Preview - FIFA 14

Every time I pick up a new version of FIFA I find it hard to believe that enough could have changed within 12 months to warrant another purchase. Surely, after two decades of making football games there can't be that much more to uncover? The game of football is always the same, yet somehow EA Sports must come up with new innovations and new ways of playing to keep the franchise at the top of the charts throughout the year.

Yet they do, again and again. Just enough changes are made so that every time I play a new version of FIFA it becomes hard to see how I managed to play the previous one for 12 months without the latest features. So, what's the biggest, game-changing alteration in FIFA 14? That would be speed. Or rather, a lack of it.

FIFA 13 was a terrific game, but teams relying on speed and counter-attacking were by far the most effective as players could just hold down the sprint button and charge 50 yards down the wing without getting tackled. This meant that a team like Barcelona, who build their game around short, quick passes and keeping possession in midfield, weren't as deadly as someone like Real Madrid, who could tear teams apart in seconds with speed merchants like Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria on the wings.

EA is hoping to change that in FIFA 14. They want to see more of a focus on battling for possession in the middle of the pitch and less box-to-box action, and they're doing several things to bring their plans to fruition. This includes a new Protect the Ball system, which means that players in possession can now use their bodies to shield the ball from the opposition and get that extra moment to make a pass. 

Defences have also been tightened up, so now they resemble a strict Italian backline instead of a team from the lower leagues that runs around like headless chickens. Defenders will now be much closer to players who receive the ball, meaning that sprinting off straight away isn't as much of an option. Instead you might have to hold them off with the Protect the Ball feature and pass it backwards to someone in space.

It all fits together surprisingly well, and those worrying that a slower game might equal a duller game needn't worry, as this is probably the finest representation of football in a video game yet. Passing the ball around the defence and looking for small moments of opportunity to strike are integral in real-life football, and now that's certainly the case here. 

There are still plenty of exciting moments, though. This mainly comes in the form of shooting, as that's been massively overhauled this year as well. Previously most shots felt the same, no matter where you were hitting the ball from. Now factors such as ball height and running path of the player are taken into account so that you can pull off some incredible shots. The ball also swerves in the air now, so those playing with Gareth Bale will have fun taking shots from 40 yards out.

Elsewhere EA has polished a handful of things to make the FIFA experience a bit cleaner and easier on the eye. This includes the pause menu, which now has a window panel style to brighten things up a bit. There's also a handy feature which allows you to change your tactics from the pause menu, so that you can change formations quickly without having to delve into the murky depths of the tactics menu.

We're definitely impressed by what we've seen so far, and it's almost certain that this will be another smash hit in the franchise that just doesn't let up. In the face of growing competition from rival Pro Evolution Soccer, FIFA 14 looks to be stepping things up again to offer the most realistic version of the beautiful game yet.