Every four years EA Sports gets to triple-dip and, essentially, sell three soccer games within the span of a year. The World Cup game is usually diminished in some aspects, serving as a side story to the generally substantial offerings in the annual releases.

The resulting video game is an interesting experience, especially for massive fans of their respective national teams who are looking to write or re-write history, but unfortunately, the superb presentation and accurate details cannot hide the fact that the Ignite engine is not in use and that the...

+ Presentation; + Captain Your Country mode

- Limited physics; - Some engine issues

It doesn't take long to appreciate what perfect partners the modern FIFA games and the World Cup are. EA Sports has always managed to capture the sense of occasion of a big event, and while in its annual releases its flashy presentation can at times feel excessive - albeit an accurate approximation...

Cracking big-match atmosphere; Quicker transitions; Shots rip into the net

Those scrappy midfield battles; Crossing has been nerfed

Having played this game for a few hours, I simply cannot see how it justifies the £40 price tag! First off, EA Sports raved about how it would be including all 202 nations that attempted to qualify for the World Cup, and they were all official. Well prepare to be disappointing.

Not as feature-packed as FIFA, but nothing will get you hyped for the World Cup like this. If you are okay that this has been designed to only be played for a few months, you'll find enough here to keep you gripped with World Cup fever.

A colourful; carnival version of FIFA; Captain Your Country returns; Scenario mode will last; Excellent commentary

Only available on two consoles; No gameplay improvements; Ultimate Team absent; Some odd touches

Concept: Add some mid-season adjustments without being as good as FIFA 14 Graphics: The manager models look a little bloated, but at least they are there Sound: The special podcasts are cool to hear even though the commentary itself is not very specific.