Gaming FIFA 21

Ole90+3

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My current record is 175 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses. I was on 1 loss for a very long time, but I blew 2 games last night.

I've adjusted extremely well this FIFA early on. I'd say it depends on the FIFA in terms how well I do early on, but the past 2 games, I think I've done well early on.

The worst start for me was FIFA 19.
You probably adjusted really well because it’s essentially the exact same game.
 

Ole90+3

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It's just lazy analysis honestly.

People can think what they want about FIFA, but the gameplay does differ.

There's so many differences from 18 to 19, 19 to 20, and finally 20 to 21.
What are the differences between 20 and this year’s iteration? In the gameplay, I mean. I know they’ve made cosmetic changes like they do every year to distract you from the fact they essentially release the same game only with a slightly different meta.
 
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Eddy_JukeZ

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What are the differences between 20 and this year’s iteration? In the gameplay, I mean. I know they’ve made cosmetic changes like they do every year to distract you from the fact they essentially release the same game only with a slightly different meta.
You can score far post shots now in the box. They weren't viable in FIFA 20.

Crossing is more effective. There's new ways to cross. Headers are now manual for online play.

The passing mechanics are different and have more power to them. They're more laser-like than they were in FIFA 20. Driven passes are more accurate.

Team press functions differently in FIFA 21 and runs out + recharges after running out. It's not unlimited like FIFA 20.

There's a new dribbling mechanic in agile dribbling.

You can cancel skill moves for the first time ever.

Certain skill moves function differently. Dragback is less effective. Heel to heel is more effective.

Creative runs and player lock is a new feature in FIFA 21.

You can skill chain again in FIFA 21(you couldn't in FIFA 20).

The radius for the jockey auto-tackle is different in FIFA 21.

It's factually wrong that the game is a carbon copy of FIFA 20. If you can't notice the changes, that's your problem.
 

LonelyFire

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Think I need a weekly reminder to take the damn coins for rewards.....scumbagged on packs again.
 

Chief123

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Brilliant :lol: What’s the earliest FIFA you remember playing? 2016?

The last FIFA that had gameplay anything close to brilliant was FIFA 2014
Probably been playing Fifa longer than you pal. 1998 was my first game of Fifa.

I tend to find people complain about the game when they’re not very good rather than the game not being good.
 

Chief123

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You can score far post shots now in the box. They weren't viable in FIFA 20.

Crossing is more effective. There's new ways to cross. Headers are now manual for online play.

The passing mechanics are different and have more power to them. They're more laser-like than they were in FIFA 20. Driven passes are more accurate.

Team press functions differently in FIFA 21 and runs out + recharges after running out. It's not unlimited like FIFA 20.

There's a new dribbling mechanic in agile dribbling.

You can cancel skill moves for the first time ever.

Certain skill moves function differently. Dragback is less effective. Heel to heel is more effective.

Creative runs and player lock is a new feature in FIFA 21.

You can skill chain again in FIFA 21(you couldn't in FIFA 20).

The radius for the jockey auto-tackle is different in FIFA 21.

It's factually wrong that the game is a carbon copy of FIFA 20. If you can't notice the changes, that's your problem.
It’s mind boggling that someone can think this game is the same as last years. It’s a world apart. This is coming from a Fifa addict who spends hours mastering every version. This one is just so much better than last years.

But you’ll always get some bashers who keep getting smashed online who’ll throw in the “same shit every year” card cause they just got lamped by a kid online.
 

Shark

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Probably been playing Fifa longer than you pal. 1998 was my first game of Fifa.

I tend to find people complain about the game when they’re not very good rather than the game not being good.
I'm absolutely wank at PES but I still continue to play it because the gameplay is actually genuinely rewarding and resembles football. If you make a mistake you know it's your own feck up. Fifa on the other hand never feels like a real game of football and the game mechanics seem always be out out to screw you over in some fashion, think that's where the frustration comes from. You only have to look at those "rage" videos on YouTube to see that the game is broken and has been for years. No game should make people smash a 60 quid controller.
 

