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19 changes we need to see in FIFA 19
It might not have even been announced yet, but we’ve got some ideas for how FIFA 19 can improve on this year’s on-pitch offering
FIFA 18 is still only a few months old but we’ve spent long enough with it now to work out where it could do with some improvements.
So while we love what EA have done with The Journey and playing games at Argentina’s El Monumental is still awesome, we’ve drawn up a list of 19 things that would make sure FIFA 19 is the best FIFA yet.
And if we tell EA now, that means there’s plenty of time to get them all implemented before the next game comes out, right?
More new stadiums needed in FIFA 19
© EA Sports
1. More stadiums
All 20 Premier League grounds might appear in FIFA 18 but the rest of Europe is woefully under-represented. La Liga and Ligue 1 only have two stadiums each, Serie A does slightly better with three and the Bundesliga has five, but there are some seriously iconic theatres of football that are conspicuous by their absence. Come on, EA, isn’t it time grounds such as Napoli’s San Paolo, Valencia’s Mestalla and Celtic Park made an appearance?
2. More crowd activity
Speaking of stadiums, FIFA 18’s more lifelike crowds are only really visible in a small number of grounds, which limits their impact somewhat. We’d like to see more activity in all arenas, with crowds rising to their feet to appeal for penalties, dispute yellow cards or chastise assistant referees for flagging offside. Fans could even leave early if their team is losing, and for that extra slice of realism, hospitality areas should stay empty for five minutes after the second half has kicked off while their occupants finish scoffing their prawn sandwiches.
Napoli’s Dries Mertens is unrecognisable
© EA Sports
3. More real faces
EA might have motion-captured Cristiano Ronaldo right down to his immaculately groomed hair, but when some of Europe’s best players don’t even have full face scans there’s something wrong. Players such as Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak, Napoli forward Dries Mertens and Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembélé still appear as generic players, no more recognisable than some unknown left-back from the Transylvanian eighth division, so imagine what it’s like if you want to play as Plymouth Argyle.
4. More lifelike players
Most players might look more recognisable than ever before but in FIFA 18 they still come across more like barely animated mannequins than real people. We’d like to see some life behind their eyes, some proper expressions on their faces and maybe even the odd smile when they score. Not too much to ask, is it?
5. Better defending
FIFA 18 is very much a game that favours attacking play, and while that results in a lot of high-scoring matches it feels like a significant tactical part of the game is being neglected. Defenders need to track opposition runs more effectively, while standing challenges could do with being less clumsy.
Set pieces around the box just aren’t dangerous enough
© EA Sports
6. Better set pieces
Winning a free-kick anywhere around the box should be considered an opportunity to create something, whether it’s a direct shot on goal or a chance to whip the ball into the box and hope one of your team-mates is on the end of it, but free-kicks in FIFA 18 don’t feel dangerous enough. More goals from set-pieces please, EA.
7. Better crossing
FIFA 18’s crossing is better than before, but it still leaves a lot to be desired when compared with the balls you can whip in on PES 2018. Like the set pieces, we want to see more crosses with a flatter, more dangerous trajectory that encourage strikers to get in front of their markers. Right now, everything’s still a little too floaty.
8. Refine penalties (again)
The new penalty system was simplified slightly for FIFA 18 but it’s still jarringly unrealistic compared to the rest of the game. Far too many spot-kicks still dribble along the floor while the goalkeeper dives dramatically towards the top corner – it just looks ridiculous. Please, EA, get penalties back to the heart-stopping game of chance they should be.
Near-post corners have become too easy to score
© EA Sports
9. Fix the near-post corner glitch
If you’ve worked this one out, chances are you won’t want it changed, but it’s currently far too easy to score by whipping a corner into the near post and having a player flick it on. FIFA has traditionally been pretty good at avoiding those kind of glitches, so it’s time to get this fixed.
10. Dynamic weather
Driving games have been doing dynamic weather for years now, so why doesn’t FIFA have it yet? Imagine how much more exciting a game could become when the heavens open and the surface becomes slippery, making players more prone to slips, goalkeepers more cautious and long shots more dangerous as the ball skims off the greasy surface.
Time for some fresh legs
© EA Sports
11. More intelligent quick subs
Quick subs were a welcome addition to FIFA 18 but they can be a bit dumb, sometimes suggesting defensive midfielders to come on in place of wingers, or a fresh full-back when you’re 1-0 down with five minutes to go. A bit more tactical wisdom wouldn’t go amiss, or perhaps some contextual suggestions that would encourage you to throw on an extra striker, or pack the midfield if you’re struggling to get a grip on a game.
12. More varied commentary/pundits
Martin Tyler and Alan Smith have been FIFA’s English-language commentary cooperative of choice since 2011, and while they’ve done nothing wrong per se, the pairing is starting to feel a little stale, with the same stock phrases being recycled year after year. If FIFA really wants to replicate what we see on TV every week, why not have a revolving crew of commentary teams to freshen things up?
Wish you were here
© EA Sports
13. A more personal Journey
The Journey, FIFA’s football RPG, has been the surprise hit of the last two games but it’s crying out for a bit more personalisation. Creating a character from scratch is a massive part of the appeal of RPGs, but beyond his clothes and a few hair styles, Alex Hunter isn’t particularly customisable. With all the voice acting involved you can see why it’s not as personalised as people might like, so perhaps a Be A Pro mode with Journey-style narrative elements is the answer.
14. Find a way to punish rage quitters
Rage quitters are only really punishing themselves with their tantrums, but it’d be nice if EA could find a way of encouraging people not to do it. If it’s a Seasons match, why not cut their season down by a match with each flounce, thereby making it harder for them to get promoted, or possibly even stay up. That’d soon convince the big babies to try and fight back from 3-0 down at halftime.
There aren’t enough women’s teams in FIFA 18
© EA Sports
15. Expand the women’s game
Women’s teams were added for the first time in FIFA 16 and since then EA seems to have forgotten about them. Where are the club teams? The opportunity to play as them in Career Mode? The possibility to have a women’s squad as part of your Ultimate Team? EA was rightly praised for adding the women’s teams to the game but it needs to be refreshed.
16. Fix animations
This one’s not too noticeable unless you watch replays closely but there are often times when a player’s standing leg is planted through or in front of the ball as they strike it – and you don’t need to be a professional coach to know that’s not the ideal technique. Either way, for a game that strives for realism, it’s something that needs fixing.
17. Proper handballs
Handballs are included on FIFA 18 but they’re switched off by default because the handsy players mean that you’ll end up with about four penalties for each team every game. Even so, they’re part of the game in real life and to ignore them completely doesn’t make sense. If fouls or offsides were neglected like that people would be up in arms.
Players in the Brazilian league aren't included in FIFA 18
© EA Sports
18. More leagues
Fair enough, FIFA 18’s not exactly short on leagues to play in, but Brazil and Chile are made up of fake players and some others include generic team names. Fixing those should be a priority but it’d be nice to see the Chinese Super League and Indian Super League included, if only to make Career Mode that bit more realistic.
19. A proper release
EA execs have hinted that FIFA might move to a subscription model rather than putting out an entirely new title every year, but the release of a new FIFA game has become as big a part of being a football fan as transfer deadline day. Come on, EA, don’t spoil our new-season fun.
