5. Progression
One thing that is immediately clear is that FIFA 14 is much harder than FIFA 13, and that EA Sports have looked to offer their players far more of a challenge, while robbing them of the safety blanket of being able to rely on overpowered pacey players who can cut easily through opposition defenders, and make a mediocre team better. The game is focused more on technique and skill, and on making players think out their attacking approaches, rather than simply relying on the same tactics that will annoy opponents online and in multiplayer. Admittedly, there isn't a huge step up in terms of presentation, but it is the detailed work under the hood that is important here, and that side of the game has progressed massively. Some fans will complain that they are being asked to learn whole new mechanics in the gameplay, but any game willing to sit back and allow veteran players to benefit without a real challenge should be held accountable, and what EA Sports have done here should be counted as a brave move. It is far more rewarding for players who are willing to put the time in, rather than overloading the rewards on minimum effort, or reductive tactics. More than most recent FIFA games, this feels like a progression from last year, with elements brought in to consciously build on features brought in last year, particularly the revamped dribbling system, rather than the game feeling like a port brought in to solve problems from past games, as FIFA 13 eventually came to feel a little like.