Bojan11

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I'm absolutely wank at PES but I still continue to play it because the gameplay is actually genuinely rewarding and resembles football. If you make a mistake you know it's your own feck up. Fifa on the other hand never feels like a real game of football and the game mechanics seem always be out out to screw you over in some fashion, think that's where the frustration comes from. You only have to look at those "rage" videos on YouTube to see that the game is broken and has been for years. No game should make people smash a 60 quid controller.
PES has scripting in it too, so you aren’t totally in control.
 

FrankDrebin

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Lets not make out that PES is perfect because its really not, and I'm a solid fan of the series.

PES 20 had a ridiculous amount of scripting in it. Laughably ridiculous at times.
 

WR

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I’ve played a handful of online games and it’s incredibly arcadey so far. Ping pong passing and pace are as effective as ever.
 

TrustInJanuzaj

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I have been away the last week so only played my first match yesterday on Ultimate Team. Now admittedly my team is terrible and its only based on one game so can't fully judge but... I thought the game felt pretty poor. It's maybe the most arcadey game I can remember. I am alright at the game and it was 2-2 before halftime before I ended up winning 5-3! Thing is, in what should have felt like a tense match it just wasn't, the passing is way too fast and accurate again. You no longer get rewarded as a player for predicting where your opponent will pass next because the ball moves too quickly which is annoying as I feel mentally I'm a step ahead of most players.

I now remember why I've largely avoided Fifa online for the last few years and its because the meta is just so damn boring and fake. I'll likely just slink back onto my career mode for the foreseeable now which is where I get the most fun. I think I'll try a couple more games before I fully write it off but I'm not that confident, I swear Fifa used to hit a better balance between simulation and arcade which now seems out the window.

Also just to add to my (much to long) post, what the hell happened to Ultimate team? The menus have been designed by someone with ADHD, with colours everywhere, menus within menus within menus, I honestly felt like a grandpa who had just found his way onto the internet by mistake.
 

Cascarino

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I tend to find people complain about the game when they’re not very good rather than the game not being good.
Nah I don’t buy that, last year had plenty of problems and 19 was atrocious, and I’m better than average. There’s plenty wrong with this game too, I think people have lowered expectations when it comes to fifa because to me there’s no way this constitutes a “great” game.

Having said that it is an improvement, but I’m not super confident that patches won’t quickly dampen any enthusiasm I do have for the game. AndI agree with you that the gameplay is very different to the previous incarnation. Finishing is a lot more fun, the variety of ways to put the ball is a needed addition after the near post 100% of the time on the last fifa. Chip shots are op (but a lot of fun) but I think there definitely going to make scoring slightly trickier and it’ll probably end up like 20 all over again.

The biggest disappointment is clubs, there’s so much they could with that mode, I get that it doesn’t generate the same revenue as UT but dear god throw a guy a bone.
 

Solius

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I have been away the last week so only played my first match yesterday on Ultimate Team. Now admittedly my team is terrible and its only based on one game so can't fully judge but... I thought the game felt pretty poor. It's maybe the most arcadey game I can remember. I am alright at the game and it was 2-2 before halftime before I ended up winning 5-3! Thing is, in what should have felt like a tense match it just wasn't, the passing is way too fast and accurate again. You no longer get rewarded as a player for predicting where your opponent will pass next because the ball moves too quickly which is annoying as I feel mentally I'm a step ahead of most players.

I now remember why I've largely avoided Fifa online for the last few years and its because the meta is just so damn boring and fake. I'll likely just slink back onto my career mode for the foreseeable now which is where I get the most fun. I think I'll try a couple more games before I fully write it off but I'm not that confident, I swear Fifa used to hit a better balance between simulation and arcade which now seems out the window.

Also just to add to my (much to long) post, what the hell happened to Ultimate team? The menus have been designed by someone with ADHD, with colours everywhere, menus within menus within menus, I honestly felt like a grandpa who had just found his way onto the internet by mistake.
They'll fix it for the next game and bang on about 'Streamlined Menus' or something.

Makes me laugh in @Eddy_JukeZ list of changes he states that the crossing is more effective, but this is only due to the crossing being literally pointless in FIFA 20. It's like praising a car for having four wheels now when before it was scraping around on three.

Whilst I agree with him that there are things that are different from FIFA 20. It's not enough and the last big jump between games was when the PS4 came out. I'm hoping the PS5 version is a bit better.
 

Solius

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Probably been playing Fifa longer than you pal. 1998 was my first game of Fifa.

