It’s extremely likely that regardless of the score at the end of this review, you already have an opinion on FIFA 16. Publisher Electronic Arts ( EA) put out a demo earlier in the month, the full game was available this week as a free 10-hour trial via the Xbox One’s EA Access program, and street date breaks resulted in copies available early in many a retail store ( which is how we got our copy) . This is why some of you already know if you are going to buy FIFA 16 or not, if you haven’t already. If you’re looking for validation or a reason to rage, go straight to the score below. As for the rest of you, who are still deciding whether you want to play FIFA 16, keep reading.
( Also see: FIFA 16 Player Ratings: What You Need to Know)
Every year, developer EA Sports tries to justify the need for you to buy its latest football game. We’ve seen a lot of these annual changes, both big and small. From the monumental jump between FIFA 08 and FIFA 09, to the subtle presentation-focused improvements of FIFA 15 over FIFA 14, there’s always something afoot.
The big difference this year is the game’s pace. FIFA 16 is slower. Even after installing the day one patch that EA released. Fans of the series might feel it’s a step down from what they’ve been accustomed to. During our marathon sessions across game modes, we’ve come to the realisation that this change gives you a little bit of extra time to think in FIFA 16. It is crucial as it lets you consider different ways to approach your game.
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This is a far cry from older entries in the series that had you passing the ball from one player to the next, almost ricocheting off them as if it were a game of pinball, with the sole objective of blistering through the pitch and knocking the ball through the back of the net.
With FIFA 16, you are rewarded for building up an attack carefully. Regular passes are slower and you can opt for a faster pass with the trade-off being that the receiver will find it tough to control the ball. Rather than trying to best your opponents with a sheer burst of pace, you’ll have to outthink them, making crosses, passes, and tackles more important than just running past the opposition. You’ll spend a lot of time fighting for possession in the midfield, making each move count.
( Also see: FIFA 16: Why EA’s Newest Belongs to the PS4 or Xbox One, Not PC)
In the past, you could cobble together a team based a player’s speed attributes alone. Now it feels like the other statistics, such as strength, finally play a role, and are actually more important at times. Defenders with high strength attributes like John Terry can finally hold their own against quicker players like Theo Walcott.
Previously attempting a sliding tackle left you with just one opportunity to get it right before your opponent left you in the dust. A well-timed tap of the tackle button again lets your player pick himself up and take another chance at intercepting the ball. Your teammates will cover gaps as you chase down the ball and block points of attack. Thanks to tweaks to the defensive AI and an expanded move list, having an advantage in terms of pace alone isn’t enough to get the better of a defender.
Compared to the demo, crosses and headers aren’t as laser-guided or precise as they were. That’s a much needed improvement in our opinion, as it ensures your attacks aren’t overpowered. Taking on the goalkeeper in one-on-one is challenging as well, making for tense encounters. Though we should point out that it is still possible to score goals from unlikely angles at a rate that’s way higher than in the real world.
Apart from this, FIFA 16 has a trainer option we liked. Click the right analogue stick in a game and it shows you button prompts for various moves. You can configure it depending on your skill level, to show basic moves like a short pass, or more complex things, like a chipped shot or a nutmeg. EA Sports has managed to implement this in a way that ne