FIFA 19

FIFA 19’s gameplay innovation is precision ball control which, when used effectively, creates new openings through subtle movements, body feints and fancy flicks. But for every slick piece of control there is an equal moment of miscontrol as the ball gets away from you. It’s unforgiving at first, resulting in untidy passages of play with balls bouncing off the knees, chests, and heads of supposed top-class professionals. However, once mastered, the free-flowing football (using the right analogue to lead the ball away from you first time) creates some of the game’s most eye-catching moments. Letting the ball run across your body or flicking the ball before hitting a first-time shot adds a new level of satisfaction to attacking play.

imilarly, there’s an extra layer to finishing that works much like Gears of War’s active reload mechanic to add a level of risk to any potential goal threat. It’s activated by pressing shoot a second time after powering up a shot, in time with when the player strikes the ball. Get it right and the shot will fizz like a rocket, and although it doesn’t necessarily guarantee a goal it certainly improves your odds. However, get it slightly wrong and the player embarrassingly fumbles the shot. Overall, my experimentation with this system left me feeling that the reward didn’t justify the risk when shooting the traditional way still works so well.