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EA Sports has released 30 mainline video games in the “FIFA” franchise since its inception in 1993. Though the concept of these games is simple, a combination of different tweaks throughout every subsequent title has given each one a unique take on the sport. By revisiting and perfecting every aspect of older games in “FIFA 15,” EA Sports created its best title in the franchise.
The Build Up To The Release Date
The hype for the game was unreal. One of the biggest reasons for the great anticipation from fans was the arrival of many new signings to major European clubs who hoped to strengthen their squads in hopes of winning big in the 2014-15 season. Players like Ivan Rakitic, who had just led Sevilla to European glory, and James Rodriguez, who was one of the best performers of the 2014 World Cup, made moves to two of the biggest clubs in the world after having impressed FC Barcelona and CF Real Madrid. With all the new transfers in club soccer, gamers would be able to utilize them in the game.
It also helped that “FIFA 15” had one of the most beloved promotional campaigns in franchise history, with memorable advertisements featuring big-name stars and even an in-depth look at the work that goes on behind the scenes1. The advertisements, which were released both during the lead-up to “FIFA 15″‘s due date and again during the holiday season just a few months later, included the highly viewed “Messi vs Hazard” Christmas commercial.
The commercial, which pitted two of the best players in the world against each other in an epic kickoff battle while Christmas music plays, featured the two athletes displaying all the usual sentiments felt between friends during play, including frustration at missing clear chances and excitement after finally scoring. All the while, anthropomorphic gingerbread treats cheer them on.
The behind-the-scenes videos, on the other hand, provided viewers with a learning experience and a more personal scope into the world of the sport. The video, titled “Chicharito Is My Nemesis,” which featured the legendary American goalkeeper, Tim Howard, showcased what it’s like for goalkeepers during the motion-capture process. At the same time, Howard allows fans to get to know him better by answering some very insightful questions about his experiences as a professional soccer player.
Innovations To Career Mode
The new and improved manager career mode made things much easier for new fans of the game. In all the titles prior, EA Sports lacked in making the experience a truly interactive one riddled with realism, but that all changed when “FIFA 15” was released.
Features made to mimic real-world coaching systems made the mode feel more complete and faithful to the managerial world. Aside from lining up teams however they wanted, gamers had to learn how to budget their club’s finances accordingly, but there were ways to receive more financial backing.
Struggling to buy a young superstar with loads of potential or even a grizzled veteran with a few years of class left in the tank? No problem; the option to request additional funds offered the perfect solution, albeit with great risk.
By failing to meet new expectations raised by the need for financial backing, players could expect to get relieved of their managerial duties at their club and be forced to pick from a list of options for a vacant role to continue. With a good résumé of trophies won and proven success, a good option wouldn’t be hard to come by.
Player career also took a similar approach to realism, allowing gamers to create their own players, with options to choose from an assortment of hairstyles, facial hair, accessories, and even their cleats of choice.
As a newbie to the professional world, playing time could be limited depending on what club or league level the gamer decided to pick. If they wished to become a starter, their best bet would be to take a loan offer to a developmental league like the Eredivisie in order to rack up minutes of playing time and develop attributes.
The mode also allowed gamers to represent their selected country of birth to participate in their regional tournaments, the Confederations Cup, and even the World Cup for their national team if it was one of the countries EA included. Gamers who picked the player career option could even retire whenever they wanted and continue their journey as a head coach.
New & Improved Kickoff Features
Arguably the biggest attraction of the game, kickoff mode was in desperate need of change after having utilized virtually the same look and workings for years. With the expected influx of new fans of the sport following the 2014 FIFA World Cup, EA Sports had to make things accessible enough so that all gamers could enjoy the new title, and that they did.
The all-new squad customization feature, which made switching between formations and starting players much easier to navigate through, became the foundation for the formula that is still in use to this day, more than a decade later. After getting rid of the outdated and uninspired look from days past, EA upped the feature by placing the base cards of the starting eleven above a backdrop of a field.
