There is seldom a football fan who doesn’t spend time in front of a screen simulating a virtual football game. Although the rivalry between PES and FIFA, the two main football game developers, is almost Messi-Ronaldo(ish) intense, it is FIFA that trumps its counterpart.
Started in 1993, the video game series has become an integral part of football culture that one can never deny. There have been 24 FIFA games till date, but not all of them make the cut to be the best football simulator. Here, we take a look at five of the best FIFA games of all time.
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#5 FIFA 96
Released in the year 1995, this was the first FIFA game that introduced 3D graphics, while kicking off onto the screens of the PlayStation 1, the Sega Saturn, Gameboy, SNES and the evergreen PC. The cover featured ex-footballer Ioan Sabu, from Romania who had rendered services for a number of clubs. It was a bestseller in the UK at the time.
However, what makes the game stand out is that it was the first FIFA game to feature real rosters, real kits, ranking and positions. The American League (MLS was formed recently back then) had fictitious names, and the Brazilian teams were inaccurate as they had even long retired players featuring in the game. It was still a first of its kind back then and that helped it make the cut.
#4 FIFA 16
This FIFA was the first football game to feature playable female athletes, although it was restricted to national teams. EA Sports showed their humane side as they added Portsmouth’s stadium Fratton Park in the game in honour of FIFA’s creative director Simon Humber, Portsmouth fan, who died in 2015 due to cancer.
It has been one of the best FIFAs due to its super high graphics, gameplay and even the inclusion of famous legends such as Deco, Ryan Giggs and George Best. Messi reprised his role as the cover star, ultimately for the last time. Also, the mobile version of FIFA 16 offered a new gameplay engine which gave a whole new feel to playing FIFA on mobile phones.
#3 FIFA 17
The latest FIFA game yet, but is not good enough to be number 1. EA Sports took a major step in completely changing the game engine from the Ignite engine to the Frostbite, the same engine used in Battlefield 1 and Star Wars Battlefront. The game underwent many changes.
Set pieces were the ones that had the most impact. They were completely rewritten. Free kicks and Penalties were not the same old wait-for-the-green-bar stuff or the move-LS-shoot also. The ball can be curved in many different ways, the player can choose to go to the near or far post. On the whole it has only improved, and the game also has received positive reviews.
#2 FIFA 12
FIFA 12 is seen as the fast paced arcade-ish styled football game with good graphics and that propels FIFA 12 to the number two spot on this list. The gameplay featured big overhauls compared to its predecessor FIFA 11. The cover featured United forward Wayne Rooney for the last time.
The three major changes brought to the game was the introduction of the Impact engine (that improves momentum preservation of the in game body, variances in collision which has actually led to some comical fails on YouTube and accuracy of the gameplay), tactical defending (which seemed to be a pain for sometime because it was a new way of defending which players had to adapt to) and Precision dribbling, which improved attack motions of a player with the ball.
#1 FIFA 13
Yes, ladies and gentlemen. The king of football games, FIFA 13!
FIFA 13 strikes the PERFECT balance between its predecessor’s fast paced arcade style and its successor’s (FIFA 14) highly realistic simulation. There is just something about playing this game that mere words can never describe. What more, the fans proved it. The demo of the game was downloaded a record 1.99 million times three days since its release.
It sold more than a million copies within two days in the UK. The gameplay is very fluid, but fast paced at the same time, aside from featuring an amazing soundtrack while we’re away shooting and doing skills in the practice arena. It is indeed, the best FIFA game of all time.
There you have it, fellow FIFA players. Although there is only one game from the 1990s and none from the 2000s, these were the revolutionary games that had mind boggling features that were not thought of at the time. It significantly changed the way the beautiful game is portrayed. The FIFA culture is still going strong, it will never die...
P.S. These are personal views only. Now go get your dose of FIFA!
