The upgrade in FIFA 16 will be felt most keenly by those making the generational leap. The additional horsepower afforded by the new consoles means improved graphics, more detailed crowds, expansive AI (not better AI perhaps, just more of it, with attackers making additional runs and more players challenging for headers), and smoother textures. It's easy to see and feel the difference. Those who're returning from last year's new-gen upgrade will notice improvements, but for them it's a more subtle shift, the change is less dramatic.

 

FIFA is what you expect it to be. If you’ve played FIFA, you’ll feel right at home. The controls are intuitive, the menus are clean - even more so with FIFA 16 - and the game is responsive. FIFA 16 takes what it did good, and polishes it ever so slightly, so it’s even easier to get in the game. Graphics are fantastic. You can really see the development of the series in the player reactions - whether on or off the pitch - and even in the crowd. The 3D modeling is just that much better, that it really feels like a step up. The chants have been reworked so that the crowd feels a bit more lively. Commentary is slightly better, but there’s only so much you can say.

 

The additional layers of realism in “FIFA 16” are brilliant. Just as in real life, Barcelona’s Luis Suarez is suspended until Oct. 27 when you start a season in Career Mode. It’s all about the little details. For the first time ever, “FIFA 16” has introduced goal-line technology. The only thing that’s missing is vanishing spray for the referees. All of the customization are then saved into a Team Sheet, and thus you can easily swap between wholly different lineups and individual player orders by selecting a different sheet. As you grow the club, young talent now improves faster and older players don’t retire too quickly.

 

Needless to say, the beating heart of the FIFA 16 Ultimate Team is a strong managerial component, which puts you in the position of having to manage, in addition to the pink created a whole series of elements related to it, such as the choice of coach, stage and official ball: these can be purchased on the appropriate market through the use of credits earned for each game played, or obtained by the sale of players, and other consumables. In this respect it should be noted that the structure of the freemium title is very well balanced, with a purchasing management in-game completely non-invasive and provides a complete experience that even those who are not willing to put hands in their pockets.

 

Tacticians amongst you will chuckle that the game now includes Chelsea's much maligned Park The Bus style of play, while on the other hand, all out attack promises you the goalfest that FIFA never was. Pace seems to have been given more importance because it's nearly impossible to tackle or even touch Raheem Sterling when he's darting off with the ball - the same applies with Lionel Messi and Jesus Navas. With it’s mesmeric presentation, fluid game play, cinematic highlight reels, and its bone-shaking authentic sound make this the best FIFA incarnation yet!

 

Fans playing in rain or wet weather will notice mud and debris on the pitch. Corner flag physics, goal frames that shake, and animated LED ad boards are just some of the new details that bring FIFA 16 to life. Real crowd chants have been recorded and every Premier League ground has been beautifully rendered, with all the usual licenses in place to ensure player names and likenesses are genuine. Martin Tyler and Alan Smith provide the commentary. FIFA 16 hasn’t just given everyone the chance to use every footballing cliché in the positive again, its given everyone a chance to fall back in-love with the franchise, to enjoy the pure adrenaline rush that football provides, FIFA 16 does that buy the boot-load.

 

Career mode is a complete cut and paste from the previous iteration of Fifa, there is literally no obvious changes to the mode. Players still continue to retire alarmingly early and transfers still are ridiculous to achieve unless you submit to the players demands entirely. There are absolutely no changes that I can see to the previous career mode. If you enjoyed it last time you’ll enjoy it again. Although I feel this is a bit of a missed opportunity from EA to improve the franchise further it still is the best career mode available in football simulation at the moment unless you’re playing Football Manager. A few more leaves from Sports Interactives book could help reinvigorate the Fifa career mode.