EA Sports released its latest edition of the world renowned soccer game, FIFA 17 on Sept. 27.
With a lot of hype surrounding the game including more complete gameplay and a new, revamped career mode, there was a lot for FIFA creators to live up to. Soccer is referred to as “the beautiful game,” and this edition of FIFA shows you why.
Photorealistic player models and stadiums with intricate detail highlight the giant step forward the game has made visually. Gameplay is now incredibly lifelike. In the past, player animations have irked players with random glitching or awkward running. There have been no signs of the glitching or awkward running in this version.
Often times in the past the commentating has become repetitive, tired, and boring. No more is it the same commentary for every single match and the same phrases that happen in a certain situation over and over again.
EA Sports has pledged to release new commentary updates throughout the season to provide fresh, unique sounds for each match. Playing in England’s Premier League feels different than playing in Germany’s Bundesliga or Italy’s Serie A, which is a massive enjoyment. You get a club’s unique experience based on the country they play in.
The gameplay in FIFA 17 was something game developers changed from FIFA 16 in a big way. FIFA 17 gameplay is much, much faster. Faster game play combined with smarter computer intelligence makes the games more likely to end in high scoring shootouts than scoreless draws.
However, the gameplay speed can also be a downfall. It feels as though there is sometimes a right and wrong way to play the game.
The one thing that sets this game apart is the career mode. Taking over the controls as up-and-coming prospect Alex Hunter, you go through an entire Premier League season and experience the highs and lows of a professional soccer player. While there are some structured parts of the storyline, most of the events are dictated by decisions made on and off of the pitch.
The only downside to “The Journey” is the limited life span. There is not a lot of incentive to come back to the playing mode once you have completed it.
Overall, EA Sports put out a strong product in FIFA 17. From diehard to casual followers, this is a must-own game if you are a follower of the beautiful game of soccer.
