellow card. Was it a penalty? No. The yellow card is pointed to Di Maria for diving. Di Maria- just like I was- was frustrated as he protested. Michael Oliver walked away to show that he will not take any protests into account. Di Maria- his rage sweeping through him like a tidal wave, surrounding him like a foul stench. He grabbed the referee's shirt and pulled him back. Michael Oliver was furious at this action and- without any hesitation brought out the yellow card again- but this time it wasn't alone, the red was with it. Di Maria was sent off.

There was less than one minute left of stoppage time, I buried my head inside as the match was coming to a close. Michael Owen held the whistle in his mouth and blew it immediately. Arsenal were through to the semi- finals.