Longtime fans of the franchise also received many major treats, like the addition of more legends to the Classic XI team, a team made up of legendary players who left a mark on their respective eras. By heading over to the rest of the world in the kickoff section, gamers could pick the team filled with legends of the sport, all with their prime attributes from the best years of their playing days.
The addition of new chants and crowd reactions also boosted the atmosphere of stadiums and made the fan presence feel livelier than ever. Whether a long-range power shot curled itself into the top of the net or a player went down in the penalty box during a crucial moment of a match, the crowd had an appropriate reaction for every occasion.
These elements, coupled with the improved pre-match visuals, gave a much more exhilarating feel and look. To this day, fans of the franchise often find themselves returning to “FIFA 15” for boasting many of the most beloved kits that teams have ever worn.
Some of these favorites include Bayern Munchen’s iconic blue and red striped home kit, the first that Robert Lewandowski would wear before becoming an all-time great for the club, Real Madrid’s classic black away kit featuring a dragon, and of course, Barcelona’s home kit. After the successful run that would occur in the following months, the jersey would become immortalized and inseparable from the legendary trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar.
Music
Up until the release of the game, and for a few more installments after, EA Sports had mastered the art of scouting when it came to up-and-coming musical talent. With the reach that the FIFA games had during their heyday, they helped boost the careers of many artists like MGMT and Foals by including them in their soundtracks.
In “FIFA 15,” EA Sports once again managed to impress by including songs from various genres in its soundtrack. With a combination of hip hop, alternative rock, and electronic dance music, among many other genres, the company made sure that it could provide gamers with at least a couple of tracks they might enjoy2.
Whether the tracks played in the career mode hub or during kickoff team selection, songs like Avicii’s “The Nights” or Nico and Vinz’s “When The Day Comes” helped to create a positive vibe to keep the love for the game going.
The soundtrack, which is regarded by many fans to be among the best in the franchise, impressed so much that many of the artists featured would once again appear in subsequent releases, like the innovative duo, Milky Chance, Jungle, and Catfish and the Bottlemen.
While the music selection throughout the different titles in the franchise has never reached a terrible level of quality, the same can’t be said about the future releases themselves.
How The FIFA Games Lost Their Spark
Disappointment had always plagued FIFA fans, even during the golden age of the franchise, but by “FIFA 23,” things became much more noticeable. The stagnation and eventual decline, which was powered by major changes and the inclusion of unwanted or unnecessary minor features, has resulted in fewer sales over the years3.
After losing the rights to certain teams and leagues, many fans of the franchise have been ostracized and left with no choice but to skip out on the most recent releases. The most notable losses include Mexico’s top-flight division, Liga MX, as well as legendary clubs like AC Milan and Inter Milan.
However, the issues go beyond licensing issues. Only a few installments after “FIFA 15” was released, the number of players with 90+ rated base cards skyrocketed. Today, it is common to see players reach those heights without having anywhere near as much talent as the people who once held the honor, which has killed the hype. With more than seven of these ratings in the most recent release compared to only two in “FIFA 15,” it appears that EA no longer reserves the honor for the true greats.
Marco Reus, who recorded double-digit goal contributions in his prime and had many European powerhouse clubs on his trail, was rewarded with a rating of 85 in “FIFA 14,” while players of the same position who are much less effective at changing the outcome of a game received similar or even better ratings in future installments.
Can The “FIFA” Franchise Return To Form?
With “FIFA 15,” the franchise proved that it could create the perfect soccer video game, but EA Sports has seemingly forgotten what it really is that fans want. While no franchise should ever be afraid of testing out new things to try and impress fans, the companies behind these beloved titles should be more mindful of the features that made them enjoyable in the first place.
In order to make a strong comeback in the market, the next “FIFA” entry should place a heavy emphasis on what fans have requested for years, which might include taking a look back at the most beloved aspects of “FIFA 15.”