14 DAY TRIAL // FIFA 15 is the biggest sports-based launch of the year and a demo of the game is at the moment offered on a number of platforms, allowing gamers to experience the core game engine that has been upgraded for the Microsoft-made Xbox One, the PlayStation 4 from Sony, and the PC.
I fired up a match against the Artificial Intelligence first, playing Liverpool against Manchester City and trying to see how the claims about smarter teammates and opponents hold up and whether goalkeepers are better at stopping shots.
Playing against the AI can be boring
The entire FIFA 15 experience seems to have more weight than before, with players putting more force into tackles and long-range shots, and with a little more control when they have the ball at their feet.
The change of pace between simply walking and running is also bigger and gives an extra advantage to those players who have higher pace.
The AI in FIFA 15 feels unchanged in many ways, a little shy when it comes to attacks, especially when pressing is employed, and very precise on the defensive.
Humans have new options to play around with
I then fired up a match against another human being and we quickly slipped into the same routines that we executed in FIFA 14.
The much talked about improved goalkeepers have not made an appearance, although the new animations do allow them to be more decisive when corners and set pieces that lead to headers are involved.
Players do seem to be more adept at creating space, especially the high-quality attacking forces of both Liverpool and Barcelona, but when it comes to defensive work, teams still seem to be caught on the wrong foot too easily.
FIFA 15 continues to be a fast and fluid football experience, with some spectacular moments at both ends of the pitch, but I would have liked changes that have a clearer impact on a match.
I like the new team management mechanics that EA Sports has introduced and the way half-time breaks are now handled with good highlight selections.
The presentation of the video game is also significantly improved, especially when it comes to the stadiums and the best-known players, but there are some weird running animations, especially when a player is getting ready to shoot towards goal.
Take a look at the attached images and video to get a better idea of how FIFA 15 plays on the Xbox One.
The game will be offered on the PC, Microsoft's current-gen console, the PlayStation 4 from Sony and last-gen consoles on September 23 in North America and on September 25 in Europe.
