The defensive AI improvements also apply to the opposing team - it's going to take some adaptation on your part, as getting through defenders is harder than ever. Yet, player AI is still often questionable. And notice Jones is supposedly under the control of the blue player, but despite pulling left on the stick, he's barreling right. It's exasperating. There are still times when EA decides it's best for the CPU to take over the controls entirely, and it's plain wrong. But we do and FIFA is back with it's usual raft of tweaks designed to keep the game moving forward as well as the usual staple of fan favorites. The star players do genuinely look like their real-life counterparts now and are, frankly, a work of art.
I am not a credulous optimist. FIFA 15 was a disappointment that, on the surface at least, seemed to prioritise maintaining the enormous financial success of Ultimate Team over the delivery of meaty gameplay changes. But things really do appear different this year, which is all about meaty gameplay changes--partly, no doubt, because Ultimate Team is not yet being discussed, but also because of what seems a genuine preoccupation with bringing "balance" to what the dev team already consider to be a solid foundation. After picking your preferred formation, a series of screens conjure up a randomly-generated selection of players. You get to choose the ones you want to fill each position on your team, with a few more to put on the subs bench - that’s 23 in total - and a manager. For many of us, it will be the first time you’ve ever been able to field a team with the likes of Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar and Aguero in your ranks - and it’s a good way of scouting potential transfers target too!
If you’re one of those players who can’t afford to spend hundreds of pounds on FIFA Points to assemble your dream team, it can be pretty tough going. But then EA shouldn’t really let you toil away forever when you’ve already spent ￡50 getting the game in the first place. It’d be nice if they gave players at least one free pack a week where you can try your luck at getting a massive pull and satisfy your pack opening craving at the same time. The cards would have to be untradeable to stop the market from being flooded with coins but how cool would it be if your free pack won you the likes of Eden Hazard? Weirder things have happened. Yes, EA offer players the choice of the season pass to get free premium gold packs each week but this would be a kind gesture to those who bought the game as it comes.
I warmed to this idea and the only drawback is the handful of formations to pick from at the start of drafting, it cannot be changed afterwards and it might not offer any that you’re comfortable using. There are a few little tweaks to Ultimate Team with the most useful being when swapping players in and out of the squad it’ll show beforehand whether it’ll change chemistry for better or worse, if at all. There are only twelve international sides to choose from, with a Cup mode available alongside exhibition matches. It’s a good start and I’m sure as the years go by we’ll begin to see club competitions, such as the Women’s Super League in England. However, as the years pass by it seems there may not be much room for growth with Ignite. The visuals have not taken any sort of leap forward. Like much of the game, the graphics are still good but perhaps the limitations of the engine are showing, as other games have surpassed FIFA in both aesthetics and gameplay.
For the first time in FIFA’s history, you are now able to play as 12 of the world’s best women's national teams. When this feature was announced the reaction was very mixed. Once the demo hit and the community got a chance to play as them the mood did a complete 180. EA Canada has nailed the look, passion, and overall feel of the women’s game. Female specific animations and face/body scans lead to an accurate visual representation while also contributing to the unique playing styles. Brazil’s Marta feels dangerous on the ball with her agility, pace, and skills while Team USA’s Amby Wambach is noticeably stronger and lethal in the air. The only downside to this addition is that you can only use them in Exhibition Mode and the Women’s International Cup. Once can only hope that EA will continue to grow the mode adding more National teams and possibly even Women’s Club Teams.
