In recent years, FIFA has benefitted from big changes. Tactical Defending, Player Impact Engine, First Touch: they all advanced the series by rewriting the fundamentals. But FIFA 14 doesn’t really have a big marquee feature. It feels more like a consolidation than a reinvention – an opportunity to cement what has already been successfully laid down. This year’s changes are smaller, more subtle, but they bring out the very best in in FIFA, which is already a fantastic experience. This time around it's more attacking, more polished, and will keep you coming back throughout the season.

Initially, most of FIFA 14’s innovations appear superficial. The way players move and shoot have both been dramatically improved, and there’s a new level of realism to the animation on the pitch (cutscenes look a bit robotic in comparison). But the longer I played, the more I realised these additions subtly affected how matches played out, and the style in which I played. Loading

And though it’s tricky to separate them out – it’s really a cumulative effect – I think it all starts with the more natural way players move and interact, with each other and the ball. They’ve become much more physical entities in the last few years – evident in tackles and collisions – but now that’s finally seeped in the way they move. Players transfer their weight convincingly when they suddenly change direction, they have a sense of momentum once they’ve built up speed, and they caress the ball with the inside and outside of their boot when they pivot or cut inside. It looks great, making games much more attractive to watch, yet it also shapes the general style of play.

Given the improvements made to animations, it’s slightly disappointing that the overall graphics haven’t been improved, though. On the pitch, it looks like it has for the last few years, and it’s on the verge of becoming stale. That said, the overall presentation continues to improve. The pre-match build up is impeccably directed, doing a great job of imitating the the spectacle and glitz that’s synonymous with modern sports broadcasting.

The improved animation has a deeper impact. FIFA’s dribbling has been something of a work in progress, improving incrementally over the last few years, but Precision Movement (that's how EA's referring to the new animation system) really feels like the missing piece of that puzzle. It’s more liberated and expressive than ever before. You can really skin players on the wings, and the ball has more distance from the player, making running with it feel much faster and mercurial. Dribbling also works well in tandem with the new ability to protect the ball manually using the left trigger or L2. It helps you retain possession in key situations – if the opposition tries to pick your pocket, you can hold out an arm to fend them off. But I found myself using it more productively in attacking situation, since it’s perfect for turning defenders when bearing down on goal. Loading

Improvements have also been made to shooting. Pulling the trigger now produces a range of different shots – balls dip at the last minute, gradually rise into the top corner, or are thumped low and hard. Combined with the improved ball physics, I found myself scoring types of goals that I never saw in FIFA 13: there are more rebounds, more balls falling marginally over the line, more deflections, more venom. It adds pleasing visual variety, but it’s ultimately determined by factors largely out of your control.

Meanwhile, passing definitely feels like it’s in need of some attention. It’s just not as clean or as precise as it is PES. Playing a cross-field pass should feel more graceful than it currently does and close, one-touch passing should be faster. It’s never really been as central to the style FIFA has tried to recreate, and this year it definitely feels a touch behind its other fundamentals.

My favourite aspect of FIFA 14, though, is unquestionably the improved AI of teammates. When going forward, I always had plenty of options. Players intelligently run into space, demanding the ball played into their feet or down the line. I’ve always been a fan of the lobbed-through ball, and in FIFA 13 I obstinately use it to no great effect. But in FIFA 14 there’s someone there, making the run I always wanted. And I find putting them through just as satisfying as scoring a goal. This intelligence is also present when defending (players don’t get sucked towards the ball so easily), but I definitely found it more useful going forward. Perhaps it’s a consequence of having a more inquisitive forward line, but I experienced more dubious offside decisions than in previous seasons. Loading

Of late, FIFA’s tried to encourage thoughtful, build-up play, but the improvements made to the movement of your fellow teammates really foster more end-to-end, thrilling encounters. It’s the side of football FIFA has always excelled at portraying: taking early leads, a frantic tempo, and plenty of last-minute goals. That’s not to say there isn’t a tactical element, but it’s not FIFA’s real strength, and this year it feels like it’s more comfortable with that identity.

FIFA 14 is even more tightly stitched into the rhythms of the real-life game. Stats continue to be updated, using information from the most recent round of real-world fixtures, and pundits again single out players experiencing a patch of good form. Yet it's all integrated much better this year, with the commentary less crowbarred into the opening of matches. This year it even extends to the presentation prefacing games. For instance, when I played as Real Madrid, the pre-match buildup focussed closely on Gareth Bale, following his recent record-breaking transfer. They’re little touches, but together it raises the level of presentation and ensures that FIFA stays relevant for the duration of the season.

It also has unparalleled variety for a sports game. There are just so many different ways to consume it. From one-off fixtures to ongoing seasons, online friendlies, a selection of that week’s games, a career mode, and skill games (there’s a whole new suite of addictive mini-games to grapple with). And that’s all before we get to Ultimate Team, which is increasingly the most popular way to enjoy FIFA. There are lot of minor but very welcome additions – online Single Matches thankfully return after last year’s absence, meaning you can contribute to FUT even if you’re pressed for time and without the pressure of a season-long campaign. And the number of divisions to scale has been taken up to 10, making the challenge even greater. Loading

Furthermore, this year’s fresh interface – a series of tiles reminiscent of the Xbox dashboard – really comes into its own when playing Ultimate Team. It’s clean, inviting, and highly functional. Nowhere is this more keenly felt than when trawling the transfer market. It’s easier than ever before to search for players or filter the market depending on what your team needs. It might sound like a minor improvement, but I’m eternally grateful.

The really big change to Ultimate Team is Chemistry Styles, which introduces lite RPG elements into the sport. Chemistry links in FUT have sometimes felt a tad opaque, but now you can determine the style of your players. You can assign each player a different class, which slightly changes key attributes. So “Artist” accentuates a players passing and dribbling, while “Sentinel” enhances defending and heading. They’re essentially skill trees, with the stat boost being heightened over time. They can also be mixed and matched to really capitalise on the style of your team. It’s a neat addition, adding more sophistication to the chemistry system. If you’ve never ventured into the life-absorbing world of Ultimate Team, FIFA 14 provides the ideal moment to jump aboard – though I really wish EA would consolidate XP, Coins, and FIFA Points into one in-game currency.