FIFA has always been the bane of my existence. Having been an avid follower since FIFA 06, I have since grown to divert my anger towards this game through meditation, yoga and of course, other video games that doesn’t make me want to pull my hair out, fling my controller across the room and punch a baby in the womb. But I digress; after watching the trailer for FIFA 17 along with its new Story Mode called The Journey, I told myself to give it a chance before writing the game off because it does look pretty decent.
Thank You Frostbite
FIFA 17 is the first of the series to use the Frostbite game engine and boy did it do wonders for the game. Developed by EA Dice, Frostbite was originally used to create first-person shooters and has since expanded to accommodate a wide variety of video games with FIFA 17 being one of them. Not only does it make the atmosphere in the stadium feel more lively, it also adds plenty of colour and depth to its FIFA’s atmospheric effects, something that it greatly lacked when it was on the Ignite engine between FIFA 14 to 16.
One thing I have to applaud EA is their soundtrack selection over the years. Every time EA announces a new FIFA game, I was more than sure that no matter how angry I get at the game, the music somehow soothes my rage and makes me want to play more. I secretly think this is a ploy by FIFA because they know their games would cause worldwide seizures and salty tantrums.
Who Is Alex Hunter
The creme de la creme of FIFA 17 is its overhaul of the Story Mode campaign, which is called The Journey (although it does sort of remind me of 2K Sports take on NBA 2K16). The story begins with Alex Hunter as a kid playing a local football game. The game soon turns to a penalty shoot-out where you will see a new penalty system in place and whether you miss the penalty or not does not change much in the game’s overall story (because if it does change, it would just show Alex as an 18-year old mugging old lady purses for change).
Throughout the course of the game, you will gain control of Alex Hunter as he makes his way through his Exit Trials to signing up with a top Premier League team. I signed with Manchester United because it was the only time I could see them win games and eventually getting that elusive call-up for the English national football team.
One of the ways you can determine Alex Hunter’s attitude towards the game is not only his performance on the pitch but also off it as well. Cut scenes happen from time to time in the game and will most likely contain a conversation where you must decide on an answer to give (much like Mass Effect).
The story is divided between playing actual football games and training with brief cut scenes in-between; what makes The Journey addictive is the skill growth in Alex Hunter as your attributes and stats will increase from all the training and playing time you’re given.
FIFA 17 In A Nutshell
Aside from playing The Journey, FIFA 17 is a great game to play with friends, whether it’s online or offline as it gives me you the chance to gain bragging rights over your friends. There has also been rewrites into the way corner kicks, free kicks and penalties are taken, giving you more freedom to express your prowess from set pieces.
FIFA 17 also introduces a new Active Intelligence System where the AI has developed a better and more thorough understanding of the game, allowing themselves to read, move and react better than ever. Other changes also include a far more physical presence into the game, which will transform the way a player physically interacts in all areas of the pitch. There is also new attacking techniques, which broadens the perspective of your attacking play, allowing you to be creative with your passing and shooting in front of goal.
Byline: Teh Wi-Liam
Publisher: EA Sports
Developer: EA Canada
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
Release Date: 17 September 2016
Genre: Sports
Player(s): 1 – 4
Score: 8/10
