Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Family-friendly soccer sim with advanced graphics, physics.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
FIFA 15
What's It About?
EA Sports is back on the pitch with another FIFA-branded sports game. FIFA 15 brings soccer -- or, as the rest of the world calls it, football -- to life on your television, computer screen, or portable game platform. FIFA 15 features all the leagues, teams, and players from the planet's most popular sport, and players now have a range of emotions that evolve throughout the game based on interactions with opponents and teammates. A number of refinements and additions have been added to this year's game, including more realistic physics, multiple modes, smarter artificial intelligence (AI), new goalkeeper animations, and authentically recreated stadiums for added immersion.
Is It Any Good?
FIFA 15 is a must-have for fans of the sport. There's a lot to like about this edition, because FIFA 15 really feels great. With a number of control enhancements over the past couple of years, you really feel like you're in control of the action with new ways to approach the game on the pitch. There's a wide assortment of single and multiplayer modes to choose from, with FIFA Ultimate Team mode still the best of the bunch (including a new player-loan system and an awesome highlight-reel feature). Speaking of which, the graphics, animation, and broadcast-style camera angles really make it feel like you're playing a televised match. Fans can experience the emotion and intensity of the game in stunning graphic detail. And goalkeepers now move and act like real people instead of AI-controlled 'bots.
There isn't much to complain about with FIFA 15 other than the obvious downside to any sports game: Those who purchased last year's version might not glean that much of a difference, especially on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. But this installment really does look and play much better than its predecessors, especially on next-generation consoles.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how FIFA 15 is full of branding, including logos, clothing labels, billboards, and broadcast graphics. It's just like the real sport (or any sport, for that matter), but EA Sports also has the opportunity to sell in-game advertising. Is it OK that the publisher makes money from gamers and advertisers, too? Is product placement harmful?
Is it worth it to buy an annual sports game? If the developers release a free downloadable update to account for changing team rosters, do you really need to buy one every year? Can you skip a year or two, or do the new features and better graphics justify the purchase?
Game Details
- Platforms : Nintendo 3DS , Nintendo Wii , PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , PlayStation Vita , Windows , Xbox 360 , Xbox One
- Subjects : Language & Reading : following directions , Science : momentum , motion , physics , Social Studies : citizenship , events , Hobbies : sports
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : applying information , decision-making , strategy , Self-Direction : time management , work to achieve goals , Collaboration : cooperation , Responsibility & Ethics : following codes of conduct
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : EA Sports
- Release date : September 22, 2014
- Genre : Sports
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : November 11, 2020
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