These modifications make FIFA 23 a slower game than FIFA 22. However FIFA 23 coins, the consequence is that games are frequently meaningful. There's an abundance of drama in every half, and usually multiple goals per match across multiplayer and single player, as well as the game has a few 0-0 draws. Keeping with the theatrics every goal worth its weight will be rewarded with a victory lap slow-motion replay with overlaid statistics and guarantees that the hard drives and social feeds the world over will be full of viral footage of goals before the end of the year.
Set Pieces are also convincing, affording you more control on the curvature and strength of your corners as well as free kicks. It took a bit of time and effort, but the free kicks became more appealing to me as they're significantly more precise and more suited to the chaotic stick-pulling that I experienced in previous times. Similar to Penalty shootouts, they take place like a thrilling dance game, played to gods.
FIFA 23 also comes with a visual upgrade - though the process is more iterative and gradual than the leap last year onto PS5 as well as Series X - focusing this time around scuff-happy grass as well as bouncy hairdos. It's primarily seen in football player animations as opposed to actual faces which still vary wildly in quality between cover stars, regular players, and the cult crowd.
Defenders will put their legs into the back of the player they're jockeying buy FUT 23 coins, and keepers are able to demonstrate their skill in situations where they lack vision, diving to the floor while a player blocks or stumbling backwards to swat a deflected ball.