Running through yearly iterations of hugely popular sports franchises has always been a challenge for EA Sports. Year to year, particularly with FIFA, fans expect changes, improvements, and notable additions that keep the series moving forward. But given that the game is based on a real sport, there are only so many things that the developers can change. It's quite a pleasant surprise, then, that FIFA 16 not only continues the legacy of offering a very good soccer simulation experience, but also brings enough fresh content to the table to make this year's version stand out.
I’m a defensive kind of FIFA player. I believe that quick and efficient transition out of defence often leads into a higher probability of scoring in attack, catching the opposition’s defence off-guard as they struggle to respond to the turnaround. But good defence isn’t just about stopping the opposition from scoring: it’s also about giving your attackers the flexibility to respond to a quick burst out of your back half. Simply put, if you can’t transition, chances are the opposition’s eventually going to score, and score often enough to win. FIFA 15 frustrated me in this regard.
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I’m certainly not the greatest FIFA player on the planet, but losing a match on the back of an AI blunder kills what can otherwise be a tactically-superior approach to a match. Because really, that’s where FIFA 15 broke down: AI awareness, specifically in defence, which sometimes made transition into attack a futile exercise. My football fandom most certainly lies in between World Cup seeding and World Cup Final - any other time, I’m just not interested. It’s not that the game isn’t exciting or entertaining, it’s just never been my cup of tea since my sporting landscape has been dominated by just about every classic American sport since I was old enough to walk.
With that being said, I’ve always enjoyed playing the FIFA franchise when it pops up every now and again, which essentially makes me a causal fan. However, this year’s version has really captivated my attention and definitely pushed me in the direction of full-on FIFA fan. FIFA’s wide range of licenses lets me play with actual teams even in the lower leagues (four English tiers are supported, as opposed to Pro Evo’s two) and I’m thoroughly enjoying the beginnings of my journey to the top with Bury. Once I’ve had time to play more Pro Evo I intend to look at the similarities and differences in greater detail but right now I just want to express how pleasantly surprised I’ve been by this year’s FIFA.
The training games in FIFA 16 are essentially the skill games again. The purpose of these training games is to boost player stats, especially young, promising players. For each week, you are given five slots where you select a player for each slot. You then assign each player with a skill game which will improve certain stats such as stamina, control and so on. This might sound tedious, however, EA Sports has added in the handy simulate options as well as a copy-and-paste approach of “copy last week’s drills” option. The training mode is a nice addition to manager mode, however, it doesn’t completely change it up or freshen it either. Far from it. I look forward to see if EA Sports build on this idea and make it more worthwhile.
FIFA 16 will certainly offer plenty to keep you playing until FIFA 17 rolls around. But adjusting to the changes in gameplay does take time. There’s still a good game here, but don’t expect to be entertained in every single game. Some are slogs, some are forgettable, but there is that occasional game, like in real life, where everything clicks and it sucks you right in.
