FIFA 23 is a cheap and lazy reskin of an identical copy. Those that pre-ordered or purchased the game already knew that. It is a claim that has been aired for a decade or more as each new iteration of the beautiful game is slopped out onto consoles and, more recently, Steam. But it is this edition that feels so obvious a marker for that assertion. To call FIFA 23 a reskin of FIFA 22 is harsh, because that would imply basic options and important, simple pieces of the game have not been removed and replaced by jagged cutscenes and jittery main menus. A masterclass in how not to send off a series that may be losing its licensing rights, should EA’s promise of this final instalment in the long-running series hold water. Maybe it is about time players said farewell to the beautiful game.
Graphically speaking, the game does look far more impressive than its predecessor. It is however a game that is reliant on looking good and not much else. Gameplay that is fundamentally broken cannot be pasted over with some glossy updates to the player models and shadow effects of stadium grounds. Regardless of game mode, be it the underbaked, rotting corpse of Manager Mode or the pay-to-win fiasco of Ultimate Team, the fundamentals of the game are broken. Strange changes to setpieces throw away the saying “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it”, and replace it with “if it’s not broken, try to”. Changes not just to those set pieces but the flow of the game are constant and thoroughly disappointing, as well as relatively poor for the enjoyment of the game itself.
Glitchy encounters with tackling, a floaty feeling to the players and the inevitability of an A.I. team parking the bus are just the tip of the iceberg. It is a frustratingly addictive game not because it is enjoyable but because there is no secure alternate. Nobody is away to play eFootball. That would be like using Bing or owning a Nokia 520. Instead, fans and audiences alike are forced into yet another drab and dreadful outing of a series that has continually sold itself on an updated spreadsheet that changes shirt colours and stats. It is, after all, teetering solely on the interest of statistics. Still, those complaints about gameplay quality will fall on deaf ears. Anybody that hates the game is still playing it through a lack of options.
A free pass, then. If not FIFA 23, then what? It is the market leader for a reason, and that reason is now shrouded in questionable changes. Ted Lasso’s inclusion is not a solid trade-off for a lack of coherence in the gameplay. A lack of structure to any game mode, with the core of it always pushing toward those sickly FIFA points. The more FIFA 23 is played, the more blatantly obvious it is that the game is hoping its players give up the chance to play offline and head into the Ultimate Team arena. For those that find no joy in Ultimate Team and the online gameplay, then there is no need whatsoever to upgrade to the newest addition. FIFA 22 is just as serviceable, just as riddled with problems, yet better than FIFA 23.
