FIFA 15: Release Date and Early Review Info for Latest Edition of Video Game

Few sports video games can match the reach of FIFA. The biggest question when one franchise is on top for so long, however, is whether it can make enough improvements on a yearly basis to keep or build upon its fanbase.

FIFA 14 marked the first release on the new generation of consoles. As with most of the sports titles released, it had its fair share of minor issues, which makes the latest edition of the game important after developers have had an entire year to work out the rough spots.

Next week, gamers will get a chance to see how much progress has been made when the complete version of the game is released in North America and Europe. Let's check out the exact dates along with some early breakdowns of what to expect.

Release Dates

North America: Tuesday, Sept. 23

Europe: Thursday, Sept. 25

Early Reviews

One thing FIFA has attempted to fine-tune quite frequently in recent years is the pace of play. It's difficult to strike the right balance between keeping the game realistic and making sure the entertainment value remains high.

Last year, the game was a little on the slower side. Jake O'Donnell of SportsGrid notes the developers went back in the other direction by picking up the speed of the game and, at least at first glance, might have finally found a comfort zone:

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Speed, baby—FIFA 15's got loads of it. The last incarnation of the series had a slightly lethargic feel to it, which seemed to be EA's attempt at making the game more realistic and less like Mario Strikers (or a contrast to its only really competitor, Pro Evolution). And while they did achieve an authentic feel, the game's pace somewhat turned it into a contest to see who could "build up" a better attack, with less emphasis on one-on-ones and distance shooting (aka the good stuff).

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It's going to take a couple weeks of consistent of playing to see how it feels. By then, most gamers will have a pretty good feel and can make a definitive judgment one way or another. But it sounds promising heading toward release day.

Another point of interest is the fluidity of attacks. Along with last year's slower pace came a more challenging game in the final third. Some of the popular methods of creating a chance in the prior editions weren't quite as effective anymore.

David Raven of the Mirror passed along word of a couple changes that could make things a little easier to navigate this time around:

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It will come as a sigh of relief for many that on your first play through it won't feel like a completely different game, although dribbling is easier and long range shots are impressively accurate.

Keepers will now dip, dive and strive to get a fingertip on your 30-yard piledriver but they're not always successful and you can really score some screamers as a result of the improved game mechanics.

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The latter should be a welcome addition in terms of realism. In past editions, a goalkeeper would too often just stand in the middle of the goal and watch a shot go wide or graze the outside of the post, situations in which real 'keepers will almost always make a diving effort.

Scoring from long-range efforts will help, as long as they aren't overdone. Gamers should get rewarded for well-timed and placed shots, but they shouldn't be too common.

On the flip side, it sounds like defending is going to take some work, even for longtime FIFA players.

Simon Rice of The Independent notes that tackling has changed to take more factors into consideration. It makes the game more realistic, but it will also force adjustments to succeed:

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The latest instalment has seen a revamp of the tackling system with the size and strength of the players contesting the ball playing a major part. Having the likes of Yaya Toure in your team will pay dividends on this front. Whilst in previous incarnations it was possible to get close to players and automatically nick the ball off them, a deliberate, well-time tackle is now needed. It makes the art of defending more challenging and hands the initiative to the attacking side—but that's a good thing.

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As is usually the case with FIFA, it doesn't sound like there were any major overhauls. That's in large part because they aren't necessary; the developers are always working from a solid foundation.

The early reviews sound generally positive, and the quicker pace of play sounds like a hit. It shows the developers have a good read on the facets of the game to attack, which has helped the franchise stay on top for so long.

FIFA 15 seems ready to continue that streak.