If you like "FIFA" games, you'll like "FIFA 16" a lot. It's really that simple. After a couple of frantic days and lost nights, I've scaled the basic terrain and find myself as satisfied as I'd expect. I've disconnected my work email, shirked family responsibilities, ignored the fundamentals of personal hygiene, neglected or downright forgotten meals and embraced my role as the neighborhood recluse. Surveying the temporary carnage, it was worth it. It didn't take long to get absorbed by the latest game in the mega-successful EA Sports franchise.

 

One of FIFA’s positives in the past has been the amount of reality they try to bring in to the game and this time as well they have got that perfect - in terms of the players faces, stadiums, commentary and more. Football is all about goals, even when played as a video game. But FIFA 16 is more frustrating for a user than any other previous versions. Last year's FIFA 15 was all about neat passing, pace and individual brilliance but EA has taken all of that out of context this time around. Though, they have improved the defensive skills but pace and passing is all gone.

 

While last year's FIFA revamped the shooting and pace played a vital role, this year's edition couldn't be further from that if it tried. Instead, FIFA 16 offers a slower, more methodical soccer game where out thinking opponents is the only true way to success. If gamers want to hit a team on the counter, it's now harder than ever. Where FIFA excels is with the sum of its parts: the modes, the options, the sheer amount of gameplay possibilities. There's a huge career mode, the usual online and offline options, and the licenses too, of course. In this regard, FIFA 16 still outstrips PES, but the real surprise is which FIFA mode stands above the rest: The annual stupid card game!

 

Gameplay is mixed bag, but EA continues to excel with its presentation in FIFA 16. That Sky Sports broadcast feel is more apparent than ever, with player stat comparisons displayed before matches and noticeably improved commentary. Martin Tyler and Alan Smith are great, chatting about relevant topics and building up matches nicely. It’s the best, most natural sounding commentary I’ve heard in a FIFA game to date. The visuals side of the game is mostly positive, with improved player models heading up the new changes.

 

Body types still have some way to go, but now look far more realistic than the WWE style ones that plagued FIFA 15. Moving hair is now in too, thanks to the introduction of women’s football (more on that in a bit). And they’re extra significant in the women’s mode, The Guardian notes. “Without the Olympian velocity of a Cristiano Ronaldo or Yaya Toure’s adamantine strength, finesse is imperative,” writes Ben Wilson. “That means recycling possession among midfielders and full-backs until a tantalising defensive gap offers a through-ball opportunity, or an out-of-position opponent provides a brief window in which to cross.”

 

FIFA 16 Ultimate Team is a great game, but it takes some getting used to. I like the idea of building your own squad, but while I understand the fact that the game needs to generate money for FIFA I feel like they could be a little more liberal with the in-game currency. I also wish that it was a little less intense on processing power and I have had the game crash on me multiple times, but I guess that’s really on me for running a 2015 app on a 2013 device.