Image via Complex UK
If you're waking up today and wondering where your social life went, it's now a 4.5GB file on your console because the FIFA 16 demo has arrived and from now until launch day, you'll be doing little else besides getting to grips with it.
If you're a little bit off the pace, the demo dropped yesterday on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, giving gamers the opportunity to get a taste of the world's hottest sports game by sampling 12 teams, including Real Madrid, Barcelona and the USA and Germany women's national teams.
It didn't take long for Twitter to respond to the demo and – quite honestly – feedback has been *almost* universally positive. It looks like EA Sports have another hit on their hands.
If you're yet to take the plunge and aren't quite sure whether to make your pre-order yet, here's 5 things we've learned from getting hands on with the FIFA 16 demo.
1. Finally, pace isn't all that matters
It appears that EA Sports might have finally fixed the one complaint that hardcore FIFA gamers have year after year, which is 'all that really matters in the game is pace'.
We were pretty skeptical when, during the FIFA 16 unveiling, we were all told that the way to win this year was by playing a measured game – but it appears to actually be true. The gameplay speed has been drastically reduced for FIFA 16, which turns the experience into even more of a simulation than before.
Players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale are no longer able to sprint through defences unopposed at the touch of a button, while someone like Lionel Messi has a real fight on his hands when coming up against stronger centre backs like Pepe or Raphael Varane. Dribbling is far more delicate this year, typified by the addition of 'no touch dribbling', which enhances the value of players with close control and good passing ability (David Silva is finally going to get some shine).
The best way to score goals seems to be through the use of powerful strikers who can match defenders for pace and strength. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, you the real MVP this year.
2. FUT Draft might be the biggest improvement in years
The thing that made the most noise during the FIFA 16 promo push was the announcement of FUT Draft, EA Sports' answer to what happens when the lottery meets fantasy football.
In 'Draft', you will choose from one of five formations, then a captain, and then go on to fill out the rest of a 23-man squad by selecting a player from a randomly-selected choice of five in each position – and then play an opponent who's done exactly the same thing.
It means you'll finally get the opportunity to play with the impossible-to-buy likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi on a regular basis – and build some very enviable teams while you're at it (as Twitter users told the world yesterday).
It looks like it might be the most unpredictable addition to the FIFA franchise in years, which can only be a good thing, because you'll literally be playing with a different dream team each time you step onto the field.
3. Some retailers got so excited they already put the game on sale
Reports from the FIFA subreddit – the Internet's biggest Ultimate Team water cooler – suggest that some stores in New Zealand and Mexico got confused with release dates and put the final edition of FIFA 16 on sale yesterday, too.
We find that hard to believe – and the image above is more than likely a snapshot of a placeholder stall before the official release date later this month – but it didn't stop the FIFA community going nuts for five minutes:
The demo has clearly won over a lot of fans, already.
4. Playing with women in the game actually feels different
Following the success of the FIFA Women's World Cup this summer, women's national teams will be included in FIFA for the first time ever.
And it looks like EA Sports have taken the new addition quite seriously and we're happy to report that there's a different kind of satisfaction when scoring a goal with Carli Lloyd, as oppose to Lionel Messi.
When playing with women on FIFA 16, gameplay feels a little slower, the touch of a female players looks a little bit heavier (which is an accurate reflection on the differences in standards between the women and men's game right now) and there's greater reliance on agility than physicality.
It's also the minor touches that make you feel like you're playing a completely new game, with wildly different physics on display and female voices audible from players on the pitch and coaches on the sidelines.
5. Daniel Sturridge finally has a proper celebration
Scoring goals just became even more fun.
There's a host of new goal celebrations for FIFA 16, which includes the Premier League's most famous goal celebation – Daniel Sturridge's 'riding the wave' – getting a makeover from last year's edition.
Running to different parts of the pitch also triggers different animations. Sprint towards the substitutes bench and you'll embrace your team mates on the touchline, run towards the TV cameras and your goalscorer will play up to the fans watching at home (AKA your sofa).
FIFA 16 is released in the UK on September 25th and in the United States on September 22nd.
