Even this long-time dedicated follower of Fifa has had his head turned by the increasingly impressive Pro Evolution Soccer.

The rejuvenation of Konami’s series over the past couple of seasons has become impossible to ignore, so this year I’ve been playing both PES 2016 and EA Sports’ new Fifa 16 game in a break from the tribal norms of football video games.

Like a diehard Arsenal fan (I’m not) admiring a Spurs goal (it would never happen), I’ve adulterously found much to admire in PES (my review will come soon).

However, I’m not ready to fully switch my allegiance just yet – partly because the two games can co-exist and can both be enjoyed for different reasons (if there was ever a PES-Fifa merger sometime it would be pretty great), but mainly because Fifa still offers a very good game of football. EA’s old master has much tougher competition than it’s had in a while but it’s far from being beaten.

News Shopper:

EA’s response to the fiercer fight for supremacy has been to continue doing exactly the same thing it’s done for years to justify each new annual release of its big-selling franchise – namely making enough improvements on and off the pitch to evolve the game without revolutionising anything.

Some of the changes work better than others, or are at least more noticeable than others, but the overall effect when combined is that they edge the series forward a little bit more than last year.

It of course starts with the obligatory updates to team kits, line-ups, player stats and so on, along with slightly revamped menus.

As you browse around those menus you’ll soon see there aren’t major differences in the modes from Fifa 15, but there are two new experiences of note.

News Shopper:

One of these is FUT Draft, a new mode within the Ultimate Team area that incorporates deck-building and card-collecting elements with football management and of course playing football. Within Draft you assemble a squad of top players from choices that are provided and then try to guide them successfully through a series of matches with the aim of winning various rewards that can be used in regular Ultimate Team.

I’ve always found the fantasy football of FUT too gimmicky and an unnecessary distraction from the main simulation, but I’ve found myself drawn to it more this year and the Draft mode is fun as it allows you to mess around with different combinations of elite players that would usually be difficult to have in your team.

The other new mode is women’s football which features 12 international teams playable in friendly matches and an offline tournament. Cynical as I am, I suspect its inclusion is more about PR than a genuine attempt at progression, but it’s welcome nonetheless – not least because it adds more variety with its different physicality and style of play.

News Shopper:

On the pitch in the still-main men’s game, there are a number of alterations from last year.

One of these is the introduction of No Touch Dribbling which allows players to perform more feints and fakes to get past defenders. It’s an effective way to gain a little extra space and time on the ball.

Another new attacking tool is the drilled pass which provides a slightly risky but useful way of really zipping the ball around the pitch.

These amendments to what you can do with the ball are balanced by improvements to what you or your opponent can do without the ball, with better computer-controlled defenders’ intelligence and tweaks to how tackles are made.

News Shopper:

If you need help getting to grips with any of the new gameplay mechanics, the optional Fifa Trainer is a worthwhile addition. This puts an overlay on the screen near the player you’re currently controlling, suggesting different button pushes for the situation you’re in. It starts off basic and can become more advanced when you’re ambitious enough to take on some of the more complex moves that require an octopus-like level of dexterity.

Each year the tuning done to the Fifa engine by the EA team changes the overall ‘feel’ of the action. This year’s play is slightly slower and more considered. Possession football is the name of the game. Perhaps Louis van Gaal has been used as a consultant this year.

News Shopper:

When you’re in attack extra care and precision are required to carve out any of the few clear-cut chances that emerge during matches. You’ll do a lot of passing the ball around, often backwards or sideways as you look for openings. When defending you’ll need to bide your time waiting for the opportunity to snatch back possession while the opposition strokes the ball around. Even lowly League 2 teams are adept at stringing passes together, forcing you to choose between patiently sitting back or chasing shadows.

The midfield-dominated low-scoring (bar one incredible 5-3) matches that unfold don’t offer instant gratification or constant excitement, but through being challenging and absorbing they are ultimately satisfying.

News Shopper:

Fifa is deeply rooted in reality, not just with its official licences. Football matches these days are becoming more like games of chess played between master tacticians – firm defending and calculated build-up play are strong traits. EA does a good job of reflecting this, although it comes at a bit of a cost in terms of how entertaining the game is at times. PES’ style of football is faster, more free-flowing and offers more escapism.

Fifa’s authenticity comes through in the way it looks and sounds too. I don’t think the series has ever been better visually, with the quality of graphics and attention to detail improving year on year. Crowd sounds are better than ever, and really differ from ground to ground. The broadcast-style presentation of matches is up to its usual standard – but this leads to the one production letdown of Martin Tyler and Alan Smith’s commentary being as tedious as always.

While PES has a lot to offer gamers, Fifa remains very strong especially in terms of its realism and refinement. This sports sim superstar is set for another successful season - although it's definitely no longer the only viable choice.

9 out of 10

Out now for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PC - PS4 version played

Want to see a crazy graphical glitch in Fifa 16? Check out this article and video showing a headless Hugo Sanchez