2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil falls afoul of the same issues that plague all of these tie in games. It is simply too hard to justify a £40 price tag for what is effectively a trimmed down version of Fut 15 Coins . The gameplay on offer is as excellent as it ever has been, but most of the ‘new features’ on offer are merely cosmetic and modes available simply lack the enjoyability of the comparable modes in its big brother title.
If you are seriously caught up in world cup fever, or simply must have any new game with FIFA in the title then this could be for you though. There is no doubting the authenticity of the game, with mangers and full teams licensed for all 32 world cup teams and a whole host of offers countries included as well. It also successfully captures the feel and buzz of the tournament very effectively and sucks you into the party atmosphere. Just expect it to last very long after the real tournament ends.Gamers also have a better chance to pull off those flashy spins as several moves have been downgraded, giving any above-average midfielder in the game an opportunity to pull off that Cruyff turn on unsuspecting opponents. Given that several game modes are tied to the real tournament later this year, users may become bored after completing the Road to the World Cup for the fifth time.
Captain Your Country here pits you against three teammates vying for selection for the full team heading to Brazil. You must make a series of ‘cuts’ within a limited number of games, consistently outperforming your rivals. It’s a refreshing layer of competitiveness for one of FIFA’s lacklustre modes. The one issue is that all four name bars appear on the screen at once, taking up too much space and obscuring the view.
Training has also been integrated into player development across all game modes. Between matches you can take four players and run them through drills (which includes skill games and other new additions) to improve their stats. This allows a greater level of customisation and a chance to plug team weaknesses you couldn't before.
While FIFA purists will find 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil too easy and unrealistic, casual gamers will be happy that EA Sports has heightened the level of entertainment. Game on!