Available on Xbox One (reviewed), PS4, PC
So, can FIFA 16 make it two storming performances in a row? In most respects, yes, building on EA Sport’s more authentic brand of football and fixing many of the few complaints we had about FIFA 15. The graphics and presentation might not have moved on much, but it’s an even more welcoming game of football and its modes are better fleshed out. All the same, some things have changed since FIFA 15, and not everyone will find these changes welcome. If you were looking for a polished, perfected version of the last FIFA, you won’t find what you’re looking for here.
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It won’t take you long to spot why. This year, EA has focused on tightening up the defensive play while adding more scope for building attacks in the midfield. The AI has been rebuilt to work better as a unit, closing down on attacking players, restricting their angles of attack and giving you more support to go in and make the tackle without worrying that your CPU controlled team-mates will fall apart and let an easy shot or threatening cross through. The midfield, meanwhile, sees revamped rapid fire pass mechanics balanced by equally smart intercept AI.
The result is a step away from the hugely exciting but slightly silly end-to-end play of FIFA 15 and a step back towards the slower, more methodical defensive play of FIFA 13 and 14. On the one hand, the defence is significantly stronger, strikers are easier to pin down and fast-paced attacking players aren’t continually storming your goal – all fixes for some of the major complaints fans had about last year’s FIFA. Time passes correctly and they’re fast, precise and controllable, helping you transform a sudden interception into a speedy, laser-guided assault on the oppositions’ goal. On the other hand, there’s more of a tendency to get bogged down in the midfield and to have carefully executed assaults on goal spoilt by last-minute interceptions or an impenetrable defence. The upshot? FIFA is both a better, more authentic football game and a harder one to love.
Let’s not go crazy. We’re still a long way from the dull, low scoreline football of FIFA 13 and 14, and while FIFA 16 hasn’t got FIFA 15’s pace or excitement, it’s nowhere near as slow as some of the more lunatic Pro Evo fans are making out. It’s not such a crowd-pleasing, goal-a-minute footie game as its predecessor, but there’s tension and release to be found in building up your play, tacking advantage of opponent errors and driving the ball forwards towards goal.
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