Sports simulators have gradually drawn the anger and skepticism of their target audience. EA Sports brand is no stranger to public scrutiny as its many franchises continue to disappoint a bevy of fans. At the top of an ever-growing list of complaints are intrusive pay-to-win microtransactions, neglected game modes, and the lack of significant enhancements that set each new entry apart from its predecessor. FIFA 22 looks and feels like the previous part in many ways. HyperMotion Gameplay Technology reportedly generates thousands of new animations; it helps create lifelike behaviors on the field. Still, no amount of technobabble and exaggerated visual effects can hide the downward trend of gaming’s most famous soccer IP.
FIFA 22 starts off strong with a playable introduction that focuses on basic mechanics and the latest features. The tutorials fit neatly into the overarching narrative – your created avatar is late for an important training session with legendary Thierry Henry and two-time cover athlete Kylian Mbappé. Accompanied by the soccer freestyler and social media personality Lisa Zimouche, you will race through the lively cobblestone streets of Paris. Although it was short, it was great fun sprinting past restaurant strips while maintaining control of the ball and honing passing techniques with excited Parisians. This introductory film reminded me of the funny Alex Hunter story from many years ago. When it ended abruptly, I couldn’t help but long for another full-length tale.
Unfortunately, FIFA 22 is free from plot. Volta, my favorite mode from last year – little arena soccer – misses its slightly entertaining story from dishwasher to millionaire. This time around, I had to turn off AI and player controlled teams without the motivation or structure that a central plot would provide. New “signature skills” gave me more customization options in addition to my character’s sprawling skill trees. And while I was enjoying unleashing the forces of raw strength (Power Strike), unrivaled speed (Pure Pace), and defensive mastery (Aggressive Tackle) to destroy my opponents, Volta eventually felt incomplete.
Playing traditional 11v11 football helps quell some of my frustrations. FIFA 22 isn’t reinventing the wheel because it doesn’t have to. As a united front, it stays tight, dribbling is still a reasonable challenge (and wonderful to look at!), And the spectacle of each game is commendable. I was immediately immersed in the experience of how full stadiums come to life with synchronized chants, fights are booked with dazzling fireworks and award ceremonies, and detailed facial expressions add personality to every footballer. HyperMotion gameplay technology makes gamers look more realistic when opting for sliding tackles, flashy crossovers, or angled scores, but that next-generation varnish eventually wears off; There’s nothing here that you haven’t seen before.
My career has a couple of welcoming features. When you put on a pair of cleats and hit the field as an aspiring prodigy, you need to gain the trust and approval of the trainer / organization. Goals ranging from maintaining a high performance rating to gaining any number of assists gave the minutes of play more weight. Between each game, I upgraded my player with attribute-increasing advantages in order to accelerate the path to becoming a starter. Whenever I got off that bench, I prioritized selfless play and worked hard to avoid stupid rallies. Seeing my avatar’s relationship with his teammates and superiors gradually strengthen during prep and the regular season was the highlight of FIFA 22. However, playing as a club manager remains relatively unchanged. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It is still a stimulating administrative task to balance the fitness (endurance) and the sharpness (matchday performance) of the squad while actively searching for talent and staying financially stable. The new option to create a team / stadium is a definite bonus, but it doesn’t improve the gameplay or the micromanagement mechanics in any way.
Of course, if you want to climb the FIFA 22 ladder, joining Ultimate Team is the fastest way … if you don’t mind spending a lot of money. Ultimate Team’s microtransaction formula stays the same – buy packs that reward you with uninteresting kits and stadiums instead of star athletes, compete for rare cards, and devote hundreds of hours to competing alone or against other high-profile collectors. Plenty of donors are constantly reaping the rewards, and the rest are subject to an unforgivable, open grind. If you are the casual FIFA gamer, do yourself a favor and avoid this pesky game mode.
FIFA 22 mainly offers minor optimizations. For every major update – new goalkeeper mechanics and soccer players in pro clubs – EA Canada is amazingly taking several steps back. Even something as rudimentary as the main menu UI remains untouched! I loved turning pro as a bright-eyed, bushy rookie, but it wasn’t long before I was ready to hang up the coveted jersey.
