The problem with slower pace and more deliberate build-up play is that FIFA 16 loses that little bit of magic along the way. More patience is required when you're not counter-attacking, and you're more likely to play keep-ball around the midfield - without as much intent. Sure, you're still capable of producing wonderful team goals and individual strikes, but the slower build-up play means that they're fewer and farther between. It's definitely more satisfying when you score a sublime team goal, but come up against a resolute defense and games lose some of their excitement. There are, of course, times when this increased authenticity benefits the FIFA 16 experience, particularly in the career mode, where managers can set training drills, scout players and even mouth off at rivals during press conferences.
They were keen to ensure that the game is not a simple case of defenders and attackers, but that the midfield becomes a battleground. It will be interesting to see how this goes as we play the game more often, but already it’s easy to see that the midfield has more of a presence, and with the combination of looser passes and improved AI interceptions, expect the ball to be caught in the middle for longer spells, mimicking real life. There’s no worse feeling than conceding a goal you couldn’t have done anything about, and with one controller and two hands, it’s hard to orchestrate 11 players at the same time. Hopefully EA will tune the game to turn down the frequency in which these passes are used as in real life you might only see a few of these per match.
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As mentioned earlier, attacking was overpowered in FIFA 15. Player agility was skewed towards the offense allowing for attackers to jink their way around defenders and into the opponents final third with easy and regularity. With defense tuned to provide more balance, more build-up play is required in FIFA 16. “Passing with Purpose” is the catchphrase EA crafted and it’s 100 percent accurate. As referenced earlier, defender awareness has been ratcheted up forcing you to really think about your pass before playing it. Thankfully, your AI teammates will create lanes and show for you, usually giving you a safer option. If you are more of a risk-taker or someone who likes to play on the counter, the new driven pass (X & R1/A & RB) is a way to ping low incisive passes. These passes do come with the added risk of being harder to control as you’ll often see the pass recipient struggle with their first touch. I have to say that this by far my least favorite new feature. In playing vs the CPU you will often seem them spam these passes frequently throughout the match. They also struggle with the concept of when to use them as they will occasionally fire one back to the keeper or to a teammate only yards away.
The well-publicized inclusion of international women's teams is neat, and also fully fleshed out. There's new relevant commentary, animations, and celebrations. Their use is fairly limited - they can only play against each other, and only in match day, offline tournament, and online friendly. It's a neat addition and a nod to the emergence of the sport on the women's side, but it doesn't carry a very large impact. For those new to the franchise, there are new basic level skill games that help the absolutely unfamiliar players get a gentle introduction to the sport. Also included is the FIFA Trainer, a dynamic feature that offers controller help on the fly during the game. It's a helpful tool for new players that can be turned on and off anytime during the match.
FIFA 16 also introduces a new Trainer that can can deliver different levels of advice during the matches, making it relatively easy for players to upgrade the quality of their play and to understand how they can deal with difficult situations. FIFA 16 looks great and clearly uses the power of the new generation of PC and console hardware to bring the look of both players and stadiums as close to the real world as possible. The major superstars are easily recognizable on the pitch and move like their counterparts, and even the long-neglected crowds have personality.
