 "FIFA 16: The one to beat")
For years EA Sports' FIFA franchise has been the undisputed king of football game - they're the FC Barcelona of football games.
FIFA 16 like all its predecessors is an excellent game - fun, exciting, methodical and life-like. Though it is a tad slower than FIFA 15, it gives you much more time to think rather than quickly pass off the ball and score goals. Attention to detail has always been a hallmark of FIFA games and the latest version is no different. Player attributes like strength give your defenders much more scope against tricky and fast players. For instance, Per Mertesacker can actually hold up against someone like Lionel Messi and even outpace him! Defenders, somehow were always less competent than attackers in FIFA but that has been remedied in FIFA 16. Unlike earlier versions, where you could quickly race off to the other end and score a goal, FIFA 16 lays more emphasis on possession. You can't just sprint across defenders but have to wisely use the ball and control your pace. It certainly is a much more tactically enhanced game to play.
EA has always done well with the presentation and this game is no different. The accurate kits, looks of players, excellent animation make it a great game to play. The sound effects are immaculate - the players yelling, crowd roars, fan reactions to what's happening on the pitch - give an extremely real feel to the whole FIFA experience.
FIFA 16 retains all the gaming modes of its predecessors and my favourite Ultimate Team mode gets better. The idea of creating your own team, handpicking players, earn rewards and win trophies remains as compelling as ever. A welcome addition to the game is the inclusion of women's teams. However, you can only play as national teams in the women's football and the contrast between men's football and women's football is substantial. Women's football - just like in real life - is less physical than that of their male counterparts.
Sports games should make gamers work hard and actually make you think and act like you're in the sport. FIFA 16 does that immaculately and it's great to see Konami up their game as well. For the first time perhaps gamers have two excellent football games to choose from - the other being Konami's PES 2016. However, just like in real life, Barcelona's supremacy might be challenged for a season or two, it's the team you aspire to beat and emulate.
