October 6th brings another iteration of the FIFA franchise to consoles and PC. The massively popular game is expected to be one of the best FIFA editions in recent memory. With major changes coming to all modes in FIFA 21, fans of the game are wondering whether these changes will actually do anything for the game.
For years now, fans of FIFA have been disappointed with each iteration of the franchise only introducing a few changes to gameplay or the addition of certain small modes, and not making any good and required changes in the already existing game modes, like Career Mode. Arguably the most played game modes in the FIFA franchise are Career Mode and Ultimate Team. These two game modes are vital for FIFA, especially Ultimate Team, as it is where EA will gain most of their profits, with players buying card packs. Ultimate Team, as a result has been managed a bit better than Career Mode, with small changes coming in as well as a revolving weekly, monthly and seasonal squad that basically introduces new content into the game mode every week, month, and at the end of each season.
Career Mode, however, has long been stagnant. Each rendition is a crude copy of the previous years and when new features have been put in, they either seem too small or too simplistic. An example of this is the interactive features added to the Manager Mode. This feature allowed players to watch cutscenes of press conferences or meetings with other managers and players while having control over what the playable manager says. It is supposed to add some realism while giving the user a unique way to improve certain stats, like player morale or team chemistry. Instead, it comes off as annoying cutscenes that would be better off left alone. The post and pre-match conferences are pointless as player morale and team chemistry can grow by simply winning. Other times, the right option is so obvious that the power these cutscenes are meant to have is rendered fairly useless. The meetings are a good touch as it allows for immediate transfer talks. However, the lack of options takes away from the realism the feature tried to add.
So, with FIFA 21 around the corner, focus now shifts to see if EA can finally release the game that the gaming community has been asking for. FIFA 21 promises many changes to all aspects of the game, from gameplay to game modes, EA seems to have some big plans for the upcoming title.
Gameplay
Let’s start with the announced changes to the gameplay. One of the biggest changes promised to us comes in the form of a new feature termed, Player Personality. This will basically give each player a unique feel to it and will make use of all the available stats to determine the player’s uses in a game. So, in FIFA 21 when a player takes a shot, the game will analyze multiple attributes and stats, and this will affect the quality of the shot. The best players will be well-rounded in their area of expertise. This means that there increasing one of the main stats would not help much if the others are not as high. For example, if a player has high short passing but low vision, the accuracy, and delivery of balls may not be as expected.
This is a big change and is also something that has been offered almost every year. EA announces that they are going to change the way the game analyzes player abilities; however, this depth of analysis is not something that we have seen before. What better way to showcase your own favorite player’s overall class than with an improvement to the dribbling system.
Agile Dribbling will be featured on FIFA 21. This skill, or more likely trait, will allow the user to execute some quick footwork to move the ball from side to side to keep it away from any defenders. This feature looks like it will make the game a bit faster as the more skilled players will be using it to hold possession up the field or take multiple defenders on in a race to the goal. Along with this, EA has shown us that AI-controlled players will now also be intelligent enough to use these new features, making the overall game a bit harder.
Another marketed change is creative runs. The AI usually sends players running into space in search of a through ball or a lofted pass over the defense. Now, the player has more control over this. By using the right stick, the users can control where the runs are directed. This gives the user the ability to make the right pass or force the right run. This feature will greatly improve the already poor AI that, especially in Player Career Mode, does not do the user many favors.
Finally, EA announced two improvements to already existing features, a better collision system and a game that has a better understanding of the fundamental football skills. These two changes may seem cosmetic, but when you realize that this probably means no more unnatural glitches stopping players or improved understanding of where the user wants the pass to go, it could really change the game. The way FIFA works now, on the higher difficulties, at times passing seems risky because you are not sure whether the ball is going to Player A or Player B. However, with improvements to the passing mechanics, especially the off-the-ball mechanics, EA can fix this. The feature to be most excited about is the improvement to headers. Manual Headers are being introduced to allow players to direct their headers precisely. The collision system ensures that players will not fall over every time they come in contact with another and will, as a result, make the game feel a lot smoother.
Career Mode
The one aspect of FIFA that has needed the most attention for years has been Career Mode. FIFA 20 saw a few new improvements but nothing major. However, with what EA has promised, FIFA 21 Career Mode can rewrite the way Career Mode has been played in the past. Some features from older titles are making a comeback while new features promise a Career Mode experience like none other.
Firstly, the returning features. Interactive Match Sim is making a comeback and it is about time. Its been over a decade since users have had the ability to jump into a game mid simulation in case something goes wrong. Now, users will be given the ability to actually see the play being simulated, jump in at the right moment, and even jump back out to the simulation screen. This way of playing the game is very new as it will involve a more managerial approach. Users can analyze the game in the simulation, make substitutions that would help their team, change the formation, or just jump in when their team really needs them. It will also eliminate the luck, or unluck, of simulating the entire game immediately.
Another returning feature is Schedule Planning. This one affects the training of players in Career Mode. Around the same time that the original interactive simulator was around, users had the ability to set up training days for the squad on the Manager’s Calendar. However, the user now has even more control over this. With the ability to train a single player or a group of players, and assigning it to a day on the calendar, the manager can understand the weak points of their team and try to work on them. On top of that, users can now manage when the players will rest and train and thus, control their fitness and sharpness stats (the latter being a new feature that dictates how well players perform at peak fitness) throughout the season.
