When it comes to developing FIFA 22, EA SPORTS has unquestionably listened to the community, as evidenced by the reworked gameplay and the addition of several single-player features. Because Ultimate Team is the most profitable mode, the developers are frequently accused of prioritizing it over Career mode. These accusations have been proven to be true to some extent in recent years.
However, with this entry, they have attempted to alter that perception by focusing on the topics that fans are interested in. It remains to be seen whether or not these widely praised changes will stand the test of time, but my overall impression is that – while not perfect – the series is once again heading in the right direction.
Extreme Team Ultimate Team is the most popular game mode in the game, and it has been significantly improved in recent years.
The Team of the Week promotion in FIFA 21 wasn't particularly exciting, so the development team responded by introducing a new featured cheap FIFA 22 coins for some players each week – meaning they can be upgraded to a higher level than usual. On top of the TOTW news itself, this should provide us with something to look forward to in the future. The addition of more ICONS, such as Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, as well as a slew of other iconic players in the form of FUT Heroes, provides players with an increased number of special edition cards to collect in the game. The latter will also be upgraded as time progresses.
It's far too soon to pass judgment on the newly revamped FUT Champions Weekend League model, which includes a longer qualifying process and FUT 22 Coins this season. In theory, however, the new points system (4 points for a win, 1 point for a loss) and ranks will ensure that more people receive better rewards, which is a victory for those of us who toil away on weekends to achieve our goals. On top of that, EA has listened to the community and has reduced the number of FUT Champions games from 30 to 20 in response. On paper, all of these changes appear to be positive. Completing SBCs, participating in Squad Battles matches (which have remained unchanged), competing in Division Rivals, and participating in the new FUT Champs competition... there's plenty to keep club owners occupied in FIFA 18.
Career Mode is a mode in which you can advance your career.
This year, there are two standout features in Career Mode that players should try out: a refined Player Career and the ability to Create-A-Club. A new layer of depth has been added to the experience of controlling your career game by game with The Journey-style animations and cutscenes, allowing you to control your career more effectively. A new element is the manager rating, which indicates how impressive or disappointing your performances have been from the perspective of the coach. For a mode that has remained relatively untouched in recent years, everything is positive.
As a huge fan of the series' Manager Mode, the release of Create-A-Club was something I was looking forward to. This is an opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone and try something new, such as establishing a completely new club in your vision and taking over as manager. Stadium upgrades, customized board expectations, and increased customization of kits or stadiums are all things that we've been wishing for for a long time.
At this point, however, it is primarily a matter of personalization. It is essentially a hybrid of the Pro Clubs mode and the Ultimate Team stadium feature, and it is completely devoid of any narrative or storyline, which is a real disappointment. Following 40 minutes spent creating the club (called Red Bull Wakefield), my manager, the stadium, editing how I want the fans to sing, and everything else – followed by the usual pre-season routine – everything was back to normal.
With each signature you make, you'll notice that the cutscenes are becoming much smoother and faster. All of these enhancements to my squad and preparations for our first League 2 match were accumulating as we prepared to welcome the new supporters to their new team. Everything you've said is fantastic.
Based on the complexity of the Anfield walkout animations and the buildup to the Champions League Final, you would expect the same level of narrative or cutscenes to make this a memorable occasion. However, this was not the case. The commentary team greets you with a very cliched greeting before throwing you right into the action. This will most likely be underwhelming for players in the Career Mode, and I'd argue that managing a real team provides a more authentic gaming experience. Perhaps, given the fact that it is a new feature, it will be implemented in due course.