Verdict
After Pro Evo 2013's successes this year, FIFA 13 needed to be exceptional, and in many respects EA Sports have gone beyond expectations in revamping the game and striking an excellent balance between entertainment and authenticity, making the gameplay experience not only the most realistic, but also the most engaging it has ever been in a football game. The presentation is typically slick and hugely impressive, and EA Sports are again to be commended for their dedication to creating the complete experience on and off the pitch, as well as including a depth of additional modes that will keep the player coming back well into next year and towards the release of FIFA 14. The developers have created a self-contained culture within the game, with enough different facets to interest even the most demanding of gamers, extending irresistible features like the collector-friendly Ultimate Team and EA Sports Football Club to reward those players who will spend the most time "levelling up". That dedication to rewarding the player also comes across to the gameplay experience, which has been finely-tuned to allow the players who learn the nuances of the control and dribbling systems to gain the most from play. Yes, it might be a damn sight more difficult to trap a 60 yard pass with Jordan Rhodes than it is with Santi Cazorla, but learn how to exploit the game's features and you'll quickly find out exactly how to get the best out of every player in your team. So, go on, spend more time with the game, and with the ball, and you'll realise exactly why this FIFA is the best football game that has ever been released. http://youtu.be/VgpRgRj3nlY FIFA 13 is released 28th September in the UK.