Still on the fence with this. It's the same old rushed game with loads of wrinkles that need to be straightened out, but they're definitely on to something. Most of the changes they've made would have been for the better if the execution had been as good as the idea, but there are a few niggles that make the game incredibly frustrating.
- The passing feels very rewarding, but I get the feeling that the game intentionally directs some passes straight to the opposition. I've had plently of simple passes to wide open team-mates snapped up because the game plays them close to - or even straight at - the opposition player instead of rolling it a yard or two to the side and into the feet of my player. I don't have a problem with misplacing a backwards pass, as I get why that happens, but it feels unnecessary that the pass assistance seemingly plays the ball deliberately into the opposition's path even when the opening is there and the passer's body shape is perfect. I have no doubt this is happening, by the way. It happens too frequently to be a coincidence, and in situations where it just can't be a case of user error. I won't switch to manual, by the way. I've tried that, and it takes ages to get a game, so it's not worth the rewards. That being said, when the passing works it feels very responsive. There are more options in the passing game now, so I feel like I have the tools at my disposal to find a team mate with the right kind of pass and into the space I want to play it.
- The first touch is absolutely dreadful. Unless you play the ball so it almost falls asleep on the receiver's foot, it'll bounce all over the place, regardless of the player trapping it. You could have Ronaldinho, Berbatov and Mata playing passes between each other and the ball would be bouncing all over the place as soon as one of them decided to slightly over-hit a pass.
- The ref is even worse than in FIFA 15. You have literally no leeway inside your own box as a defender. Even the slightest touch, without any tackling or shirt-pulling tends to lead to a penalty. I've played Pro Clubs, and we must have given away more than a penalty a game because of opposition players running straight into the defenders or shoulder barges where neither player went down. It's almost better to just not try to muscle your way onto the ball once an attacker gets ahead, as even the jostle from previous games leads to the whistle being blown against you.
- Headers are ridiculous. It seems like even fresh Virtual Pros have the Power Header trait from the get go, and in my FUT Draft games, I had Messi routinely crush much taller defenders in the air for an easy goal.
- Stamina has been destroyed completely. My Virtual Pro has 81 stamina and can't even jog around all game without needing Anderson-style oxygen masks near the end. This also applies to career and FUT. Even players with fairly high stamina will be near death at the end of the game. This was perfect in FIFA 15. I have no idea why they've changed it.
- The speed boost from no-touch dribbling makes no sense. It's almost a time warp sometimes. This video from a mate of mine shows some mind-boggling changes of pace: