FIFA 16 Ultimate Team is the latest version of the world’s most popular football simulator, and it arrives with a brand new engine and control scheme to boot. You'd better like Ultimate Team though because that’s all there is. That’s right - there’s no career mode, no quick match, and no tournaments (outside of the Ultimate Team ones) so if you want to play as your favorite club, you’re going to have to sign all those players yourself.

 

The most exceptional new feature in FIFA 16 is that Women’s international teams have been included for the first time ever in the FIFA series, and excitingly are not just a swap of models and skins. The female players move differently, control differently, and feel like a completely different game. Lighter on their feet than their male counterparts, the women’s games feel quicker and sharper. When not progressing my character through career mode, the Women’s International Team game was a consistent go-to; seeing Solo, Morgan, and Rapinoe take the pitch via my gaming console was long overdue, but still very welcome.

 

Career mode has also had some small but very welcome chances. The first one you will notice is the addition of pre-season tournaments that offer up bonus transfer funds if you perform well. In my career with Manchester United I headed to the USA to play in a tournament consisting of the likes of Boca Juniors, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid, and I managed to secure an extra few million in transfer funds by coming second. Player training allows you to set specific training drills for up to five players a week to help them improve.

 

For those looking to put a lot of time into career mode this seems like the obvious way to boost any young players you have to make them future super stars. Interestingly, you can also take part in the training as a skill game to improve your playing skills. That said, Ultimate Team is still one of gaming’s most addictive (and potentially costly) modes. PES 2016’s MyClub added a masterstroke with the ability to develop individual players, but many will still opt for FUT due to the thriving auction house and the overall glitz on display.

 

Artists such as Years and Years, Sam Smith and Bastille prop up a soundtrack that couldn’t be more “FIFAish” if it tried, and in turn, it underlines how Konami is still playing major catch-up when it comes to presenting its menus and off-the-pitch atmosphere. If the English Premier League could be defined by a video game it would be EA Sports' FIFA 16. Both are the biggest, brashest, and most commercially successful brands of football around, each relying on star power and mass appeal to provide their thrills.

 

Matches are direct and fast-paced, with wing play, early through balls, and sprinting as common in FIFA 16 as they are in a closely fought battle between Southampton and Manchester City. FIFA 16 UT doesn't even have player ratings at the end of each match, so you'll have no idea who's playing well and who's not. I could go on about all the really basic features missing from the game, but I think you get the picture. But hey, at least they've added goal celebrations for the first time, a feature EA has been trumpeting for months. So, yeah, priorities.

 

Overall, the football-playing part of FIFA 16 UT is sorely lacking in customization options and also in tactical options. The only aspect of your team you can change is formation and mentality, nothing else. You can't even decide who takes a corner kick or a penalty kick. I took a look at FIFA 14 while writing this review, and I was amazed at the depth of tactical options that game had compared to this one. I understand that EA probably tried to make the game more accessible to newer players, but more options never hurt; you just ignore them if you don't care about them.