Casual gamers may have paid little attention to the recent E3 convention, however, there is certainly one game that would have piqued the interest of most: FIFA 16. The jewel in EA Sports’ crown has gone from strength to strength since making the move on to next generation consoles. As we have come to expect with every new installment in the franchise, there are new features a plenty. Below are some of the key features that have been added to the game.
Reactive AI marking
Thanks to some tweaking, defenders on the new game will be far more realistic. For example, a right-back getting forward to help out in attack will instantaneously revert back and start defending should his side lose the ball. In Fifa 15, said right-back would have continued running forward for a longer period of time.
Man-marking has also been tinkered with. Defenders can now recognise if a player is making a dangerous run and move across to make a challenge if needed. The guys from EA demonstrated this with Barcelona’s Pique running out of position to track a run, which in turn prompted Rakitic to step across and provide cover.
Slide tackles
In the past, slide tackles have been all or nothing, you either win the ball or you don’t. Fifa 16 has changed the slide tackle system drastically. For starters, attacking players can now anticipate slide tackles and evade them, while on the flip side, if you miss a slide tackle you can quickly get back to your feet and have another go by pressing the slide tackle button quickly.
Chelsea, who are 6/4 at the time of writing to retain their title in the Premier League betting, will certainly be the side to play with in this regard. Terry, Cahill, Matic, Azpilicueta, and Ivanovic are all tanks when it comes to slide tackles, and this will only make them stronger.
Wrapping a foot around the ball
The days of scoring with a finesse shot are over but that doesn’t mean you cannot score with an angled effort. On the new game, striking at goal from a slight angle will allow your player to get their foot around the ball, increasing the amount of spin which allows for a curved flight.
These bending, driven shots may look awesome but they come with a considerable downside. If approached at the wrong angle you can hideously slice your shot away from goal. It is one of those things that is going to get irritating if you fall victim to it, but it does add a whole new layer of realism to the game.
Realistic interceptions
It is in the midfield where the biggest changes have occurred, thanks to the interception logic system. The biggest difference gamers will see is that the AI players are far more aggressive when trying to intercept the ball. No longer will they stand aimlessly, allowing passes to fly past them. Instead they will chuck out at least a leg as they try to make contact with the ball.
To counteract the new interception system, EA Sports have created a “pass with purpose” feature. Pressing the right trigger while passing will see your attempted ball travel at a far greater speed.
Changes to the midfield are without question the most obvious on the new game.
Inclusion of women
With the Women’s World Cup being a huge success, it is fantastic to see that this FIFA will include 12 national female sides. It may sound small but that is a massive step towards bringing the female game up to parity.
Fifa 16 Screenshots:
