FIFA 23

Have been giving the 10 hour free trial a go on career mode.

I'm liking the licences (only played Pes for last few years) and fact I can actually play a career mode.

The gameplay is OK, fun enough for now. Put it on World Class and won my first two league matches 5-0 and 5-1. Attacking just seemed far too easy. Keepers seem shit and most goals look crap because it looks like they should save half of what goes in.

The game itself is slightly jarring to play because the ball physics, player animation and inertia don't seem like they're in the same world.

Oh and the defending feels a bit weird. Like your own midfield players just don't track anyone at all so the AI moves the ball through the lines very easily.

Lol I'm struggling on professional in squad battles. I win a few and then inexplicably get hammered 4-0 over the next couple of games. My defending is utter clown shoes.

I packed Alexander-Arnold last night though. Every silver lining.

That's insane. Well played. I've had absolutely nothing of value from any objective packs, unfortunately. Trying to scrimp and save off the Transfer Market. Also managed to get my Chem up to 30/33 but with a FAR weaker team.

How does the manager Chem multiplier work, then? Are you using a US coach purely to buff Adams (that's him at CDM, right?)?

Neves might be worse than Fur Nanch from the commentator. He says it like Gary Neville running onto a ball "Nevvvvvsss".

Great game though, they've got the online balanced perfectly. Most games are tough wins with actually playing football rather than someone spamming the left stick.

Apparently I need to change something in the BIOS to even play this on PC which I absolutely cannot be arsed to do.

Much better. Get 3 choices of what you get. Normally tradeable packs, and then untradeable you get more packs plus coins to spend.

And online isn't like the shit fest it used to be with players spamming exploits.

For the FUT noobs, don't just go for the higher rated players. Someone like Malacia for example can be as good as an 85 rated player with the right chemistry card.

You won't, might a occasions but you'll start in the bottom league with similar skill levels.

And you still get decent rewards.

I also first ventured online for two Rivals matches last night before bed. Won the first one 3-0, lost the second 0-4. That latter was properly frustrating as well, as I dominated possession, hit the woodwork several times, and they scored on literally the only four occasions they got up the park lol

Don't know why it looks like it was filmed with a potato, but I liked this RVPesque salmon header.

Much the same tbh. Every game is 6/7 goal-fest. AI just skips through the middle and I am also getting annoyed at defenders not actually reacting to a sprint for a second or two. It's weird. On Pro, it's too easy to score.

I am nearly at the end of my trial and I am not fully convinced tbh.

Much the same on legendary. Winning games but cannot, for the life of me, concede less than two per game and often more.
Going to experiment with three CB’s when I can be arsed but Pro Clubs is taking up all my time, love that mode.

Welcome to the world of scripted football.

This is what happens with this engine. It's been like it for years. You'll be playing brilliantly one minute and then, without warning, you'll notice your players have been dumbed down. You'll not be able to string a pass together, your AI won't track, you're 50% slower than you was in the last game and you'll spurn every shot you take.

I bloody love FIFA.
I bloody hate FIFA.

edit: To add to this, keep an eye on when you're conceding too. Chances are you'll be letting in a lot of 45 and 89 minute goals. Keep your eye on the clock and go as defensive and as cagey as you can at those times.

He terrorised me on career mode, if I played wingers I would have bought him.