Another improvement comes in opposition AI. FIFA 21 is looking to bring in a smarter opposition AI that will make the right decisions while defending and attacking to make the user’s game that much harder. Users will now have to rely on breaking a team down, rather than running past a couple of players. The AI can fill in space, make important runs, and use dribbling skills to get past the user whenever necessary, making the game more challenging for everyone.
Onto the new features, firstly, the new transfer options. FIFA 21’s Career Mode will have new transfer options, like Loan with an option to Buy. This will make the user’s choices during the transfer period more important. Users will be able to make better deals, signing players temporarily and then signing on with them if they fit in. On top of that, the AI will be able to make player swap deals so as to give users more options while dealing.
Another new feature is the Active Training and Player Development. Both of these features go hand in hand, so I will include them as one feature. Active Training allows users to train multiple players at once in order to not only boost individual stats but also morale and chemistry. It can also show users the strong and weak points within every group, so they are aware of which attacker strikes from outside the box better or which midfielder can play the most accurate passes. More time playing with a squad will allow users to grow more comfortable with each player and ultimately, increase the chances that the squad does better. When you combine this feature with the new Player Development, team management takes a whole new meaning.
In FIFA 21 Career mode, the users can now control the position of individual players like never before. To fill in missing gaps in the squad, a manager can make a player train a way to introduce them to a new position and role in the squad. This allows for more flexibility. For example, you are playing as Liverpool and Mane or Salah picks up an injury. To fill their position, you can either buy or loan a player or train up a player like Trent Alexander Arnold or Robertson to move to that position until the injured players return.
Ultimate Team/FUT 21
FIFA 21 brings online play back in Ultimate Team. Now, the game is offering squad games. FUT CO-OP allows users from around the world to team up with friends and compete against other teams or the AI in order to progress and build a dream team.
Ultimate Team also introduces FUT Events. This feature introduces various events in the game that allows users to unlock unique cards and players to add to their squads while earning coins that they can then spend in the FUT store. These events range from tournaments against other players to games against pre-built squads.Online play also gets faster play. This means shorter celebrations, faster restarts when the ball is out of play and fewer replays to allow for games to be quick and more focused on the action. The management of the squad also gets a bit easier with certain items, like fitness items, removed. Now players will regenerate all their fitness after a game.
The FUT Menu is also getting redesigned to give users more access to the game. Now users will be able to jump straight into the mode of their choice with minimal difficulty. Finally, Ultimate Team gets a companion app with the EA SPORTS FIFA Companion App. This will allow players to customize their squads, sign new stars, customize their FUT stadiums and control all aspects of management of their team on the move.
Some of the biggest changes are coming to the customization of your squad. As mentioned above, customizable stadiums are now being introduced. Users can also customize the style of the squad and even the way the fans in the stadium will interact with the game, from custom chants to celebrations.
The features, while few, go hand in hand with gameplay changes. On top of this, we should expect a few more changes and improvements, especially in player overalls throughout the season and how they might affect gameplay in online modes. The idea of taking couch play and putting it in FUT 21 is ingenious, especially during a pandemic lockdown.
VOLTA Football
Arguably the best addition to FIFA 20 was VOLTA. The FIFA Street game mode introduced in last year’s game left many users wanting more, with a solid story and some fun gameplay, VOLTA’s return is highly anticipated.
FIFA 21 will allow for online VOLTA games allowing for 4-a-side and 5-a-side games with friends or other members of the online community. This game mode, VOLTA SQUADS, can expand the scope that VOLTA had in the FIFA 20. Also, the introduction of divisions and ranks gives players something to fight for.
VOLTA 21 also introduces a way to familiarize yourself with the VOLTA mechanics and gameplay, something that was lacking in FIFA 20. The Debut allows new users to learn the ropes of street football from the legendary Kaka. Along with tons of changes for you and your squad, the game modes of VOLTA 21 are leaving people anxious to play the game.
Along with changes in the game modes, the changes in gameplay in FIFA 21 will affect VOLTA. Agile dribbling will be something that fits right into VOLTA gameplay and the addition of new skill moves and easy-to-use techniques, like nutmegs and energized skill moves, seems like a homage to the FIFA street games of old.
All in all, VOLTA looks like it is just getting started. Unlike the Alex Hunter story modes, VOLTA is a game mode that should and probably will stay in FIFA titles for many years to come.
Final Thoughts
If EA delivers on all these changes, we will see a game that is very different than FIFA 20. This is good news, but could it be too late? Over the years, FIFA has lost a lot of users, either to rival games like PES or just players giving up on sporting games. However, the lockdown has given EA a chance to strike back with FIFA 21 and hopefully bring the beautiful game back to the screens of users around the world.
It is great to see so many new changes to Career Mode and exciting to hear all about the new and improved VOLTA, however, these changes need to make a real difference in the game. If this turns into another interactive manager simulator like the press conferences, the game will be another copy of the old title. EA needed to revamp the way they made FIFA and with this upcoming title, they might have that opportunity.
All I can say is this, I am excited about the future for FIFA games, but at the same time, I have been disappointed many times before. I hope that EA can get this right and creates a game like the ones they once made a decade ago.