I was backtracking more than the usual, because even though a 30 million snatch for a star like Marco Reus looked like the ultimate deal, I was aware of the player’s vulnerability to injuries over the long, harsh, physical English season. For once I let go of my fears and gave orders to the player to pack his bags and come train with my squad. Bought in the winter of January 2015, I could see a pile of snow covering the Emirates pitch, as more snow started pouring through the silvery ceilings. The Gunners entered the fray, each of them looking determined to snatch away the victory from the local rivals, Chelsea FC. Enter Marco Reus, in the new Puma Arsenal kit, looking more rad than that he usually does. Not flinched by the presence of local bullies like Ramires and Diego Costa, he stood like a star, as Alan Smith poured in his golden words, Reus looked like the final piece in the Arsenal jigsaw puzzle.
Refereeing decisions are quite possibly the most puzzling aspect of the game, evidently the match officials AI has been based on those who perpetuated a wealth of mistakes at the 2014 World Cup, and as a result, the officials in FIFA 16 are nothing short of inept. From my experience, it is entirely possible for a human player to concede a free kick by literally looking at an opponent, yet the CPU will block or scythe players about to launch themselves into goal scoring opportunities without so much as conceding a free kick, let alone earning themselves the place in the referee’s book that they so richly deserve. Hell yes he was. Ozil had been hardly instrumental on the left flank, as a young Chamberlain failed to support the left effectively in big matches.
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The new Squad Management system on the other hand, and indeed much of the user interface side of FIFA 16, has seen a very strong, positive, and most importantly effective update carried out. Things in FIFA 16 are now much faster, flowing and easier to find than the last few titles in the franchise have seen them. It is possible to navigate menus quickly and easily, and find what you are looking for with ease rather than having to perform endless searching. There are also a lot less tick boxes and scenes to skip when you turn the game on now, so you can certainly jump into things faster. Most significant however is the update to the Team Management system itself. You can now quickly find replacements for a player on the pitch, change your formation, or deal out advanced tactics without having to trek through numerous different menus to do so. This has made readying up for a game faster, substitutions less grueling, and the general setup for a good quality game a much more pleasant and friendly experience.
In this side of things, FIFA 16 certainly earns brownie points. The atmosphere is one of the most important elements of soccer, and it’s something that FIFA 16 gets right. Fans react properly to your play on the field and you’ll find the home fans whistling (booing) you if you play poorly. The atmosphere is further improved thanks to having the full EPL experience. Everything down to the television overlays is spot on and takes these matches to another level. Goal-line technology is even included, though it’s a bit redundant when the game is already right on these. Playing in front of the crowds singing the various team songs is exhilarating and helps take Premier League matches to the next level.
These close ups also help you appreciate two of the other little details thrown in to FIFA 16 - pitch and kit wear-and-tear. The pitch cuts up under duress just as it would in a real game of football, and more severely so depending on the conditions. Take out a forward with a hefty sliding challenge on a rainy day and you’ll notice a streak or divot left in the turf behind you. The tackler will also be left with a corresponding wet or dirty patch on his kit, so players like Wayne Rooney don’t leave the field after every game looking like Michael ‘Clean-Shorts’ Carrick. Obviously that’s not right. Now, the best senior players will lose stats less sharply and in a more realistic manner meaning Francesco Totti won’t just lose the ability to spot a pass overnight, even as his legs continue to slow down. Fifa 16 retains its place on the number one spot of footy games. With its immense realism, enhanced emotion system and tight action on the pitch, this is as close to the real thing as you’re going to get. It’s not without issues, as sensitive collision detection, ridiculously good goalkeepers and hit and miss emotion features hinder the gameplay, but you can overlook these. The best footy sim available.
