FIFA 16 Beta Review: 15 Hands-On First Impressions

It has been almost a week since EA dropped their FIFA 16 closed beta, meaning a handful of lucky gamers will already be honed and ready to fire upon the full game's release. But if you haven't managed to get your hands on a code, don't panic. We've got everything you need to know right here. At this moment in time, the only available mode is online seasons, meaning that every game we've played so far has been over an internet connection, which doesn't always paint the most accurate picture of a game. However, there's still more than enough to take away from our opening matches. Also, in the beta, once you have selected your team, there's no going back. As things stand we're in control of Newcastle United, though every player on the team has had a significant leap up to 85 to provide an equal platform for all gamers, and to shield the players' true ratings in time for the full game to be released. So here are 15 initial reactions after spending a bit of time with FIFA 16, starting with the more aesthetic features, before moving onto the gameplay.

15. Player Faces Look Incredible

One of FIFA's crowning glories is their vast array of licenses allowing them to use every league, team, and player name that you'll ever need, and now they have the likenesses to match their impressive rights portfolio. In previous games, the star players looked fantastic but outside of the world's elite, the game was scattered with generic heads and faces that bore no resemblance. Now, every player from the Premier League games we played looks fantastic, and while it may just be a small detail, it's a good move.