Without a doubt the best way to get through an opponent’s defense in FIFA 16 is by using a one two pass. This sets the passer off on a run as soon as the ball is released so that he can then receive a return ball after making his run. This is a very effective way of getting around defenders and getting your players to run into space behind the back of the opposition defense. When using either types of through ball, you will need a player in space to pass the ball to. You can play a through ball without having a player already on a run but this will make it harder to make the ball which cuts through their defence. Occasionally your players will automatically make a good run into an attacking area so that you can play the ball into their path so try to be aware.
This is what makes football exciting. I was apprehensive about EA taking the realism mantra too far in 15, as once upon a time I thought they hit the nail on the head in FIFA 15. But I was wrong. FIFA 16 makes it feel like anything can happen, and while we normally like video game mechanics to be predicable and fair, that’s not football, or any sport for that matter. A greater weighting towards unpredictability and unexpected, at times unfair, results makes rematches far more enthralling. You might lose a couple of games you deserved to win, but you’ll be on the receiving end as well.
Again, these new ball dynamics combine nicely with the new sense of momentum. A chipped throughball between the centre-back and full-back that would previously have been easy homed onto by a lightning-reflexed, laser-guided defender now make it through to the striker. The ball comes up and down quicker - it almost feels heavier. Chipped shots take a more realistic arc, and cross-field balls don’t feel like striking a birthday balloon. Unfortunately keepers seem to sometimes be left confused by this new independence. They’ll rush out and miss the ball, or slide under bobbling shots, or sometimes even plain refuse to pick the ball up. Nothing makes you want to smash everything within arm’s length more than conceding a last minute equaliser thanks to your keeper running towards where the ball is rather than where it will be and diving parallel to a tame shot’s trajectory as it trickles over the line.
As of now, it feels like big men have some purpose again. On the ball, they continue to feel a bit scarier, which I think had already started to occur last year. But beyond that, they now feel more important on 50-50 balls in the air. I think headers and how to win them has been overly confusing in FIFA for years, but right now even if you’re still confused about where to align yourself, it feels like the big guys do have the advantage again. This is intriguing on a couple levels. First, the addition of feints via the LB/L1 button and the right stick opens up even more opportunities in those tight spaces near the sidelines. Second, defenders are clearly more active in terms of getting their legs up to stop crosses and passes that are in close proximity to them. So what you have is more of this cat and mouse game where neither player wants to react and give up a dangerous cross in the final third.
The key things here will be who can make those passes at a high success rate, and who can corral those passes at a similarly high success rate. I think it’s also easy to argue that last year elite passers (and crossers) did not really stand out much of the time. In theory, it seems great to have a guy like Pirlo playing deep as that controlling midfielder. However, if it’s easy to get 95 percent of what Pirlo brings, only with the added speed of someone like Ramires, then people are going to go with Ramires because the passing differential does not matter enough. This same logic applies to those players with high ball control ratings -- in terms of their ability to control firmer passes versus those with feet that are not quite as gifted.
I will still play FIFA 16 Ultimate Team, then, and probably all year round at that, because the zippy passing and dribbling is quite satisfying, while chopping and changing teams in response to real-world football developments is an addictive pastime, and I still feel a sense of community with the many other people who love the mode. But I also hope EA doesn't take our ongoing interest for granted, and is paying attention to the growing weariness of some of Ultimate Team's most dedicated fans. It would be nice to see a rejuvenated experience in seasons to come. Otherwise, sooner or later, we may stop coming back at all.
