To be fair, when EA Sports started working on this game the words ‘FIFA scandal’ probably just meant the continued absence of indoor football from the game - so chances of a ‘press X to bribe now’ feature were low. But that doesn’t mean the developers have rested on their laurels in the latest installment of one of the world’s biggest franchises. The game is packed with innovations - the most obvious being the inclusion of female teams for the first time.
FIFA 16 has slightly improved on this situation. Opting for the 60 lock will now keep the game at a smooth 60fps during open play (or did for me, anyway) without the need for any external AMD/Nvidia programs. However, it retains the weird ‘30fps for corners and other set-pieces’ quirk from 15. If you want absolutely everything in FIFA 16 to run at 60 or above (including menus), you’ll have to choose the “unlimited” frame-rate option. Unfortunately, “unlimited” in FIFA 16 still sends the frame-rate all over the shop, so you’ll need to tame it with an external piece of software. I did this with RadeonPro by using exactly the same settings I outlined in last year’s piece about my efforts to find a smooth 60. There are Nvidia suggestions in that article too, which I couldn’t test directly but should apply again to FIFA 16.
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FIFA finds itself in a rut, a striker’s goal drought as it were. The franchise has become so phenomenally popular that the game reeks of complacency and a distinct lack of improvement since FIFA 14. EA struck gold annually on the PS3 and Xbox 360 in a way only Activision matched with Call of Duty. Now though, gamers are suffering as the game struggles (or possibly refuses to) progress. At its core though, despite the deficiencies in comparison to its great rival, FIFA is fairly comfortable to slip back into. The excellent modes provide enough motivation to stick with the gameplay.
The offline Women’s International Cup is the only other brand new full mode to speak of and let’s be honest it’s probably only been shoehorned in with the hope that it’ll push gamers to use the women’s teams. Twelve of these International teams are included and I can say that they really don’t feel any different to use. That lack of differentiation is as much a good thing as it is a bad, I believe that this will only attract gamers that are already fans of the teams to actually use them. I don’t know the players on the rosters, hence given the choice of picking from teams that feel the same, I’m going to be drawn to what I know, the men’s teams. Had they put a female career in or some kind of women’s addition to Ultimate Team, then people would be less likely to overlook these new teams.
Running out as Dagenham, AFC Wimbledon or Leyton Orient, complete with kits and full squads, continues to be a real selling point although if you thought Alexis Sanchez felt slow wait till you try and speed past players as Dean Cox… Your favorite stadia are all in there, recreated in unbelievable detail even down to the different dugouts. When you can spot Bournemouth legend Steve Fletcher in a blown up photo on the inside of their stand you know EA put in the hours with these little touches. Adding the women’s game is a worthwhile touch too. FIFA haven’t created squads of Andriy Voronin lookalikes but instead have made sure the female sides play in a completely different way and they’ve got it spot on. (Before you ask, no you can’t play against the male sides).
FIFA 16 might take second place to PES 2016 this season, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great game. EA Sports usually sticks with the “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” but with the soccer genre they have some serious competition. They’re challenged with tweaking and enhancing the game to keep up with PES 2016. While the game plays very well, it’s just not as true of a simulation as PES 2016 felt, in my opinion. If you’re a fan of the franchise I still think FIFA 16 is a solid purchase, especially with the addition of the women’s international teams which it has the exclusive on this season.
