So September’s done, which means only one thing. a new version of FIFA has hit the stores… oh and Age is around the corner; oh and it’s nearly Halloween, oh and Spring is here and.. okay fine lots of things happen in September but the one we are talking about today is the new version of FIFA which I’ve been putting through its paces over the last few weeks. The first thing I noticed upon launching the game is how little has changed with the menu. This wouldn’t be a problem if it wasn’t so cluttered.

 

There are several menus and sub-menus, and even sub, sub-menus to tackle. Soccer is lovingly called “the beautiful game” by fans, and FIFA 16 has definitely taken the nickname to heart. Not only is FIFA 16 mostly gorgeous (more on that in a bit), it allows players to truly create beautiful plays on the field. Every movement by a player looks natural, and the new ability to dribble off the ball has changed how the series is played.

 

I also think the new draft mode could be improved with less of a barrier to entry. The first try is free, but the next one costs 15,000 coins, which only comes quickly if you sell some good cards on the transfer market. Granted, even if you lose your first match you’re going to get some nice FUT packs for your regular squad, but this is a missed opportunity to make FUT Draft easy to enter and keep playing repeatedly like Madden’s Draft Champions. Nevertheless, I like FUT Draft's strategy component.

 

Across both Player and Manager Career, training has also been implemented. There has been the option to just upgrade skills through faux training in the past, but this time it actually lets one perform drills to earn higher stat boosts. Each week there is the option to choose five different drills and work to upgrade those individual stats, with three retries added in to allow for some learning on the job. Player Career limits to the training of your one player, but Manager lets you train any player on the team.

 

"FIFA 16" is the most beautiful "FIFA" yet. Player movements are as loose and varied as ever before, and it helps make this year's game look like the best "FIFA" game so far. Most player faces look even more realistic and recognizable than ever. That said, EA may need to apologize to Memphis DePay and Anthony Martial for botching up their facsimiles in the game. (Who else looks nothing like they do in real life? Tell us in the comments section!) 

 

EA Sports FIFA 16 has definitely succeeded all expectations and definitely is better than FIFA 15. While compared to PES 2016 it is not hard to see which is the better of the two. Many believe PES has better quality graphics (this is solely down to personal opinion), however Fifa’s gameplay is way better and something PES still haven’t gotten right which has proved to be vital in the “FIFA vs PES” debate is the fact that PES still do not have naming rights to all leagues and clubs. I mean who wants to play with a team called “Merseyside Red” when we could rather walk on to a wonderful rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone at Anfield and play as Liverpool.

 

Overall, FIFA 16 is a return to form for soccer’s most popular video game franchise, and ushers in a welcomed new way to play with the introduction of female teams. It’s a very solid pick-up for anyone in the market for a footie game, and exists as another step forward for the critically acclaimed series.