We have now tested the game for two weeks on Playstation 5 and would like to give you a first impression of the game. So is it the best FIFA ever or just another minor upgrade?
Now it is here: FIFA 23, the last FIFA under EA. It all started in 1993 with FIFA International Soccer for Sega Mega Drive, with FIFA 23 the annual licence series under Electronic Arts comes to an end. Starting next year, the series will be published under the title “EA Sports FC”. In addition, FIFA itself wants to bring its own football game onto the market. However, there is no more detailed information about this at the moment. But let’s talk about FIFA 23 now.
Playability
The first impression is that FIFA 23 looks more natural and contrasty than its predecessor. For example, straddles leave traces in the turf. FIFA 23 also makes a very good impression in terms of gameplay. The players move more realistically, passes work better and duels feel more natural. So EA takes a step in the right direction.
Innovations
Powershot: Thanks to the new Powershot, long-distance shots are now more fun. If you have enough time. Because it takes a relatively long time until the player fires the shot.
Standards: Penalty kicks, corners and free kicks have been adjusted. For example, you can now see the distance to the goal for free kicks. In addition, we can determine where we want to hit the ball, just like with corner kicks. For penalty kicks, an increasingly smaller circle is now displayed. With the right timing, the goal rate is now significantly higher – not to say that the new system is almost too easy.
Tutorial: EA has also improved FIFA 23 for beginners. There are extended tutorial options and training or skill games.
Game modes
Career mode: Not much has changed compared to the predecessor. A few new animations and popular coaches are nice, but disillusionment soon sets in. EA can be more creative here in the future.
Player mode: Additional cutscenes and character settings await us here. These are only small things, but they increase the fun factor.
Pro Club: From our point of view, Pro Club only makes sense if you found a club together with friends. The random online mode seems more like children’s football, as hardly anyone sticks to position or tactics. Otherwise, there are minor changes with extended rewards. Baby steps forward, so to speak.
FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT): The good news first: FUT remains playable without real money. And yet FUT is to a certain extent Pay2Win driven. Nevertheless, FUT has been the reason why many fans buy the new FIFA every year for years. Division Rivals, single-player and online Drafts, Squad Building Challenges – FUT provides a lot of long-term motivation with its different modes. Two innovations also improve the good impression: The chemistry system has been completely revised and there are the so-called FUT moments, where we can collect additional rewards.
Volta: The FIFA Street mode VOLTA is also really fun in the new version and offers fans a good time. New arcade mini-games such as basketball football add to the good mood.
Conclusion:
FIFA 23 is definitely much better than the previous version. FIFA 23 plays better and more comprehensible than its predecessor and also looks visually nicer. In other words: FIFA 23 is a very good football simulation with which you can have fun for hours. However, it is not a real football revolution.