FIFA 17 Review – A Well Trodden Journey

FIFA games release every year and are lapped up by fans of the sport each time unsurprisingly. A new set of players are introduced to the rosters and a certain level of polish and officialdom is maintained from year to year. As a FIFA fan you know what to expect and almost certainly the games deliver. Well, FIFA 17 released as expected and is no exception but rather than rest on its laurels so to speak, EA Sports has opted to inject a bit of personality into the game – not just with the inclusion of some current well known managers such as José Mourinho or Pep Guardiola on the sidelines but with an all new story mode aptly titled, “The Journey”.

Let’s get the basics out of the way first. The core gameplay of FIFA 17 continues where FIFA 16 left off with the same modes of play and the fast arcade like representation of the sport when playing. There’s a wealth of options to tailor the experience to suit individual needs and the official licensing and presentation is top quality. The game simply ticks all the right boxes and provides and authentic arcade experience. In terms of actual football, Pro Evo 2017 has it beat but then again that’s purely down to personal preference. FIFA games have their legions of fans who no doubt will fight tooth and nail to suggest their game of preference is the better of the two.

Aside from video game rivalries though, FIFA 17 is a joy to pick up and play. It’s easy to pass, shoot and even easier to score unless you head on over to the options and crank up the difficulty. There’s nuanced play as well so experts can show off their controller skills whilst newcomers can still get by using the default move-sets. It’s an open door franchise and this game is no exception.

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So, about that story mode. Well, there’s actually two on offer here. One where you pick a team and play as a team with the objective to win games and the other, “The Journey” where you pick a team and play as a team or individual player Alex Hunter to win games (no surprises there). What’s neat about this mode is how it’s presented. Sure it follows the same progression system as any other story mode but this time with a bit of attitude in its step as you rise up the football ranks (quite quickly it seems) and make your mark as newcomer Alex. You get to see the highs and lows of his career told via way of cutscenes which are actually quite engaging. You’re left rooting for our Alex even if his fate is entirely in the player’s hands. If you’re not performing up to scratch then Alex’s progression is stalled, however if you’re sharp in training and even more cutting on the pitch then you can go far.

It’s certainly a neat direction to pump up an old formula with some new blood and to be fair the presentation carries it what with some decent acting and witty dialogue at times. You’ve also got a bit of interactive elements as well which can aid your standing with the fans or manager which is a nice touch.

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Visually and aurally FIFA 17 brings it home as it always does with fantastic representations of the players, stadiums and general atmosphere. Animations are fluid and varied although the default play speed seems a touch too fast but can be changed in the options if desired. The presentation as a whole once again ticks all the right boxes and you’ll feel like you’re at a match or at least watching the big game on TV when the sound is cranked up. It’s possibly hard to pick holes in the presentation and whilst some of the facial expressions could be better, we’re certainly bordering closely on uncanny valley stuff here in some instances.

Longevity is a bit of a misnomer here because FIFA 17 lasts as long until… FIFA 18 hits the shelves next year. It’s been this way for a long time and there’s no reason to feel like the game is getting stale months past its release. In UK at least, the game constantly sits in the top 10 selling games week after week months after release and that’s telling of the series presence and staying power. Newcomers can obviously rinse out the many options on offer and partake in the online game if desired but there’s enough solo content here to keep the most ardent of fans well entertained.

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FIFA 17 is the football game for the masses and that’s pretty much all that needs to be said about the game. The inclusion of new features and that wonderful story mode are welcome yet the core game remains as expected. If you want to relive your favourite team’s moments with glorious visuals, excellent sound and great atmosphere then FIFA 17 has your name on it until the next game arrives.

Score 9/10

Review code supplied by Microsoft Xbox

Written by: Rob Cram

Rob Cram has hundreds of video game reviews, thousands of articles under his belt with years of experience in gaming and tech. He aims to remain fair and free from publisher/developer influence. With his extensive knowledge, feels his gaming opinions are valid and worth sharing. Agreement with his views are entirely optional. He might have a bias towards cyberpunk.