FIFA’s annual outing was released a few weeks ago. In a series that has been running for so long, it must be tough to offer something new, innovative and fresh each time round, while keeping the game familiar enough to fans. Yet that is exactly what FIFA 16 delivers.
Rather than huge changes such as the introduction of the impact engine in the last edition, FIFA 16 goes for smaller improvements that enhance the game as a whole. While the introduction of women’s football is a big change and a welcome one, it’s these smaller changes that have the most influence on how the game feels.
Animations have been improved, the passing game has been elevated and the overall look and feel is now better than ever. The AI has also been improved, although a tad too much – in fact, playing single player against the computer is now a very difficult undertaking and can be quite frustrating.
On the flip side, no-touch dribbling is excellent. It allows you to take control of a player regardless of ball position to line up for the cross, get in a knee-height challenge or recover instantly from a slide. It makes both attacking and defending much more dynamic.
The dumbing down of important players such as Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t such a good move. Where you used to be able to tap into their genius to cut through a defence, now they aren’t such decisive players. It makes the game slightly more balanced but now they are only slightly better than the others. If you’re new to FIFA games, the FIFA trainer does a very credible job of showing you the ropes. The array of controls is immense so if you haven’t played this game before, you need to start here. It uses a responsive graphical overlay to show you what to do and what buttons to press, offering on the job training that you will need whether you play online or against the AI.
The online games are good too, although if you play live tournaments, you need to be up to standard.
If you’re a football fan, have played FIFA games before or are new to FIFA 16, there’s a lot on offer. The game looks great, sounds great, is immersive and dynamic. It’s a solid performer that still manages to raise its game year on year.
Jesmond Darmanin is a technology enthusiast who has his own blog at www.itnewsblog.com.