Matches in FIFA 16 are extremely short, and unfortunately it seems as though there is no way to change match length. This is probably the biggest problem I have with the game, and what it means is that if a team scores a goal, the match is probably going to whichever team scored that goal. As players win or lose games, they advance through the divisions, starting at division 10. If a player doesn’t get enough points during a season, then they are relegated to the previous division, and if they do win enough games, they make it to the next. One of the best things EA added to this year's "FIFA" is the powerful, fast pass when you press controller's right shoulder button. Before "16," players passed like they were having a kick about in the park. The ball rolled so slowly that making long passes to cut through the midfield was always a bad idea.

 

There are other nice additions, like getting back up quickly after a slide tackle by pressing the slide tackle button again. And there are new body feints and different types of dribbling that add some new variety in what you can do on the pitch. EA has also dramatically improved player AI in "FIFA 16." For one, AI players haven't been colliding into each other and collapsing like utter idiots as often as they did in "15." Great! In fact he carried on running in a straight line, the ball went past him and the forward was through on goal. Twice. In the same game. Welcome to FIFA 16. It's a steep learning curve and the reduced level of AI involved when controlling a player means the days of lazy defending - and attacking - are long gone. I lost count of the number of penalties I gave away early on by assuming that charging at the man with the ball would mean I would simply come away with it.

 

Despite that penalty shootout costing me a place in the fourth and final game in just my first attempt, my winnings - a Jumbo Premium and standard Gold Pack - rewarded me with a few decent players to add to my Ultimate Team roster. I even got a Legend on loan (Spanish striker Emilio Butragueno). But what a buzz. I reckon EA has scored a stunner with FUT Draft - providing us die hard players with a novel new mode to keep us coming back for more. And it’s just one of many changes made to this year’s update. Stealing the headlines in the build up to FIFA 16’s launch was EA’s inclusion of a selection of Women’s National teams for the first time, recognizing a rapidly growing part of the sport.

 

Gameplay wise, the game also feels eerily familiar to FIFA 15. The jump in difficulty between semi-pro and professional levels remains gigantic, meaning that playing as a mid-table side is either impossibly difficult or stupidly easy. The match-day experience is also still very one dimensional; the over reliance on passing over crossing and dribbling means that the easiest way to win as a team like Stoke is still to put on your best impression of Barcelona. If anything, the game is also slower than previous incarnations, diluting the influence of rapid wingers such as Raheem Sterling and Theo Walcott to the point where you may as well be playing in a Sunday League mudbath. Goalkeepers are much improved, but consequently crossing the ball in the box very rarely leads to goalscoring opportunity, further increasing the reliance on slow build up and passing movements.

 

Another addition in the career mode is the option to choose a pre-season friendly competition to compete in before the season starts. You get three options, all varying in difficulty. The more challenging a tournament is, the more money you will receive if you win it. Usually, I sim through pre-season, but this new feature can be pretty handy if you want to increase your transfer budget. For the first time, you can also use an unlimited amount of substitutes in pre-season.

 

You have to cough up 15,000 FUT coins or 300 FIFA points to enter a Draft tournament. While you can still play the rest of FUT for free and have a grand old time winning games as you build up the Chemistry rating of your team by tweaking your squad and formation, EA's love of micro-transactions is a reminder that FIFA 16 isn't exactly great value for money. That being said you can't help but love the FUT Draft trailer starring Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher that gives you insight into just how much fun this game can be with a friend.