2014 FIFA World Cup is worth a punt, even if it isn't next-gen

Time for a Brazilian?

First, the bad news: EA Canada's virtual recreation of this summer's Brazilliant footballing bonanza is only coming to PS3 and Xbox 360. (It's been in development for 15 months, and so next-gen was never on the cards.) Now, the good: it still serves up a fine round of sphere-booting and Australia-beating. Those used to PS4 FIFA will initially find it fast and frantic, but you settle into things after a couple of games, and then notice a few areas where it's actually improved upon the studio's next-gen effort.

Heading is toned down so it's harder to score with your bonce, defenders leap over forwards to nod aerial balls clear, and AI players are a touch shrewder--shepherding the ball out of play when it's set to be their goal kick or throw-in, for instance. Happily, penalties have been simplified too: you can no longer put the ball over or wide if you stop the needle in the green part of the traditional accuracy meter.

Being the official game of the biggest sports event in the universe (fret not, I still consider the Super Bowl a close second), this of course packs in all the stadia, teams, kits, squads and managers who'll feature this summer, virtual Woy woaming the touchline as furiously as in real life. But here's the astonishing part: it also features all the nations who didn't qualify for shenanigans in South America. That's 203 countries in total, from Argentina and France to American Samoa and Fiji. Simply incredible depth, and each can be used to replay qualifying or be inserted into your own custom World Cup.

In previous games of this ilk, there was little to do on the path to a major tournament (or indeed at the tourney itself) beyond play matches. Here, however, you get to improve squad members by placing them in FIFA's famed mini-games. Four can be upgraded in between each match, with results correlating directly to the mini-game you choose--so a sterling performance in the shooting drill raises a player's finishing stats. It's a welcome diversion from the match-match-match grind, and is typical of the other tweaks made here. More evolution than revolution, then. However--on this evidence--its enough to justify significant interest even if you've already invested in this game's bigger PS4 / Xbox One brother.

Click through for more images and info from the game.

All 12 Brazilian stadiums are in the game--along with a handful of those used in qualifying, such as Wembley and Romes Stadio Olimpico.

The training games are an innovative add, and mean even Mexico have a shot at glory under your tutelage.

EA Sports Football Club data carries over from FIFA, opening up a world of unlockables. Because what England fan doesnt have their heart set on Germanys 1990 World Cup winning kit?

Atmosphere is a big area of focus, and extends to cutaways of fans watching games in their home countries at venues like Trafalgar Square and the Brandenburg Gate.

Menus are easy to navigate despite their yellow-and-green garishness. Then again, at a Brazilian World Cup what other colour scheme would be acceptable?