FIFA 21 in the new generation brings improved visuals and gameplay intact

FIFA 21 won last Friday (4) the long-awaited version for PS5 and Xbox Series S/X. The game brings many improvements in the graphics part, but the gameplay remains pretty much the same. Remember that this FIFA 21 is not considered the first next gen of the franchise. The version for the new consoles of the current generation is a kind of port with improvements, but without major changes compared to the game for PS4, PC and Xbox One.

jaw dropping look

By far, the big highlight of the new version of FIFA 21 is your look. Once the game starts, even if you’ve already imported your progress from the PS4 or Xbox One version, you’ll need to play the introductory match between Liverpool against PSG, which simulates a Champions League final.

This requirement acts as a gateway to the game running in the new generation. Once there is a kind of introduction, where the game puts you in the place of one of the children who accompany the stars on the famous entry into the field. This animation brings everything from the teams’ buses arriving at the stadium, to the moments that precede the start of the match.

All of this animation is designed to present the visual quality of the next-gen version, focusing on more realistic player features, less generic crowd behavior, and more detailed external elements such as bench seats, cameras, and so on. go.

With the ball rolling, the look continues to impress. The lighting system is even more real, especially in relation to the athletes’ shadows on the lawn, and the reflection of light on their skin and shirts. The level of detail also deserves praise, from the athletes’ appearance, to the lawn and to the finishing of the stands. Everything is more real in FIFA 21 of the new generation.

Two points are worth mentioning: the first one is in relation to the players’ musculature. Yes, it is possible to see the muscle stretching in a more abrupt movement which makes the replays even more real. And the other is how the animations gained more emphasis, with the right to a longer celebration if you score an important goal in the final minutes of the match.

Minor gameplay changes

Everyone knows that FIFA 21 is not officially the first game in the franchise made from scratch for the next generation. With that, we already expected very few changes in gameplay.

Due to much better hardware, I found the game much more fluid than the PS4 version, however this is barely noticeable for more casual gamers. Other than that, nothing changes, such as the finishing system, disarming, dribbling, or other such elements.

The main change is the game’s new camera: the EA SPORTS GameCam. It has a wider angle, allowing a better view of the players on the pitch, as well as showing more off-field details, especially the fans. Particularly, I didn’t adapt to this camera and, right in the second game, I went back to the standard: TV broadcast.

On the PS5, there is something new regarding the behavior of the joystick during gameplay. DualSense, as you know, has a mechanic that makes its triggers (L2 and R2) more rigid, making it difficult to “press” the buttons during certain game events. At the FIFA 21 this system occurs according to your athlete’s stamina bar, that is, the more he is tired, the more difficult it will be to press the command that makes him run.

While interesting, it’s quite exhausting to get used to these mechanics. In just over four matches, I started to feel a little uncomfortable precisely in the fingers I use to press these buttons. For my happiness, and for everyone who hasn’t adapted, it’s possible to remove this option in the joystick settings on the PS5 system.

And finally, showing the efficiency of the PS5’s internal SSD, matches in FIFA 21 have never started so fast. For example, during Ultimate Team mode, not even your opponent’s team is presented, or there is the option to train some element before the match. It practically starts moments after the Start Match command is activated.

It is worth it?

FIFA 21 for PS5 and Xbox Series S/X is an improved version of the game that was introduced in October to PS4, Xbox One and PC gamers. The game brings significant changes to the graphics, but changes the gameplay in no way. Perhaps because of these limitations, the migration from one generation to another is free, unlike what happened in FIFA 14.

All in all, it’s a nice introduction to what we can find in FIFA 22, which will be the first game in the franchise designed specifically for this generation that has just started.