The next-gen version of FIFA 16 on PS4 and Xbox One provided us with a great indication of what to expect over the next few years from the FIFA team in Vancouver. It took the best of its last-gen sibling and improved not only the visuals but also the gameplay with subtle tweaks that had a significant effect on the overall feel of the game. It was clear the hardware was allowing the development team to make the game more realistic and diverse by having more intelligent players on the next-gen pitch. The only area that has gotten any attention of note in CM is the team management section. Managing your squad has gone from a mundane operation in FIFA 16 to a brilliantly executed one in which it’s now possible to save up to six specific team sheets which allow you to alter your strategy ahead of time based on upcoming opponents.
However, they do nothing for me, and I’m not a fan of the online version. I find FIFA 16 to be a much more a community-based game, and enjoying the game with friends is a far more rewarding way to play. One other thing I wasn’t too enamoured with, and that’s the game’s soundtrack. Music is, of course, incredibly subjective but somehow none of the game’s 41+ tracks by mostly-unknowns grabbed me, even after many hours of playing. Give it a listen here and decide for yourself. At first there might not be much of a reaction after the whistle, but a repeated offence by Pique later in the game may trigger a confrontation where Ronaldo gets up from the ground and gets in Pique’s face.
Should you prefer FIFA 16 play that takes advantage of the wings the following formations can be just what you are looking for. 3-4-3, 4-4-2, 4-4-2(2), 4-3-3, 3-4-1-2. Let us take a look at 4-3-3. This formation is ideal to adopt when facing a team that integrates the 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1. The 4-3-3 came to prominence by Barcelona using it over the recent years. The closeness and balance of the 6 men up front permits a safe passing game between them. With loads of opportunities of making rapid attacks on the wings. However, it only has one striker up front, which sometimes may prove inadequate and leave your main man isolated. There are also few players that can assist the back 4.
.png)
The goal is not to make you feel like a football manager or a central defender grinding out a tough one goal victory on a bitter winter night. That would be too realistic, and not exciting enough. The supremely popular FIFA 16 Ultimate Team mode shares this highlight reel feel, with star players now available on short loan periods for those times when you can't afford to purchase them outright. Rather than grind out those tough early victories using your team of journeyman footballers, you can now just loan the likes of Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, immediately making you feel like the manager of a credible team.
FIFA 16 Players should forget about auto-containing on the ball this season; it’s mostly useless. Manual containing with LT/L2, while finicky at times, feels rewarding when learned. Nevertheless, attackers are usually much nimbler than whoever’s guarding them. So markers are at the opponent’s mercy against the AI on world class and up or a good dribbler online. There’s also the returning sticking point where tackling someone leads to the ball going right back to the dispossessed player or his teammate. The realism translates into the players as well. Take this scenario: you are dribbling with Ronaldo and get hit with a hard slide by Pique.
There's even more modes for those venturing into the online space, with players able to play a variety of different opponents via the Seasons mode, as well as tackle friends in a "friendly" mini-league (in our experience, these 1vs1 leagues are anything but friendly, and are probably the most competitive part of the game). There's also the fusion of those two modes with Co-op Season, whereby players can buddy up and then take on opponents from around the world, with results feeding into an online league system. Then there's FUT 16, and the competitive fantasy football that comes with it. Lastly you can team up and take part in 11vs11 matches, if that's your thing (it's certainly not ours).
EA Canada have managed to wrap this visually stunning footballing feast with architecturally sound recreations of each and every one of the Barclay’s Premier League teams stadia which again adds to the ‘match day experience’ all FIFA 16 players crave for. The game has a real sense of being and drama. Magnificent.
