FIFA 21
FIFA 21
Three Big Gameplay Improvements Coming To FIFA 21
Publisher: EA Sports
Developer: EA Vancouver
Release: October
9, 2020 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC), TBA (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X)
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4,
Xbox One, PC
Agile Dribbling Takes The Game To A More Competitive Level
Dribbling is a
fundamental part of the game, and this skill can be make-or-break when it comes
to achieving victory. We’ve seen players’ fast footwork trick defenders,
providing an opening for them to blow past their cover for a satisfying scoring
chance. In FIFA 21, the standard dribbling has been improved to be more
responsive and quick, but a new, more refined technique called “agile
dribbling,” is also being added to your arsenal.
Agile dribbling gives you more advanced ways to outsmart your
defender and assert yourself on the pitch. All you need to tap into it is press
the right bumper while moving the left stick in the direction you want. This
allows you to move the ball side to side and back and forth with ease, and it’s
a great tool to have to prevent yourself from getting tackled and blowing past
a defender when they overcommit in a certain direction. However, keep in mind,
the dribbling attribute of the player you’re controlling will determine how
successful you will be with this technique. Players known for their dribbling
like Mbappé and Messi will be much faster and effective than most.
Testing this during our hands-on proved this much; the controls
are easy enough to activate, but agile dribbling does require some mastery.
It’s easy to lose the ball if you’re not careful, but it’s also satisfying to
boot when you outsmart a defender with your sweet moves. This is one technique
we expect to really see shine in competitive play, especially those who are
just gunning for their big stars to embarrass their opponents.
Improved A.I. Intelligence Makes For More
Realistic Interactions
A lot of effort has gone
into elevating the A.I. and ensuring it’s making more realistic and intelligent
decisions on the field. One of the most promising new features is called
“positioning personality,” which strives to make players feel different depending
on their position and skill attributes. From striker to fullback, every
position plays differently and requires different intelligences, and likewise,
every player has their own personal strengths and weaknesses.
For some examples of how this functions in FIFA 21, top forwards
are less likely to get caught offside and recognize when they need to create a
passing lane. Defenders are overall more likely to cut off passing lanes and
the more skilled ones will recognize runs earlier, giving them a better chance
to break it up. “This means that players that are good tactically are going to
have a bigger impact in FIFA regardless of their pace, dribbling, and shooting
attributes, which for years have been the most impactful ones,” says lead
gameplay producer Sam Riviera.
EA Sports also worked on its collision system to make the physical
action on the pitch much more natural. Now players won’t run directly into
other players, trying to avoid unnecessary contact, like jumping over a sliding
player. If there is a collision, EA worked to improve the physics so players
wouldn’t get stuck together in large groups like in previous entries. This may
seem like a minor improvement, but it does create more space and less pileups,
making for a smoother experience.
For players looking for a challenge but feel like the CPU has been
too predictable and easy in the past, a new competitor mode, which replicates
the playstyles of some of the best FIFA professionals in the world, is for you.
In this difficulty mode, teams will use all their skill moves, aggressively
pass, and find the best ways to score. Expect the A.I. to pull out all stops,
and it’s a lot of fun trying to stay one step ahead of them.
Creative Runs Is A Difference-Maker
Of all of the tweaks and additions, the one that felt the most
impactful and promising is creative runs. You now have more control over
telling your A.I. players where you want them to go. This is a godsend for
getting your players in the best spaces to execute on your game plan. Now right
after a pass, you can flick the right stick in any direction and the passing
player will start moving there, such as sending them to the wing or requesting
they do a diagonal run. This is the first time you have 360-degree control of
the run, giving you plenty of options for ways to create chances.
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