FIFA 23 introduces an almost life-like footballing experience with the new Hypermotion2 technology.
FIFA 23 has just been released. This is a good time to be a football fan around the world. We are only a couple of months into the brand-new football season, and we simply needed another FIFA game as a reason to enjoy the 2022/2023 season fully. When there is no football on, then you would at least have something else to enjoy to prevent you from suffering from football withdrawals. However, whilst many of us are rightfully excited for the latest instalment, it also comes with sad news.
As you may have heard, FIFA 23 will be the last FIFA game of the franchise. Unfortunately, this is not a joke. This instalment will be the last. We will enter into a new era next year. Due to Electronic Arts’ long-lasting partnership coming to an end, there will be a new name from next year on. It’ll be called EA Sports FC. The name does not really excite it, but maybe they will change it eventually.
It has been an incredible 30 years. When you think back to the greatest games of the franchise. FIFA has been a huge part of our gaming experience, and it is heartbreaking that it is coming to a close. But we will keep this series dear in our hearts and look forward to the future. As of now, FIFA 23 is here. Now, because of this, it would be ideal for Electronic Arts to go hard on the latest instalment. This franchise needs to go out with a great send-off, and by doing that, we would hope that this game is among the best games in the series’ history.
That means we would have to see massive changes made all around. Plus, this would need to be the most realistic football game ever. And, with the introduction of the new Hypermotion2 system, we hope this is the case. I’ve heard a lot about this new technology and also seen some videos, and I liked what I saw. It looked very promising. Now, whether it has improved the game considerably is a whole different conversation.
FIFA 23 has finally introduced cross-platform play into the series. Wouldn’t it be great if you were to play unlimited matches with friends who don’t have the same console? Well, with FIFA 23, you can finally be able to do that. It has been a long time coming. But thankfully, it has finally arrived. Another thing that’s arrived is much greater coverage of women’s football.
You didn’t think they put Chelsea’s Sam Kerr alongside Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappé just for attraction, did you? No, Electronic Arts has shown more respect for the female side of the game by adding features such as including their English and French leagues, respectively. Both leagues are licensed, by the way. I’m sure that women’s football fans will appreciate these additions and feel as if women’s football is getting more recognition in football gaming.
If you are a Juventus fan. Then you are in for a treat. The historic Serie A club has returned to being a fully licensed team. The generic name ‘Piemonte Calcio’ was tedious and lacked authenticity. The name alone would put off any player from using the team. Glad to see the actual club’s name back in FIFA.
When it comes to football’s biggest tournaments, Electronic Arts are on show. Plus, it will make us get more in touch with the upcoming tournament in Qatar and have our own experiences. Fortunately, they have stuck with this tradition, and EA deserves credit for doing so. Although it isn’t due until November. Yes, FIFA 23 will have the FIFA World Cup mode. Also, don’t worry; women’s football fans will not miss out on this because this mode will have both men’s and women’s tournaments.
Besides these, not much has changed when it comes to game modes. You still play a decent number of different modes. That includes the Champions League mode, which is also still licensed. It’s enjoyable taking your team to European glory. The career mode could have been better, though. Although playing as either a manager or a player can be fun most times, features like press conferences and cut scenes seem repetitive.
You can sense that the offensive mechanics are great this year in FIFA 23. You have many different ways of shooting and scoring. The new dead-ball system has changed and looks nifty. You can now change the way you deliver crosses from corners or free-kicks. I particularly like that each match gives you different tasks and gives you the incentive to complete them. Plus, during games, especially when you mess up, you are given tips in the top right corner to improve your game.
I can’t really say the same on defense. Many times, it’s a struggle to dispossess players and also close them down. It’s almost as if this game was set up for high-scoring matches, which can be cool sometimes, as we like entertaining matches. But at the same time, we would like to record clean sheets, and it should not feel like an impossible mission in order to achieve this.
Also, the passing mechanics are pretty weak. I shouldn’t be having a faster heart rate because of the high risk of fumbling even two-yard passes. The goalkeeping mechanic doesn’t really improve this problem. Although there are some promising new features in the goalkeeping system. Overall, the performance seemed to have receded.
It’s much easier to score against them, regardless of the game’s difficulty, including one-on-one situations. It’s almost certain you’ll hit the back of the net. Overall, the gameplay is wildly inconsistent. Ironically, it doesn’t actually pose severe threats to my enjoyment, mainly due to Hypermotion2.
FIFA 23 has produced what could be the future of football gaming. I am referring to a revolutionary gaming system called Hypermotion2. We are talking about a technology that features 6000 animations that collectively mimic close to real-life football matches. Player movement is the most realistic I have ever seen in a football game. I was stunned as to how they move is identical to human counterparts. From players making arm gestures because they want the ball to goalkeepers having fluid finger motions to the football net moving much more fluidly.
It even managed to capture many high-profile footballers’ dribbling and running styles. If you need more proof. Here’s an example. When you select Chelsea and pass the ball to Raheem Sterling, you will instantly notice his exact dinosaur-like running style. It will leave you jaw-dropping. How the developer has pulled these off is beyond me.
Well done to Electronic Arts for fixing Karim Benzema’s face. Because last year, he looked almost unrecognisable. Same with other high-profile players. The designs of the fans and their animations are also realistic. As well as intros before matches. Other than that, the artwork of the stadiums, pitches, etc. They are pretty much the same. But this isn’t something I would be too concerned with, as they look vibrant, especially on a current-gen console.
You get that feel-good factor when fans cheer and chant in FIFA 23. Or you would feel ashamed when they’re booing you because of poor performances. Or enthusiasm to keep going after missing big chances. Or when the Champions League anthem is playing. Or sounds of actions, such as the ball kicking or managers and players screaming. It’s also a great touch of the developer to add fans screaming Siu with Cristiano Ronaldo whenever he is doing his iconic celebration. This is exactly the level of authenticity a FIFA player should experience.
Sadly, the British commentary does not match. I hope this is the last time we see the Alan McInally and Stewart Robson partnership. There is virtually no chemistry between them, and they talk like they’ve just met each other. Their commentary does not give me any feel-good vibes whatsoever. You’re better off muting them; it wouldn’t make a difference. Or even switching to foreign commentary. Because at least they give you some excitement. Electronic Arts’ choice in music this year is okay. But I liked just two songs from the list.
FIFA 23 has impressed me and exceeded my expectations. Especially in recent years. With the considerable improvements made, this is undoubtedly one of the most authentic football games ever. Although there are obvious glaring issues that should be addressed, I’m having a lot of fun with this game nonetheless. And I can actually see myself playing this installment throughout the year. It’s sad to see a historic franchise come to a close, but FIFA 23 capped off a great ending to what has been an inconsistent era.
FIFA 23 is available on PlayStation 4 & PlayStation 5, Xbox ONE, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Windows. Also, follow our website for the latest video game reviews.
