Yep, I've tried quite a few games now, trying to find one to settle on.
PES17 & FIFA 16 are both very good but FIFA 14 is the one.
I'm on console, so no mods. I've setup my own sliders. Most drastic one is shot speed at 53.
What this has done, is allowed me to score some absolute worldies. If you catch a volley or hit a long ranger at the right time, it absolutely rockets into the net.
I've tinkered with shot speed on other FIFAs and it doesn't seem to have the same effect with just a slight tweak.
Will be starting a new Career Mode in a bit, probably as AC Milan who are my go to for saves.
I know sounding like a crazy fanboy here now, but the more I'm playing FFA 14, the more and more I appreciate it. I don't know why I ever stopped playing it.
I'm in the middle of a game (me Swiss v England) and I'm enjoying it so much, that I then start thinking, OK I like this, but come on, surely there are faults to it? Then I struggle to find many.
Shooting = great variety, challenging and realistic, especially on semi. Headers feel weighty and realistic and same for volleys and long shots, long shooting especially is very satisfying, especially with a player with powerful shooting.
Dribbling = excellent, can do many, many things and react spontaneously to the situation with a plethora of options.
AI = Great. Attack like a human and defend in a realistic shape, some teams press high, some don't, some attack, some all out defend. Very human-like, will make mistakes if pressed well, but punish you if you press badly. Shooting is realistic, they miss some and score most they should. Will dribble, will try things I don't expect.
Goalies = Mine is fine, nothing spectacular, but they do everything well. COM goalies are usually a tough test, will come out quickly for 1on1s and will often close angles and make good saves if the ball isn't right in the corner.
Fouls = OK. Last game there were about 8/9 fouls and 3 yellows. And AI will often hack you down if you are breaking away on a transition.
Runs = Pretty good. AI make very good runs that are often find hard to track whilst pressing the ball. My team-mates runs are usually what I'd expect and then R1 will obviously help too.
Tactics = I think they work well, as they should, and the game really requires you to tinker and tweak the formation and how you play. Hence I was 16th after 20 games and now I'm 3rd, with pretty much same team and mostly cos I created a formation and way to play that allowed me to compete.
Inertia = Exceptional.
Ball physics = Ball physics seem very good to me, like a 8.5/10, played on mostly semi settings. I really like the general tempo of games and the amount of freedom I have with short and long passes. As you can easily overhit long passes, crosses or through balls. So when you get it right, it feels extra special.
Collisions = VERY good. I think maybe the best. It's very satisfying jumping for headers and sliding into tackles, or trying to hold off players with the shield button.
Player ID = OK. Controlling different types of player, you can definitely feel a big difference. You notice who can shoot/pass/dribble and turn well. Fast players feel fast, slow strong players feel so. Players do feel unique.
Career Mode = Excellent. Would be here all day if said all the good little ideas in here. I like all the news items and how I have to scout players many times to even get a picture of a player's stats that I don't already know. I like the steady player progression and youth academy system too. My players will often talk to me and get annoyed if they are not playing and even demand a transfer out. Transfers by me and AI seem pretty realistic in terms of prices and who goes where.
One slight negative is I wish the superstar teams and players were a little more unique and difficult than the regular players, but at the same time they are still very good.
Current day EA are a terrible abhorrent organisation, but the EA of 2013-2016 deserve so much respect and kudos, as they have created well crafted thoughtful masterpieces imo. I LOVE PES, PES3-6 etc, but in many ways they cannot compete with FIFA 14. They are exceptional, but different, way more simplified.
