EA Sports brings a close to a nearly 30-year alliance with the world's football regulator due to a licensing dispute, marking FIFA 23 as the last in the series. The games to come will be rebranded from the FIFA name to EA Sports FC. Despite the grand farewell to the familiar title, FIFA 23 provides the usual football simulation, together with a set of novel features in different game modes. Notably, the Ultimate Team mode undergoes its most transformative shift in years; however, by and large, FIFA's final bow spotlights minuscule enhancements, keeping it business as usual.

The Bamboo Curtain Draw: HyperMotion2 in FIFA 23

As you experience the lifelike nature of the digital grass in FIFA 23, HyperMotion2 takes centerstage. This groundbreaking tech, which first debuted in the recent past of the series, enables full-scale motion capture of every player during a live match. It captures even the most intricate details and context-specific actions throughout the game, resulting in a surfeit of new animations, consequently pushing the simulation closer to actuality. With HyperMotion2 taking it a notch higher, FIFA 23 obtains copious data from complete match and training sessions with professional teams, making player movements even more fluid and realistic.

A Pace Slower but More Realistic: Gameplay in FIFA 23

The overall effect on gameplay is clearly noticeable, mainly regarding the game's pace. Similar to FIFA 22, FIFA 23 runs at a significantly reduced speed. Quick players are still game-changers, but they must work in intervals for maximum effect. Generally, most goals spawn from long passing plays. Passing accuracy has been improved this time around, and passes come with a responsive and exhilarating feel. Defenders demonstrate increased intelligence and successful tackles generally end in ball possession for the player. Having a robust player leads to efficient jockeying, and slide tackling is now more feasible.

A New Era with Power Shots: Additions in FIFA 23

Despite these changes, FIFA 23 doesn't qualify as a considerable leap over its predecessor. It essentially represents incremental enhancements to the old build, making it a good but not particularly novel game. Among the noteworthy new features is the introduction of power shots. The power shot, which involves an exaggerated wind-up before launching the ball, adds another way to score, bringing a fun feel to it, although shooting takes relatively longer. But the exciting element of risk and reward it introduces to the game cannot be overlooked.

The Spotlight on Women's Football: Representation Matters

Women's football garners unprecedented attention in FIFA 23, with the incorporation of club football alongside national teams. The limited league options offered include the English Women's Super League and French Division 1 Arkema, marking an end to the period where you could only play as international teams. Unfortunately, these women's teams are only applicable in friendly matches and tournaments, meaning you can play a full season in either division but can't buy players or partake in any of the other features present in FIFA's career mode.

AFC Richmond's Cameo and Ultimate Team: Extra Features in FIFA 23

In a PR-clever move, FIFA 23 makes AFC Richmond a playable team. However, despite the hype, this doesn't significantly change the game dynamics. EA's prime focus in FIFA 23 remains the Ultimate Team, with a reworking of its chemistry system. It now maxes at 33 instead of the previous 100. This change, however, has its downside. The Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) are harder as players stationed out of their usual positions account for zero chemistry. This seems designed to entice players into buying packs to acquire more cards that can be used in different SBCs.

FIFA 23: A Perfect Ending to an Era?

FIFA 23 serves as an apt finish for the series, combining the beautiful game's essence with the sobering reality of unquenchable corporate greed. The game is captivating and finely-tuned, but the shadow of gambling looms ominously over it, blemishing the incredible football action. As the FIFA series draws to a close, one can only expect EA Sports FC to mirror its predecessor, delivering an excellent football experience along with an exploitative money-making scheme.