This story is brought to you by EA Sports.
Ever since the release of FIFA International Soccer in 1993, EA Sport's well-loved video game series has come a long way.
Closing in on its 30th anniversary, Electronic Arts has ramped up its efforts to provide a more natural gaming experience for its FIFA fans while also creating a unique and memorable challenge for both their new and current fans.
With FIFA 22 set to be released on October 1, 2021, here's what EA Sport's latest video game has in store for young and old football fans.
This is the most life-like FIFA game.
22 professional football players donned Xsens suits. The objective? To capture their motions while they played at high intensity for the first time.
The result is an unprecedented volume of high-quality real-human movement data that powers how both individuals and teams move across FIFA 22.
HyperMotion at the heart of FIFA 22's realism.
The groundbreaking new HyperMotion gameplay technology elevates every match across every mode in FIFA 22 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Stadia.
The HyperMotion technology also utilizes a cutting-edge proprietary machine learning algorithm, Advanced 11v11 Match Capture, that learns from over 8.7 million frames of advanced match capture.
It then writes new animations in real time to create a life-like football experience across diverse interactions on the pitch.
This allows you, the player, a much richer and more authentic football playing experience.
4,000 new animations.
All in all, there are a whopping 4,000 new animations in FIFA 22 that makes this one of the most physically intense and responsive video game in EA Sport's 28-year-old franchise.
FIFA 22’s realistic gameplay is partly due to the fact that the Xsens suits records every single touch, tackle, sprint, and duel from all the 22 players.
That's not all. Players can now experience a much richer ambience when playing a match.
Similar to the real-life experience of watching a football match, you'll be able to see opponents talk to one another, point and direct each other, making each game you play intensely immersive.
Tactically realistic video game.
For new football fans or those who wish to better understand the sport's tactics, FIFA 22 offers a unique crash course on some of the strategies employed by top managers and teams.
FIFA 22 features deeper player intelligence that allow the A.I. to understand attacking and defensive formations and movement, creating a new level of tactical realism.
Attacking players in the game are capable of making six times more decisions per second, allowing them better awareness of their surrounding.
This translates to smarter runs in the build-up play and quicker reactions to loose balls.
Defensively, the A.I. allows the players to behave as a tactical unit. This translates to the players retaining their defensive shape as they move up and down the pitch while attempting to cover the field.
Goalkeepers too have been updated with new levels of intelligence, allowing them to be better in shot-stopping and decision making scenarios. Their reflexes will replicate the diverse styles of keepers available in the game, from lightning-fast reflexes to world-class shot-stopping.
An intense football experience.
Due to this, air battles have become more intense, giving players a more exciting challenge compared to any of their predecessor games. Don't be surprised if your opponent pushes, pulls, and jostles as they rise to meet that cross or aerial pass in pursuit to clear a ball.
What's more, scoring goals through headers have never been as satisfying on a FIFA game.
The HyperMotion gameplay technology also provides players who prefer dribbling to score goals a much richer experience. Ball control feels a lot more natural and fluid than ever before.
This is indeed truly a wholesome FIFA game in the sense that it provides something for new and old football lovers.
An enhanced Career Mode.
EA Sports made significant improvements to both the Manager Career and Player Career for FIFA 22.
For those who are new, the Career Mode allows you to create your own manager or player and live their lives on-game, experiencing all the trials and tribulations of being in the world's beautiful game.
Football fans would be delighted to know that the option to customize kits and stadiums are still available together with board's priorities.
A new addition to FIFA 22 Player Career is the option to come into a match from the bench.
"Our aim was to deliver the experience of a young prospect climbing the ranks to the starting lineup," Alex Constantinescu, Senior Game Designer on FIFA Career Mode, says.
"Once you’ve made your way to the subs bench, you’ll be able to jump into the next match from the moment in which your Manager decides to sub you in. This will be showcased in the pre-match launcher, where you can choose to either play the remainder of the match or sim past it."
To break into the first 11 team and ultimately become the team's indispensable player, you'll need to progress through the Manager Rating.
Manager Rating is a system that measures the belief the manager and the team has in you. All players start off at the bench and progressively move up the ranks if you complete certain objectives successfully.
Speaking of objectives, FIFA 22 comes with brand new ones that'll be revealed to you as you step on the pitch.
A rewarding VOLTA FOOTBALL experience.
FIFA 22 also sees its street football experience, VOLTA FOOTBALL, receiving a much needed overhaul.
The focus of this game mode is to get together with friends and have an enjoyable time.
According to Richard Walz, Senior Game Designer on VOLTA FOOTBALL, the core gameplay has been tweaked to be more rewarding for players who are looking for added challenges.
"We’ve changed our core gameplay to be more rewarding when playing with flair by introducing new skills and an all new Skill Meter system, provided variety and big match moments with Signature Abilities, and created new, limited time Party Game Tournaments with VOLTA ARCADE.
"On top of all this, we’re going to bring you new content throughout the year with VOLTA SEASONS."
In FIFA 22, taking your opponents on through Skill Moves, fancy passes, and wall passes are key to progressing through the game mode's new Skill Meter system.
The Skill Meter, while not a new addition, is broken down into three sections, with each section taking 1,000 points to fill.
However, what sets FIFA 22's VOLTA FOOTBALL apart from its predecessors are the three Signature Abilities you can choose when creating your avatar.
Signature Abilities is a recent inclusion to build up excitement and tension in every game. It essentially provides you, the player, more agency and control over how to influence each game.
The game also features brand new outfits for you to customize your avatar and look the part.
FIFA 22 is set to be released on October 1, 2021 and is available for purchase at all game shops worldwide.
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Cover image sourced from EA Sports.
