The long-running FIFA series of football games is returning to video game store shelves in 2018 for its annual iteration in the downloadable FIFA 19 with the free demo coming two weeks before the release. It is a football simulation video game being developed by the programming wizards over at EA Vancouver and EA Romania.
The team behind FIFA 19 is aiming for a September 2018 release across all known consoles after announcing the game at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, also known as E3. Among planned ports for FIFA 19 include the aging Sony PlayStation 3 and the Microsoft Xbox 360 in a lifeline for two consoles long since discontinued by their manufacturers. Using the Frostbite 3 engine, FIFA 19 promises enhancements over its predecessor FIFA 18 as well as updated rosters and stats for players – all changes that players expect and, indeed, look forward to with each new installment.
How to Download FIFA 19 Demo
The demo was released on 13th September and gives the players a taste of what is to come soon after the full version is released. It is available to play on the platforms of PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows.
The anticipation is high as FIFA 19’s full game release is just around the corner. With the demo out, a lot of speculation is being made as to what sorts of changes EA is bringing to the table.
Starting off at the main menu, we finally get to see the return of UEFA Champions League mode. The UEFA Champions League features the yearly schedule of all the teams that are taking part in the competition.
The demo version allows players to play the group stage matches of this prestigious tournament with one out of a total of ten playable clubs including Manchester City, Manchester United, PSG, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Spurs, Juventus, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Roma.
Then we have the single-player career mode in the form of The Journey: Champions which follows the story of three aspiring heroes, Alex Hunter, Danny Williams, and Kim Hunter as they embrace the world of football with the aim to become the best of the best.
Each playable character has a unique storyline with the option for the players to switch between them at any time. Other exciting modes include friendly matches, a variety of tournaments such as Europa League and Super Cup, and a new commentary team featuring Derek Rae and Lee Dixon that are available in the demo so far.
Coming over to the in-game environment, the FIFA 19 demo has introduced a new gameplay feature called the 50/50 Battles. This new highlighted feature has enabled the AI to become smarter compared to the previous additions.
After working on improving the attack and forward play, FIFA has now improved the midfield conditions as well through 50/50 Battles. Apart from that, the designers and animators have also done a pretty good job of making the graphics look more realistic as compared to FIFA 18.
The realism spreads to the gameplay as tactics are now more important rather than just shooting aggressively. The shooting itself has become more control sensitive by adding the Timed Finishing feature which can turn a normal shot into something that no goalkeeper in the world would be able to defend.
In terms of mechanics, gameplay, and graphics, the FIFA 19 demo is being compared to another hit football game called PES 2019 (Pro Evolution Soccer). For several years now, the two franchises have been competing against each other in terms of the overall performance and popularity. Both the games are very similar in gameplay as well as the animation and design.
Overall, FIFA 19 Demo shows a lot of promise, especially to the loyal FIFA fans who have been following the franchise ever since they were young.
How to Download FIFA 19
You can download the game by clicking on the Download button located at the end of this review. The game will be available for Download from the Origin Store. You can also download the previous editions: FIFA 18, 17, and 16 as well as FIFA Mobile, which you can enjoy on phone and tablets.
The Game Review
While enjoyable in both single-player and multiplayer modes, the FIFA series is known for its competitive and vibrant community of gamers that enjoy nothing more than playing endless matches against others from around the world. Naturally, all the changes made to the game are done with an eye out for this mode which is really FIFA’s calling card in the sports video game space. Changes for the gameplay this year are minor but include a few things that will keep it fresh and new for returning players.
One new gameplay mechanic that Electronic Arts has discussed with regard to FIFA 19 is the Active Touch System, a new way for players to control the athletes on the field as well as a “timed finishing” mechanic wherein players can press the kick button a second time to give them greater control over when the ball is kicked.
There will also be a 50/50 battles mechanic for determining who gets a loose ball and “dynamic tactics” – an oft-requested feature – that will allow players on the field to adapt their gameplay style in reaction to what is occurring during the game. Another huge component of the FIFA experience, the campaign mode, is usually left until right up until the game’s release and such is the case with FIFA 19. Called “The Journey: Champions,” FIFA 19’s campaign mode should align with those in the past but probably will feature more micromanagement or simulation elements to it.
Of course, per tradition, EA will remain largely silent about this feature until the game nears release. Due to the expiration of the license with Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer competing series, the following leagues will be joining FIFA 19: UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Super Cup. Martin Tyler and Alan Smith will return as the game’s commentators while Derek Rae and Lee Dixon will be Champions’ League commentators.
Among the myriad of versions coming out, including the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 ports, features should largely remain the same with the only variation being between levels of graphical fidelity. For its part, the Nintendo Switch port will receive “significant upgrades” over FIFA 18 in a nod to that console’s growing importance as both a mainline home machine and as Nintendo’s new handheld.
