FIFA 19: PS4 Review

FIFA 19: PS4 Review

Released by EA
Platform: PS4

The beautiful game's back.

And to be honest, the annual iteration of FIFA has become something of a tried and tested formula that does little to break the cycle of the endless Pro Evolution Soccer / FIFA, which is better debate.

But FIFA's last few iterations became a little more compelling with the introduction of their story-led element The Journey, which followed new player Alex Hunter.

This latest release caps off the Alex Hunter trilogy (Fifa 18 was missed by this reviewer) and moves it into the realm of the Champions league in all its glory. Neatly the third part sees a crafty recap to what went ahead and gets you upto speed like some kind of Hollywood film experience, complete with the twists and turns.

But it's smarter moves like taking you to a game from the past where The Journey: Champions starts to grow; and weaving between three narratives also gives it a kind of GTA V flipping that works as well as you go the usual routes of the game.

Career mode, choosing Champions League teams, and just playing games - it's all what FIFA does, and to be honest, it feels like little aside from some tinkering has changed throughout the game.

Not that what FIFA does isn't good enough, and the big change this time is the timed kicking which gives you two bites of the cherry to fire at the goal. It's a good touch that takes some time to get used to, and which can change the game as well.

Early on, the player arrow on the field took a little getting used to, leading to my feeling that I had the ball when I didn't - a minor quibble again, but one which initially detracts.

But the flow of the game and the ease of it is also worth mentioning and indulging; this is a FIFA that knows what it wants to do on the pitch and keeps on kicking when it should.

It's a comfortable victory for FIFA 19, and the Journey is as strong as it's been - but there's a nagging deja vu feeling that fluid gameplay aside can't shift; it may be the most minor of tweaks that FIFA's rolled out, but the game's still as playable as it always was - and while diehards may see little reason to reinvest, the casual player is better catered for than ever before.

As I say, a comfortable victory, but not a romping win.