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.
Storyline is something that one normally doesn’t focus on during a sports game, yet sports-based movies like Miracle and Invincible are very popular in Hollywood. FIFA 16, similarly, has found the correct way to promote the story of your characters and teams in the sports video game genre. Using an impressive set of algorithms, FIFA twists and pulls statistics to find what makes your squad exceptional and interesting in the current point of their career. Then it tells that story through overlays and voice overs.
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With so much success to be gained from playing the run-focused, direct passing game, the difference between winning and losing often comes down to sticking with what you know and concentrating on not making mistakes, as opposed to actively looking for creative ways to break down a defence. While the dramatic ways in which it's possible to score goals deliver sharp bursts of triumph, playing to the now routine FIFA formula eliminates any feeling of individual brilliance. In a different world-one without PES 16-this formula might still appeal. But with PES showing what’s possible when you take the reins off and allow for, in particular, midfielders that can control a game in a calm and collected manner, the game starts to lose its shine.
Skills Trainer is also integrated very well into the upgraded Career Mode. The various Career modes have sadly been overlooked in some of the other recent EA Sports outings, choosing to focus elsewhere instead. However, the two-pronged Career mode received a couple fan-requested features that make a big difference, though only one of them involves both Career types. Gamers have the option to choose either to run a team as a Manager or as just a Player. The Manager side entails a lot more than Player, as you must scout, buy, or get players on loan, all while staying under a budget. Manager Career exclusively got the addition of pre-season tournaments, which has been missing for awhile.
With this, extra money can be earned from the start, while also offering an authentic season experience. Now adapt I did in the first 10 hours of playing and it was a bit painful I was loosing games I would have won easily in the past and as I was playing I found there’s been a huge array of changes to gameplay which impacted not only my enjoyment of the game but it was significant amounts of change that made me want to find a one route to goal approach sacrificing gameplay variety for a one fits all approach. So the changes on the pitch come in many disguises and Im sure are aimed at trying to create balance, in previous FIFA installments Pace was abused and for defenders it was too difficult to defend against.
In FIFA 16 this is still the case but in some instances its swung too far the other way, slow players are able to catchup with your Messi’s, Ronaldo’s and Robben’s of this world and that just isn’t realistic. Its a shame as it prevents me from really exploring the skill moves on offer because even if you pull one out the bag there’s every chance you aint going to be able to sprint away.
