Another year, another FIFA. But what innovations have the team at EA come up with for FIFA 16? We’ve already seen the inclusion of women’s football and the introduction of a new training system overlay but Aaron McHardy, Lead Gameplay Producer, talks us through what’s new on the gameplay side of things in FIFA 16. This year defensive agility has been improved with 25 changes introduced to try to balance 1v1 situations. Players will have greater freedom of movement to track the quickest and most skilled attackers. Outside of changes to core systems there are some bigger innovations, like FIFA Trainer and the introduction of Women’s Teams, which will make this the most accessible entry in the series to date.

 

Most people equate excitement in football with offensive play. FIFA 15 probably gave too much of an advantage to its wingers and strikers who, blessed with pace, were able to get by its more static and lumbering defenders. When defending in FIFA, the default tactic is to track a player and apply pressure, limiting the passing options of the player in possession. But while tracking, defenders weren’t as nimble or as reactive as their real-life counterparts. FIFA 16 adds more animations, which enables defenders to pivot while tracking a run, allowing them to keep within touching distance of more skilful players for longer. If you commit to a tackle, the recovery time is much shorter - press tackle again, and the defender will get back to their feet. It means tackling is no longer an all-or-nothing dilemma.

 

Like it or not, previous FIFA was merely a beta for what will be the true next gen title in the franchise but now with the next gen transition almost seven months in, the landscape has changed. EA Sports have never been under as much pressure to deliver and eager fans won’t be as tolerant of new engine bugs and glitches in the coming year. In order for FIFA 16 to be a resounding success, all issues past and present need to be ironed out come launch day. This must be the year FIFA buries PES once and for all with the new generation offering the pretenders to the crown an opportunity to steal ground. There’s every possibility that PES will be next season’s Liverpool, and FIFA this season’s Manchester United, and EA Sports must address past issues to ensure that doesn’t happen…

 

New modifiers that allow players to be much more powerful comes together with the elevated importance of the midfield. In FIFA 16, a subsequent pass will have more power when holding down R1/RB. It is much similar to a through ball with much more purpose. It’s really easy to put the ball out of play when used in the wrong situation, as it is a difficult thing to carry out. Nonetheless, it will make quick work of a well-put defense when used just right. Explaining to someone how to play FIFA can be difficult. With multiple modifiers creating different results, there are so many types of passes. It’s just hard to expect someone to pick up after giving them a controller for a few hours. Skill Games is introduced as a recent installment. Transferring those lessons into an actual game can be sometimes hard, although they did a decent job of conveying the basics. The FIFA Trainer is a whole new approach.

 

As you play an actual game, an on-screen guide drills you constantly. Two suggestions of what should one be doing is presented to a player. It will give advice to track the player with the ball or to pressure play, if a player is not in possession. A mixture of text and button prompts makes this possible. It’s fairly stripped back, although it may sound like a toy. It will focus on the basics if the player is a total newbie, as it scales to players’ abilities. How to use a lofted through ball will usually be taught to more advanced players. Tackling problems that many new players encounter is a good idea, however, keeping the UI simple and intelligible is where its true success relies on.

 

In FIFA, there are two types of tackle. The slide tackle which is an all or nothing maneuver. And the subtle tackle, which involves sticking a leg out and hoping to retrieve the ball. When a loose ball is falling, FIFA 16 now lets players tackle in the air. Luring attackers into committing early can now also be done using a fake tackle. In defense, it is the equivalent of a step-over.