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While Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 won't be making a splash on next-gen consoles, the acclaimed FIFA series is making a pledge to all platforms this year. A strong performer on both PS3 and 360, we last put the series to the test with FIFA 10 to largely like-for-like results - only minor visual bugs separating the two at the start of the generation. Since then, we've seen a plethora of tweaks to its animation systems, the addition of the Impact Engine, an invaluable tactical defending control scheme, plus a torrent of new online modes bolted on to the package. But the question is, does FIFA 14 on either consoles or PC hint at what's to come in the Xbox One or PS4 versions this November, or does it rank as a more conservative effort?After six years of well-worn use, the series' sluggish left-right scrolling menu is replaced at last with a snappier tile interface that calls to mind the 360 dashboard. At its heart though, the core engine-work is based on the in-house technologies used by EA Canada in previous entries. Motion capture drives much of the game's authentic animations - players now being slower to accelerate, but sharper to turn during full-on sprints. Collision physics also see refinement following the hilarious trips and pile-ups possible with its nascent implementation in FIFA 12. Now, we have players tussling for the ball during neck-and-neck sprints, where strength and the quality of a darting striker's first touch are key to the success of a speculative through-ball.
At a basic rendering level though, little has changed since FIFA 09. The resolution of both PS3 and 360 versions remains at 1280x720, and Sony's console takes the quincunx anti-aliasing path once more to produce a faint blurring to grass textures when using the television broadcast camera. A less effective texture filter is also at play on PS3, as shown on club insignia during penalties, but this is scarcely noticeable unless put side-by-side. With all three versions patched up to version 1.01, and making sure our weather and pitch settings are synchronised, we compare each release through our head-to-head videos below. And as ever, we also have a FIFA 14 triple-format comparison gallery to hand.
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