Game Details Developer: EA Sports

Publisher: EA

Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360 (PS4 reviewed)

Rating: E for Everyone

Release Date: September 29 (WW), September 27 (US)

Price: £40, $60

Links: EA Sports: EA: PC, PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360 (PS4 reviewed): E for EveryoneSeptember 29 (WW), September 27 (US)£40, $60 Amazon (UK) | Amazon (US) | Official website

Despite its consistency over the years, there's always been something missing in FIFA. Drill past the flawlessly recreated stadiums and the blemish-perfect faces, past the stacks of Ultimate Team cards and officially licensed boots, and, no matter how deep you go, you never come across anything close to a footballing soul. There's plenty of opportunity to spend money and ogle celebrity players, but remove the glitz and glamour, and the passion for the sport—the love of the game itself—is sorely missing.

It's often easier to win fans by creating a spectacle than it is by playing the best football, and FIFA 17 continues this tradition with the inclusion of The Journey. An attempt at recreating the kind of athlete-focused narrative that 2K's NBA franchise has had for years, The Journey tells the story of young prodigy Alex Hunter and his bid to become a superstar.

You get to choose what Hunter says to the media, his manager, and a recurring rival. Your choices lead to small alterations in how other characters view you, but the core plot beats remain fixed no matter what you do. As such, there sometimes exists an enormous disconnect between your actions and the resultant outcome. Even if you outscore everyone in the team when you're on the pitch, you won't be treated with the kind of respect such a feat deserves until you've hit the relevant narrative milestone.



















Your performance dictates how far and how quickly your skills progress, and you've got the option of taking control of just Hunter or playing as the entire team. Neither selection is perfect given the context of the narrative and your goal to reach the top. If you play only as Hunter then it can be frustrating to have to rely on AI-driven teammates who are, at best, only mildly consistent. On the other hand, playing as the whole team tends to force a predictable style of play as you try to slide Hunter the ball and ignore how open other players might be.

This questionable depth pervades the writing, too, making for a journey that is more novelty than pioneering. Still, embrace it as a frivolous guilty pleasure and there is value to be found. In a manner similar to trashy movies in the vein of American Pie or Pacific Rim, The Journey is so dumb that it's impossible not to love it just a little bit. The only difference is that you can't be sure whether The Journey's writers are in on the joke.

Hunter's story is made possible thanks to FIFA 17's use of Frostbite 3 (in the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC versions), the same engine used to power Battlefield 1 and Mirror's Edge Catalyst. The improved visuals are immediately noticeable throughout the entire product, with facial realism and animation noticeably improved over FIFA 16.

Unfortunately, the improvements in graphical quality don't translate to a better game of football. There might be more variety in how you can approach a free kick, some fresh ways to shoot, and a new technique that allows you to shield the ball from nearby opponents, but so often the game limits what can be attempted, let alone achieved.

There's such a focus on certain features of the football system, like the new shielding mechanics, that not using them puts you at a huge disadvantage. Rather than being able to play the kind of football you like best, you get the sense that there's a right and a wrong play to FIFA 17. This stands in stark contrast to the primary reason this sport is the most popular in world: diversity. Real football is malleable enough to be played in any number of different ways, but FIFA 17 isn't.

By making players use the predetermined tricks, EA Sports is able to more firmly stamp its fingerprint on the game. In a sense, it allows the design team a greater degree of authorship over the football itself. It can make sure that players are seeing the most exciting and instantly gratifying example of the sport that is possible to recreate digitally. What's gained in an immediately thrilling experience is lost in player choice, though. With a right and wrong way of playing there's little point in experimentation and instead you find yourself working to master the same few techniques and exploit obvious loopholes.

However, it can't be argued that if you're after a football game to play with a wide group of friends then FIFA 17 is the right option for you. Its limitations make it easy to play and understand, even for those new to the sport.

While The Journey is an admirable attempt at diversifying a genre that has stubbornly fixated on the same few game modes for as long as most can remember, FIFA 17 is ultimately a continuation of the same core idea that propelled the series to stardom. It's a celebration of the flashy side of football: the highlight reel tricks and the outrageous goals, the mega-transfers and the corporate sponsorships. It's an accurate mirror of the same tenets that have made the Premier League such a global hit.

As Premier League teams have found out, though, a focus on spectacle and wealth doesn't necessarily result in the best football. Where English teams have tended to throw money at problems to cover them up, others coach the problems out of their players and develop new ways of thinking in the process. Over the long term, it's the latter philosophy that evolves the game.

There's no question that FIFA 17 is highly entertaining and exciting, but there's a nagging sense that new features have been added without fixing the pre-existing issues of predictability. As brave an inclusion as The Journey is, the fundamentals of football itself are growing tired.

Not so long ago it was Italy's Series A that was dominant over all other leagues, Premier League included. The league got fat with wealth, took its success for granted, and the football suffered. Without the football, the league faltered. FIFA would do well to keep that lesson in mind as it determines its future.

The Good

Take it with a pinch of salt and The Journey's plot can be entertaining

Visuals are slick, precise, and improved on last season

The Bad

The football mechanics are tired and limit player choice

Narrative dissonance between The Journey's story and your actions as a player

Continues to be more concerned with adding new features than fixing existing problems

The Ugly

Harry Kane's voice acting for his role in The Journey is, despite its scarcity, hugely grating

Verdict: FIFA 17 is a typically slick offering from EA, but if you want the best football game PES 17 is the way to go.