FIFA Soccer

FIFA 20201 is a football, or soccer if you please, simulator, which takes you to the pitch once again. Unfortunately, this year’s release has very little to offer in terms of gameplay if compared to the last year’s game. 

At the same time, there are minor tweaks and changes that make the easily recognizable sim feel a bit sharper and more enjoyable. Both esthetically and physically. So, if you want to dribble the ball or score a penalty — FIFA 2021 waits!

Better Mechanics

FIFA 2021 leaves a strong taste of déjà vu. You’ve already been here, played these matches and modes. And yet, there’s an elusive unfamiliarity.

EA worked on the playing techniques. At least, you definitely feel that passing the ball became more on-spot and much sharper than it used to be. 

Another good thing is that long shots became more reliable. Previously, they were a pure lottery and scoring a goal was as probable as being carried away by a tornado to a magical country of OZ. 

But what leaves a lot to be desired is how your goalkeepers do their job. Whether it’s a glitch or some fatal flaw in the game’s code, but sometimes goalkeepers let a ball through that they actually managed to intercept a second before — what happens to their hands at that moment is a mystery wrapped in enigma.

Itch for the Pitch

FIFA 2021 also gets a few interesting changes. A lot of players appreciate the Sim mode. In it, you can assemble a champion team and begin a match to see how your draftees handle the heat.

What’s even better, you can always turn from a neutrally observing demiurge into an athlete warrior and join the match at any moment. Choosing any role.

Another cool feature is in the career mode, where you can tweak the player's parameters and see how it results in their overall rating and performance. However, fruits of your labor won’t come quick — it takes a few in-game weeks for a player to evolve. 

The Career mode is still here, and you still need to play Volta — the street football version, which means “Return” in Portuguese — to complete it. 

The SM will take you throughout the world’s football slums playing football in 1v1, 2v2, etc. modes with a max number of players per team being 5. 

What adds charm to the SM are the gritty, down-to-earth decorations that accompany you on this rough journey. Plus, FIFA 2021 Story mode finally gets a multiplayer regime — something that the previous game desperately lacked.

The Star Constellation

As usual, the FIFA game has an impressive roster of athletes. Unfortunately, unlocking FUT teams without IAPs is somewhat problematic. 

At the moment, there are about 1,000 athletes from across the world. If you’re a fan of  a certain football club, odds are it’s present on the game’s menu, as it has a rich repertoire of those: 

• Liverpool, 
• Defensa, 
• Melbourne City, 
• TSV Hartberg,
• Royal Antwerp FC,
• Atlético Mineiro,
• Qingdao Huanghai,
• SønderjyskE,
• Gamba Osaka,
• Lokomotiv Moscow, and so on.

So, building a team of your dream will be a challenging, but also a captivating adventure. Ole-ole, as they say.