Hardcore FIFA fans have probably picked up 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, but if you’re a casual fan like me, you might be wondering just what the difference is between this World Cup-branded title and the previously released FIFA 14.
There’s quite a bit, as it turns out.
If FIFA 14 was about hyper-realism and physics, striving to be as true-to-life as possible, 2014 FIFA World Cup is all about arcade-type fun. It’s easier to score. It’s easier to pass. It’s easier in general. On top of that, the colour and vibrancy of the World Cup itself shines through in the game. The result is a fun little football game.
Traditional FIFA 14 modes have been dropped in favour of World Cup events and fixtures. If you’re a fan of the event itself, then Road to the World Cup mode is for you. I much preferred the Be A Pro-like Captain Your Country mode, locking myself in as one player and trying to rise to the top of my team. Mostly, I found myself heading back to the Adidas miCoach training exercises and just mucking about between games.
When I say the game is easy, I mean easy. Starting up, 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil decided I needed to play in beginner difficulty, and straight away I was winning games 15-0. Those scores were still occurring after I got bored scoring so often; I started to have my player sit in the centre of the pitch, ball on foot, just to kill time in the second half. The game was so gentle with me, AI attackers weren’t coming after the ball. I was scoring less with each level of difficulty I rose, of course, but AI competitors are nothing compared to FIFA 14 proper.
Just because it’s not FIFA 14 doesn’t mean this new game hasn’t benefited from the former’s improved physics and animations. That said, as good as 2014 FIFA World Cup looks, it’s not a current-gen title powered by EA’s new IGNITE engine. There’s some good and bad to take from that.
Like I said, hardcore fans know that World Cup-branded FIFA titles are the easier, arcade-like iterations of the franchise. Those same fans will know if the game is a proper fit for them. For those that really enjoy FIFA 14 and don’t need the colourful spectacle of the World Cup, you should probably steer clear; especially if you’re on current-gen platforms and used to IGNITE itself.
