It’s nearly time for the FIFA World Cup to swing around again and this time it’s being held in the Samba capital of the world. Brazil.

What this also means is that EA Sports has released another special version of their FIFA series entitled FIFA 14 Brazil World Cup, so we took it out for a spin to see how well it works.

But before we get into it let’s take a look at the players doing the Samba

Okay I’m lying, the review has started and this was one of the earlier things I noticed. During a pre-game practice session the ball bounced away from me and then I and my opposing AI decided to samba the day away until I force quit.

Not a great start.

But let’s go back and see what the game has to offer. According to the official EA marketing stuff the game includes enhanced dribbling, accuracy and some better first touch mechanics. You can then take any of the FIFA governing bodies from around the world and attempt to reach the world cup and then win it. Or you can jump right into the world cup with one of the existing qualifiers and try take them through to the finals and win it.

Like I did with England even though Sturridge broke his ankle in the first game and the geniuses at EA Sports still think Rooney is a world class striker.

So taking on from the marketing gumph the game does appear to dribble better but the shooting seems pretty much stock standard. The one touch controls are also pretty much on par with FIFA 14.

So we have a new football game with multiple new modes, some great practice and training modes and all the characters we love to scream at over the weekend. Sounds like a solid purchase… however there are problems.

First up they are selling this game at full retail when it only contains around 30% of the content you’d find in normal FIFA titles. Moving past pure fiscal considerations though, we see more problems.

The second thing that got me going was that the game appeared to make mistakes with rules and that really drove me mad. The first example is where I scored the below goal and my striker was rewarded with the goal. However according to FIFA if the ball is deflected away from being saved and then the ball goes in then it is an own goal. This happened to Suarez earlier this season.

Now granted that is a ridiculously pedantic thing to mark a game down for but in a later game my guy was given offside while he was a solid 3 meters onside. I’m all for the ref making wrong calls when they are touch and go but this was not the case. It was a glitch that I’ve never experienced in the real FIFA game.

But that’s not the worst part. I started up a tournament and entered a game with Chile. After a few minutes of gameplay I noticed that I was starting to feel a little nauseous. I pause now to remind you that I’m a massive FIFA 14 fan and while I’m not very good I have played many many hours of FIFA and I’ve never had the game bring about nausea before.

I restarted the game and it didn’t take long to notice that the problem occurs when the camera has to zoom out to show long balls. Once this happens the v-synch goes haywire and the screen tears ridiculously making the game impossible to focus on.

While I’m subconsciously trying to focus on the ball my mind is being put through a blender by the graphics. Here’s a YouTube video I took showing the issue and no it’s not a YouTube issue, this video is actually better and smoother than the real thing.

Oh and the colour scheme they have chosen is terrible. I  really disliked it; It’s like someone threw up a rainbow on my screen.

FIFA World Cup

So the colour scheme, lack of modes, lack of improvement in gameplay and bad calls are enough for me to give this review a poor score.

But that’s all easily ignorable if you want the special edition on your shelf, like I always do. However asking me to pay full price for a game that makes me feel incredibly ill due to absolutely awful V-Synch is simply just a step too far.

This game was reviewed on an Xbox 360 so it is possible this won’t happen on the PS3 – but until I can see that for myself I simply cannot recommend anyone buying or playing this game.

Last Updated: April 23, 2014

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazl
The game is minimalist and doesn’t add enough to justify the cost. Despite the lustre of the event, the game is badly put together. I cannot recommend this for anything other than a shelf adornment.
5.5
2014 FIFA World Cup Brazl was reviewed on Xbox 360
74 / 100

38 Comments

  1. Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

    April 23, 2014 at 15:31

    meh

    Reply

    • ElimiNathan

      April 23, 2014 at 15:34

      Looks VERY meh

      Reply

  2. Wincethis

    April 23, 2014 at 15:35

    Anyone else think this looks like a GIANT FING FACEPALM!?

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief in Space

      April 23, 2014 at 15:37

      A fing facepalm you say?

      Fing fing fing fiiiiiiiiiiiiiing noodles

      Reply

      • Wincethis

        April 23, 2014 at 15:37

        yes! Fuck the noodles 0-o

        Reply

    • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

      April 23, 2014 at 15:40

      urm… I think that’s the whole point of the Brazillian world cup?
      http://nickgiovannetti.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/7d405ef5-94dc-4a05-97a9-1a0b5a9465f6.jpg

      Reply

      • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

        April 23, 2014 at 15:41

        Oh wait. I see you had an image. Only saw after refresh. Thought you were talking about the game @rincethis:disqus

        Reply

        • Wincethis

          April 23, 2014 at 15:42

          LOL. I actually asked on twitter earlier if someone could photoshop Picard into the picture, where is Tanya when you need her!?

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief in Space

            April 23, 2014 at 15:42

            Where is Tanya btw?

          • Wincethis

            April 23, 2014 at 15:42

            No work 🙁

          • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

            April 23, 2014 at 15:43

            *sniff*

          • VampyreSquirrel

            April 23, 2014 at 15:45

            He starts new job on the 5th of May

          • Wincethis

            April 23, 2014 at 15:45

            Awesome for him! Must send him a message tonight 🙂

          • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

            April 23, 2014 at 15:48

            Yeah super glad for him.

          • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

            April 23, 2014 at 15:46

            On my birthday! See.. Knew my bday is a good luck day

          • Jedi JJ

            April 23, 2014 at 15:46

            Ah, good to know man

          • Admiral Chief in Space

            April 23, 2014 at 15:49

            That’s good news, tell him we are rooting for him/her

    • VampyreSquirrel

      April 23, 2014 at 15:44

    • oVg Errorist

      April 23, 2014 at 16:03

      😛

      Reply

    • Ultimo_Cleric N7

      April 23, 2014 at 16:07

      *window shattering moment…..

      Reply

  3. oVg Errorist

    April 23, 2014 at 16:00

    • matric

      July 27, 2014 at 08:55

      Better Ball Physics than EA…

      Reply

  4. Hammersteyn

    April 23, 2014 at 16:01

    Yet people buy this

    Reply

    • FoxOneZA

      April 23, 2014 at 16:09

      The 2010 World Cup SA game was really good and fun but still definitely not a full price purchase.

      Reply

  5. oVg Errorist

    April 23, 2014 at 16:12

    The vuvuzela, a plastic horn based on a traditional South African instrument, makes a loud, raucous buzzing sound and became a symbol of South African football after fans adopted it as an essential accessory at matches.

    It shot to worldwide prominence in the 2009 Confederations Cup and became a major talking point at the World Cup the following year.

    The sport’s world governing body FIFA moved to ban the vuvuzela from stadiums after reports that it could cause permanent hearing loss at close range but backtracked and the insistent buzz became the soundtrack to the 2010 World Cup.

    The game even cut it out.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      April 23, 2014 at 16:18

      Not to mention the spit hitting the back of your neck.

      Reply

      • oVg Errorist

        April 23, 2014 at 16:25

        They are banned, if a Brazilian sees you with one then you will be waking up in a favela.

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          April 23, 2014 at 16:28

          Where you just might be a estupro victim

          Reply

    • Brady miaau

      April 23, 2014 at 20:27

      I watched confed cup games. Did not watch any World Cup games.

      1 guess allowed as to why. Man, annoying just is not strong enough.

      Reply

  6. Recho

    April 23, 2014 at 16:30

    Hello Gavin

    Not sure where you are getting your football rules from…

    The rule is quite clear, if the shot was OFF target and the deflection takes it on target, only then it is an own goal.

    If the shot was ON target, regardless of the effect the deflection has on saving the shot, it is the striker’s goal. Otherwise Raheem Sterling of Liverpool would not have been awarded the third goal for Liverpool over the weekend, it would have been deemed an own goal.

    Reply

    • Recho

      April 23, 2014 at 16:36

      I had a look at the video you posted of Suarez. His shot was off target, the deflection took it on target, hence why it is an own goal.

      The game video you posted had an on target shot deflected, hence it is your striker’s goal.

      Reply

  7. Jonah Cash

    April 24, 2014 at 07:48

    Whoever buys this is just a nutcase!! This is just a cash grab!! They could just make this a new game mode with an update to Fifa 14!!! I defend EA with an annual release of Fifa but this World Cup shit is just taking it too far!!! Apparently they are going to do something with FUT on the new consoles to gives us a feel for the World Cup, that is the way this should have worked on all systems!! Man this pisses me off so much!!

    Reply

  8. Jonah Cash

    April 24, 2014 at 07:51

    Gavin you would love Fifa on the PS4, it is truly at least 30-40% better, the physics is the best it has ever been. If Carroll runs into someone they don’t just brush him off and the ball doesn’t go through players anymore!! Corners can be defended, more than one player goes up for the ball to head it away… I just love Fifa 14 on the PS4, plays like I always wanted it to be!!

    Reply

  9. DBL_ZA

    April 24, 2014 at 09:09

    Unless the stadium starts falling apart mid-game and there is constant talking of riots in the streets outside what’s left, I don’t believe this is an accurate representation of the World Cup tournament this year

    Reply

  10. matric

    April 24, 2014 at 12:52

    Horrible Game.. A big Dissapointment. Screw EA!!!

    Reply

  11. Tom O'Rourke

    May 9, 2014 at 02:38

    A striker is rewarded a deflected goal if the shot was originally on target… If the shot was going to miss and it’s deflected off a defender then it’s awarded an own goal

    Reply

    • Slyeagle

      May 16, 2014 at 00:16

      Just awful – so annoyed with this game, I’m back to Fifa 14 already – what a scammy way to get an extra £45 – Thanks EA !
      THS SHOULD HAVE BEEAN AN ADD-ON FOR £15 MAX!
      I guess EA just think they can keep screwing their audience!

      Reply

  12. PcWorld

    November 15, 2014 at 20:33

    Played this game last night with some friends for about 3 or 4 hours. I’m not very good at Fifa but I find the games fun. Defense has changed quite a bit from 2013 and it’s much easier to get the ball stolen while sprinting. Might pick this up for my PS4. play online free games

    Reply

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