Dec 2020
FIFA 21 hit the pitch like a professional footballer with a fresh haircut, ready to dribble past criticism and score some serious goals. The 28th installment in the iconic football franchise from EA Sports brings a mix of new features, improved gameplay, and the same age-old debate of whether the 'Ultimate Team' should be classified as gambling or just a casual hobby to make you weep uncontrollably as you throw money at shiny packs. So let's see if FIFA 21 manages to bury its competition or just ends up as a footnote in gaming history.
Gone are the days of button-mashing like a kid with ADHD on a sugar high. FIFA 21 offers you refined controls that make for an experience that feels more fluid than ever. Player movements are smoother, passes more precise, and if you’re lucky enough to land on timed finishing, you'll feel like a football god. The beloved Ultimate Team returns more packed than your mom's lunch on game day, featuring over 100 icon players (yes, even Eric Cantona graces this virtual pitch). Oh, and did I mention the AI? It has finally learned that leaving a player unmarked in your box is a recipe for humiliation. Career Mode has also seen some love – allowing you to jump in and out of matches, which is perfect for those of you who enjoy scoring goals and binge-watching Netflix simultaneously. Scamming your way to the top has never felt so good—uh, I mean, managing your club responsibly has never been this easy! And let's not forget VOLTA Football, bringing the street vibes back into the FIFA universe with new modes that are so fresh they practically smell like a new pair of trainers.
Graphically, FIFA 21 looks like it just stepped into the gym and chugged a protein shake. On the PS5, the upgraded visuals are like getting LASIK surgery—everything is clearer, sharper, and you can almost see the players sweating (although, I wouldn’t stare too long, that’s just weird). The animations are smoother than a slick-haired footballer making his way through a room full of ex-girlfriends. However, with great graphics comes great responsibility: sometimes players' faces look so realistic you might start to feel bad for them when you accidentally cause a severe injury with a slide tackle gone wrong. The stadiums are drenched in detail, and the crowds—well, as long as we don’t talk about how they look when they’re cheering for a sad team—add that much-needed atmosphere to every match.
FIFA 21 is like that mate who always promises to buy you a round but conveniently forgets when it’s their turn: enjoyable, reliable, but certainly feels like there's more potential lurking underneath the surface. While it doesn’t revolutionize the franchise, it improves on previous iterations and gives fans enough reason to lace up their boots and step back into the virtual pitch. So, if you’re still mad about a certain team not being included or you think the Ultimate Team is just an excuse for microtransactions, just remember: football is a game to be enjoyed and screamed at in equal measures, and FIFA 21 captures that spirit well enough. Now, if only FIFA points were as easy to score as goals in this game!
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