THE BEAUTIFIED GAME
THE WEEK|October 25, 2020
Football gaming giant FIFA is back, with fancy footwork and spectacular goals
KARTHIK RAVINDRANATH
THE BEAUTIFIED GAME

The world is a scary place, complete with inept political leaders and lethal viruses. But, there are a few things you can still count on. Like Electronic Arts releasing a new version of FIFA every year. The franchise, in its 28th year, is the best-selling sports video game series. The latest iteration, FIFA 21, released on October 9.

It comes with subtle changes which make a significant difference to the game play. The basic skills (like passing, shooting) reflect the real-world abilities of the players more closely. So, a cross by Trent Alexander-Arnold will be discernibly better than one from your average right-back. Free kicks are more realistic, but hard to master.

Even the not-so-skilled gamer may stumble upon a few cool moves. I got Neymar to juggle and shimmy his way past three defenders and have no idea how I did it. So, the “serious gamers” can rip others to shreds, more so, because the keeper and defence will be shambolic unless the gamer pays real attention to defensive play.

This story is from the October 25, 2020 edition of THE WEEK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the October 25, 2020 edition of THE WEEK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE WEEKView All
When BJP Asks 'Modi Vs Who', The Answer Is 'Modi Vs Common Man'
THE WEEK India

When BJP Asks 'Modi Vs Who', The Answer Is 'Modi Vs Common Man'

A veteran of many poll battles, Mallikarjun Kharge is facing his toughest challenge since he became Congress president in October 2022.

time-read
10+ mins  |
April 21, 2024
Jumbos, gift-wrapped
THE WEEK India

Jumbos, gift-wrapped

In 218 BCE, Hannibal, the great Carthaginian general, made his audacious assault on Rome from the north, crossing the Alps with his army of 30,000 men, 15,000 cavalry and most famously, 37 elephants.

time-read
2 mins  |
April 21, 2024
The crew has landed
THE WEEK India

The crew has landed

At the time of writing this, an all-women-led film—Crew—has clocked in₹104 crore at the worldwide box office.

time-read
2 mins  |
April 21, 2024
The social insecurity
THE WEEK India

The social insecurity

Parents don’t need research. They know when their children get addicted to social media.

time-read
2 mins  |
April 21, 2024
I am not a serious person; I only do my work seriously
THE WEEK India

I am not a serious person; I only do my work seriously

In an industry obsessed with fillers and filters, calling someone a chameleon could invite ire or scorn.

time-read
5 mins  |
April 21, 2024
Tales of an ace
THE WEEK India

Tales of an ace

THE WEEK Sportsroom with Rohan Bopanna offered more than a peek into the journey of a modern Indian great

time-read
4 mins  |
April 21, 2024
HOLY COW!
THE WEEK India

HOLY COW!

How a cattle specimen with Indian roots became the Brazilian cattle industry's billion-dollar jewel

time-read
6 mins  |
April 21, 2024
JOINING FORCES
THE WEEK India

JOINING FORCES

Unprecedented in scale and size, recent Indian military war exercises walk the talk on the theaterisation, jointness and integration effort

time-read
7 mins  |
April 21, 2024
Sink prejudice instead
THE WEEK India

Sink prejudice instead

The reactions on social media following the collision of the cargo ship Dali with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge were unnecessarily derogatory.

time-read
2 mins  |
April 21, 2024
Reality show and resurgence
THE WEEK India

Reality show and resurgence

You have gotta love the election season. Setting aside contentious issues like electoral bonds, rumours of electronic voting machine rigging, bribery, intimidation and wilful disinformation, the fact is that India’s Lok Sabha elections are still the biggest reality show on earth.

time-read
2 mins  |
April 21, 2024