Each year sports games build on the past and invent for the future. Here are 11 changing, big and small, coming to FIFA 15

1. Emotional Intelligence

2. Visuals

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3. Team Tactics

4. Goal Keepers

5. Concept Teams

6. Loan Players

Footballers aren’t famed for their emotional intelligence – rightly or wrongly – but that’s the phrase being used to describe the improved animations found in FIFA 15.One of the notable advancements of the PS4 and Xbox One versions last year was the greater variety of animations included – not every pass looked like a carbon copy of the last. FIFA 15 includes animations that extend beyond just hoofing a pass up field – you now get a sense of what the players think of that pass. They become frustrated at a misplaced ball and are appreciative of a well-judged pass. And apparently, there are over 600 emotional responses that can occur over the course of a match. Blimey.Admittedly, it's a small touch, but it's another inch towards realism. It's one of those things that you don't immediately notice because it does come across as quite natural. In fact, I only spotted it a couple of times: when I pulled a shot wide, Sturridge looked towards the sky in disbelief that he could miss such an easy chance (neither could I, to be honest). It's a small addition but it's a neat additional layer of realism.'Authentic Player Visuals' – that's the way it's being described. The lighting system has been rejigged to tease out the detail in the players' faces and bring of matches more in line with the quality of broadcast TV. The bodies of players have also been rebuilt – they have strong, powerful, and muscular physiques – and look more like real athletes. But it's more than just the players – the pitch will now weather and degrade over time, and that mud will splatter onto the kits of the players involved.Again, it's much like the change above. It's another play for realism. It's one of those small additions that largely goes unnoticed, and that's maybe because it looks so natural – you're used to kits become caked in mud during the course of a game on a wet day, so it doesn't feel that novel when it happens in the game. The players certainly look more muscular, though occasionally it can look a tad awkward – some of the goalkeepers looked too stacked when they line up to take a goal kick.Getting involved in the tactical side of FIFA has never been more intuitive. Using simple, well-known tactics – such as 'Park the Bus' or 'Stick it in the Mixer' – FIFA 15 allows players to get involved in the tactical aspects of the game. It's also much easier to save a variety of line-ups and strategy for easy use.For the most part, I hardly ever dabble in my team's line-up. When you just want a quick game, tweaking your line-up and tactics seems time consuming. FIFA 15 makes management and strategy more accessible through its redesigned UI. Both set tactics and custom strategies can be easily implemented. This scales from an overall game plan to the way individual players operate. You can make your entire team more aggressive or single-out your right winger, making him a more adventurous player. This is all easily done by using pre-defined mentality types that can be easily plugged in and swapped out. It's simple enough to be enticing for novices, and has the potential to add depth for more casual players.FIFA's goalkeepers have been in need of attention for a while, and the additional power of PS4 and Xbox One has allowed them to be revamped. The developers describe it as the most complicated, demanding position on the pitch to code for – hence, why they, on occasion, don't make the most sensible of decisions. And in addition to being much smarter in FIFA 15 – they now have the freedom to change their mind and aren't locked into a decision once it's been made – there's a grand variety of different types of save they can make. You'll see keepers in FIFA 15, gracefully tip a ball over the bar or punch it away at close-range.You can find out more about how goalkeepers have been redesigned in the video below.I only played a few matches so didn't really get a good sense of what this really means. FIFA is annoying when a keeper makes a bad decision or does something ridiculous out of nowhere and it costs you a goal. Hopefully, the improved AI means this is a thing of the past, though bad decision making will forever be a part of the sport. But based on those few matches, I can say the improved animations make saves look far more appealing than in the past. It also makes shooting more satisfying – even when you don't score, you feel as if you were foiled by a worthy opponent. There are also more ways to score. Goalkeepers aren't brick walls – you can now score through their legs and 1:1 encounters will create unpredictable deflections and rebounds.Right from the off in Ultimate Team this year you’ll have full access to every player and will be able to see the effect they would have on your team. You won’t be able to use them, but it’ll allow you to experiment and explore myriad options.I'm not the biggest Ultimate Team player but this looks really great, and the interface is very attractive. When you're drafting in your dream players, the colours bleeds from the team sheet and there's a subtle chalkboard overlay. It's a really easy way to see what impact a new addition will have on your overall team's chemistry. It's the best way to see if parting with money for a new player is really worthwhile.Anyone who follows the sport knows the impact loan players can have. Just ask Everton on the impact the right signing can make. So it’s seems logical to introduce them to Ultimate Team. They function just like any other players but will only remain with your team for a limited amount of time. Once their spell has ended, they won’t disappear entirely – they’ll kick around your squad but will be greyed out, a concept squad player, so should you wish to acquire them it’s easy to do so.It's an extra boost for you team, essentially. But the way in which it's implemented – how the player kicks around as a concept squad addition once their spell is up – is really smart.