I tend to find people complain about the game when they’re not very good rather than the game not being good.
I shout at the game even when I'm smashing someone online.

I'm definitely not as good as I used to be but anyone can spot the flaws, winning or losing.
 

Ludens the Red

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I've played 5 kick-off matches in Legendary difficulty (4 in Competitive Mode, 1 not), and the gameplay is certainly different. The dribbling is much more reflective of a player's abilities and way more consistent (no random touches, no weird animations, etc.). The contextual dribbling has added more variety and made it less monotonous. The more-consistent dribbling also helps with handling the pressure against the opposition defences.

The passing is also less wacky; the number of flicks, backheel passes, etc., have been reduced, and the animations aren't as weird as they were in 20. However, the passing itself has gotten quicker. I've played a bunch of passes that have zipped to the receiver despite me not necessarily inputting that much power or playing a driven pass. Through passes have also gotten more consistent (good), which has made them easier to play (bad). However, if you position your defenders well enough, you should be able to defend through passes. Despite them being easier to play, the Legendary AI are mostly good at closing down through passes, so I did have to work harder to break them down.

The shooting animations aren't as buggy as they were in 20, either, and taking shots under pressure isn't as easy as it was in 20. The AI defending has also gotten more challenging, which is a good thing as scoring goals was a bit too easy on FIFA 20 in general. They close me down way quicker whenever I'm setting up for a shot, and they don't tend to ball-watch as much as they used to. Having said that, I did win one kick-off match 7-1 against Newcastle whilst using Man. Utd.

Final note: despite Competitive Mode being branded as a more challenging version of Legendary/Ultimate difficulty, the game actually gets easier. Every team plays the same way regardless of the team, and every player does the same thing in their respective roles. The game's more fun to play without that mode (and more challenging, IMO, given the varied gameplay).
I don’t find FIFA 21 the same as 20 at all. Yes of course there will be a lot of similarities but that’s because there’s only so many ways you can play the same game of football. But there are loads of differences in gameplay now. I’ve been playing FIFA forever and this is certainly more playabale and exciting than last years one. I would say it’s one of the better FIFA’s they’ve made in a long time



It’s certainly not. A lot better than last years.
Have now played this game considerably with mates and there are differences but I think the game is much worse. Its turned into old school Pro Evo, very arcadey, goals galore. There’s a huge difference between playing against the AI to playing another human.

Some of the results me and my mates have had so far.... 8-5, 6-3, 5-2. The defending is absolutely atrocious. The space between midfield and defence is crazy. Makes for fun games but doesn’t feel like proper football anymore.
The way players just blow past one another is incredible. The goal with this game now if you’re playing against mates is to pick the teams with the fastest players.
 

Solius

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Have now played this game considerably with mates and there are differences but I think the game is much worse. Its turned into old school Pro Evo, very arcadey, goals galore. There’s a huge difference between playing against the AI to playing another human.

Some of the results me and my mates have had so far.... 8-5, 6-3, 5-2. The defending is absolutely atrocious. The space between midfield and defence is crazy. Makes for fun games but doesn’t feel like proper football anymore.
The way players just blow past one another is incredible. The goal with this game now if you’re playing against mates is to pick the teams with the fastest players.
Playing with Dan James in career mode feels like cheating to the point where I'm trying to sell him.

The AI teams don't know what a low block is. They play so open but also if you get too close one on one they auto-take the ball from you.
 

P-Nut

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I have been away the last week so only played my first match yesterday on Ultimate Team. Now admittedly my team is terrible and its only based on one game so can't fully judge but... I thought the game felt pretty poor. It's maybe the most arcadey game I can remember. I am alright at the game and it was 2-2 before halftime before I ended up winning 5-3! Thing is, in what should have felt like a tense match it just wasn't, the passing is way too fast and accurate again. You no longer get rewarded as a player for predicting where your opponent will pass next because the ball moves too quickly which is annoying as I feel mentally I'm a step ahead of most players.

I now remember why I've largely avoided Fifa online for the last few years and its because the meta is just so damn boring and fake. I'll likely just slink back onto my career mode for the foreseeable now which is where I get the most fun. I think I'll try a couple more games before I fully write it off but I'm not that confident, I swear Fifa used to hit a better balance between simulation and arcade which now seems out the window.

