The FIFA series has been around so long that there have been multiple gameplay enhancements, some years with more adjustments than others. Last year’s outing gave gamers the most control over their players ever and that is still the case this year, with you still having near perfect control over players in the field. Being able to dribble the ball and stop on a dime and change directions at a moment’s notice is very easy and can become even more useful with practice. FIFA 16 has its fair share of improvements on the gameplay side, but there is not anything that would qualify as a total game changer.

 

The closest to this would be what is being called Passing With Purpose, which allows you to make even more precise passes in tight spaces that would not have ever been possible in the past. This is done simply by an extra button press on passes, allowing you to set up goals with much more ease. Unfortunately this year FIFA has surprised me by making me look at FIFA 15 and saying to myself that wasn’t as bad as I thought. FIFA 16 brings with it a host of new features and updates aimed at streamlining the gameplay and making it feel that bit more realistic. Improved AI is the big sell from defending to attacking and the introduction of one touch dribbling should add to players variety in game.

 

EA Sports have also built upon popular cash cow mode Ultimate Team with the introduction of Football Ultimate Team Draft. There is a strange sluggishness when turning with the ball, though, and the game's fastest players don't feel particularly quick. Even Lionel Messi feels a bit slow to change direction with the ball at speed, and sharp cuts shouldn't force what seem like wide turns. Cristiano Ronaldo could burn past players with ease at full pace in past titles (as he should), but defenders often have no trouble keeping up in FIFA 16.

 

It was one of the first things I noticed about the gameplay, and I never quite shook the feeling that for all the close control possible with the ball, the players themselves don't handle as nimbly as they should. You can still torch a defender using skill and pace, but in the moment to moment play you might find some top athletes a bit unwieldy. Completely new to the series and a rarity in sports sims in general, EA has added 12 women's international teams to the mix. This has come as a delight especially for US fans. Who doesn’t want to play as the reigning World Cup champions and attempt to relive some of those magical moments from this year’s tournament?

 

The theatrics of presentation surrounding the women’s game is there, but the same can't be said for the on-field action. Online mode dominates the bulk of FIFA play, which is no surprise, and Ultimate Team is still the mode that reigns supreme. When information started to leak out about a new addition to FUT, it was hard to imagine any major changes were necessary. Funny enough, the main FUT mode hasn't really been touched. FUT Draft, however, is a brilliant addition to a game mode that already gets the bulk of attention. The mode will cost a player 15,000 in-game coins, 300 FIFA points, or 1 draft token that can be found inside of FIFA packs.

 

Instead of piecing together a squad from packs that are purchased, a player will go position by position and attempt to build the best possible team based upon the same criteria that makes a squad strong in standard FUT mode. The trick to this, though, is that each position is completely random. If you're into Ultimate Team you'll likely find this an incredibly satisfying portable version of the real thing that you can play on the bus. The rest of us will lament the lack of a career mode or the option to play as our favorite club and have a little kick about. FIFA 16 Ultimate Team does play the best game of football on mobile - by a mile, as well - but in terms of features it is left in the dust by its competition and its predecessors.