Also just to add to my (much to long) post, what the hell happened to Ultimate team? The menus have been designed by someone with ADHD, with colours everywhere, menus within menus within menus, I honestly felt like a grandpa who had just found his way onto the internet by mistake.
Try normal seasons rather than FUT, FUT is sped up due to all the chemistry cards boosting every players pace
 

OverratedOpinion

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Probably been playing Fifa longer than you pal. 1998 was my first game of Fifa.

I tend to find people complain about the game when they’re not very good rather than the game not being good.
People argue about weird stuff on the internet.
 

TrustInJanuzaj

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Try normal seasons rather than FUT, FUT is sped up due to all the chemistry cards boosting every players pace
Yeh I definitely will do! This was just my initial impressions after only my first game so I know my views likely will change. As I say my main focus is offline anyway so I'm hoping career plays okay primarily.
 

do.ob

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Have now played this game considerably with mates and there are differences but I think the game is much worse. Its turned into old school Pro Evo, very arcadey, goals galore. There’s a huge difference between playing against the AI to playing another human.

Some of the results me and my mates have had so far.... 8-5, 6-3, 5-2. The defending is absolutely atrocious. The space between midfield and defence is crazy. Makes for fun games but doesn’t feel like proper football anymore.
The way players just blow past one another is incredible. The goal with this game now if you’re playing against mates is to pick the teams with the fastest players.
If those results are indeed common it sounds more like you and your opponents haven't gotten used to the new defending yet and are using tactics that offer up too much space.
 

Bojan11

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Nah I don’t buy that, last year had plenty of problems and 19 was atrocious, and I’m better than average. There’s plenty wrong with this game too, I think people have lowered expectations when it comes to fifa because to me there’s no way this constitutes a “great” game.

Having said that it is an improvement, but I’m not super confident that patches won’t quickly dampen any enthusiasm I do have for the game. AndI agree with you that the gameplay is very different to the previous incarnation. Finishing is a lot more fun, the variety of ways to put the ball is a needed addition after the near post 100% of the time on the last fifa. Chip shots are op (but a lot of fun) but I think there definitely going to make scoring slightly trickier and it’ll probably end up like 20 all over again.

The biggest disappointment is clubs, there’s so much they could with that mode, I get that it doesn’t generate the same revenue as UT but dear god throw a guy a bone.
Clubs is broken. There’s apparently a 99 pro glitch around and it’s not the one where you make yourself fat. Literally 6 foot 7 and 99 stats for everything on consoles. Seems like this glitch has been there for years and just keeps coming back.

Same bullshit with kits when captain selects them, so we end up with kit clashes from last fifa. Lost connection when finding a game, which again happened last Fifa. I seen people play as Manchester United in clubs. People not getting skill points and you ending up with your teammates pros.

Volta with mates is broken. Tried it and couldn’t find a game. Seems everything besides FUT is really broken.
 

TrustInJanuzaj

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I have now played it a fair bit more and I can't help but think I've massively wasted my money which is a kick in the teeth. It's absolutely terrible! Firstly, for context I played 4 games on Ultimate team, winning 2, drawing 1, and losing 1. Then decided to give online seasons a chance and won all three games I played so the rest of my post comes from a winning place, not a bitter one! Me and my friend also played a couple of co-op games which I think brings me the most fun but is equally as stupid.

Heres what is broken:
- Defending (every game is finishing like 5-3 its just nothing like real football).
- Corners (think I conceded from nearly every corner and scored from about 3, it's fundamentally broken).
- Goalkeepers (do they do anything? Every one on one is scored).
- Collision system (this is the biggest one of all, I can honestly say in all my years of playing Fifa I've never seen the collision system so bad. Players randomly bounce in strange directions, the ball just ping pongs around and tackles just don't seem to work with loads of completely random fouls occurring.- one minor positive is sliding feels better).
- Ultimate team (maybe I'm getting old but it's even worse than I remember, confusing menus, strange division systems, and a colour scheme which makes me feel like I'm on a cocktail of crack and LSD. Every single player I came up against had a significantly better team than my cheap starter team. I was playing against in forms, squads worth over a million easily and the game has only been out a week, that's absolute nonsense and enough to put me off already!).
- Pace abuse (enough said).

I think to get my monies worth now I just have to hope I can enjoy the career mode offline as I usually do and try and avoid online except maybe co-op. It's nice that heading is back in some form (except those damn corners) but that's not enough to make up for the ridiculous pace the game is played at. I'm hopeful that with sliders changed and offline I can still make this into something I'll enjoy but this has made up my mind that I'm trying Pes next year because I just want something closer to simulation than arcade. Apologies for the long ass post!
 

Eddy_JukeZ

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Makes me laugh in @Eddy_JukeZ list of changes he states that the crossing is more effective, but this is only due to the crossing being literally pointless in FIFA 20. It's like praising a car for having four wheels now when before it was scraping around on three.

Whilst I agree with him that there are things that are different from FIFA 20. It's not enough and the last big jump between games was when the PS4 came out. I'm hoping the PS5 version is a bit better.
While crossing was pointless in FIFA 20, there's new crossing mechanics in FIFA 21 as well and then the headers following the cross are different online now(they're fully manual).

So it's still a change from FIFA 20.
 

do.ob

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@TrustInJanuzaj
I assume on corners you're not controlling your goal keeper, so a corner kick that goes into the 5yd box is a free goal if the attacker wins the header?
 

TrustInJanuzaj

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@TrustInJanuzaj
I assume on corners you're not controlling your goal keeper, so a corner kick that goes into the 5yd box is a free goal if the attacker wins the header?
I often hold triangle but the keeper a couple of times just entirely missed the punch or managed to punch the ball straight back to the opposition who tap it in.
 

Bojan11

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I often hold triangle but the keeper a couple of times just entirely missed the punch or managed to punch the ball straight back to the opposition who tap it in.
Move him yourself by holding the right stick clicked.
 

do.ob

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I often hold triangle but the keeper a couple of times just entirely missed the punch or managed to punch the ball straight back to the opposition who tap it in.
I can't remember that ever happening to me, let alone multiple times per match. Maybe you're too slow to move the keeper or the particular player is simply too short/weak. As the poster before me mentioned you can (and in my experience should) also already move out the keeper a bit before the kick is taken.
 

TrustInJanuzaj

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I can't remember that ever happening to me, let alone multiple times per match. Maybe you're too slow to move the keeper or the particular player is simply too short/weak. As the poster before me mentioned you can (and in my experience should) also already move out the keeper a bit before the kick is taken.
I didn't even know you could move him to be honest, not sure why my defenders cant head though, slightly annoying.
 

Solius

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While crossing was pointless in FIFA 20, there's new crossing mechanics in FIFA 21 as well and then the headers following the cross are different online now(they're fully manual).

So it's still a change from FIFA 20.
Factually true but not the best that they had to market crossing no longer being obsolete as a change.
 

do.ob

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Actually I've seen one of the pros beginning to get somewhere when he was trying to use the L3R3 creative runs to create crossing opportunities.
 

Solius

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Diallo doesn’t join Utd in Jan obviously. Too hard for EA to set up a future transfer.
 

Wal2Fra

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So off topic away from the gameplay etc, but does anyone understand why FUT is a big as it is?

Lyon’s facebook page has just posted photos of all their players receiving their FUT card and copy of the game in a flash box. Last year VVD did a video of him presenting one to every Liverpool player and asking what the think of their ratings, to which they all say "ohh I think my -insert chosen attribute- should be higher"

There are also countless videos on Youtube doing the "guess your rating" with players.

It is a good game mode, or at least it was. It has become too repetitive and the time required either playing or trading to avoid the P2W. Also the online community is a scummy as online communities can get with the people playing just to win at all costs and taking more enjoyment from frustrating and ruining the game for others than actually playing.

So how has it gotten so big? Would EA losing the abilty to have loot boxes effect the modes popularity?
 

Solius

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One of the more satisfying goals I’ve scored on this version. Feel like in the previous one that would’ve gone over or saved near post. So that’s good.

 

TrustInJanuzaj

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After my initial rant I’m actually quite enjoying this! It’s not football but it’s arranged chaos. Also coop ultimate team Is a great addition!
 

Terminator

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They've kind of fixed the crosses that they completely broke in Fifa 20. Yay!

Why do the opposition AI never cross btw? They'd rather pass it back to their own half than cross, so dumb.