FIFA 17 Reviews
Fifa 17 surprised me with the excellent The Journey game mode. It feels and looks better than ever with Frostbite but the actual gameplay took a minor yellow card. That said, I know ill still be playing this game for many, many hours and you should too.
An epic ode to the joy of football, but with room remaining for improvement.
In the PES vs. FIFA stakes, we're giving this year's bout to PES. However, that doesn't diminish how good FIFA 17 is. It's a superb football game, marred slightly by a few annoying flaws. As an overall package, FIFA 17 also delivers in spades. Back of the net!
FIFA 17 bounces back nicely after a down year without sacrificing any of its primary strengths. The Journey is a well-produced campaign mode that complements the existing feature set nicely, and the move to Frostbite appears to have gone off without a hitch. It's not really accurate to say FIFA is back since it never really left, but it is fair to say that it has momentum again, and that speaks well of its future as we head into the back half of this generation.
Overall, FIFA 17 performs well and keeps the trophy for football greatness, but it can certainly do better. But with the exclusive licensing and creative game modes, it's tough to beat. However, Pro Evolution Soccer is making great strides in competing against EA's series this year. We'll have to see if FIFA can continue its stay at the top for years to come.
FIFA 17 is a very good football game that does a lot of things right, especially when it comes to presentation. The Journey provides a good story mode for FIFA, introducing the trials and tribulations of a young professional footballer, and when it comes to the action out on pitch, FIFA 17 continues to be a well rounded experience, even if it feels bogged down in midfield compared to PES 17. FIFA 17 will not disappoint fans of the series with the new things to try out, but when it comes to football games this year, there’s no clear winner.
FIFA 17 bounces back nicely after a down year without sacrificing any of its primary strengths. The Journey is a well-produced campaign mode that complements the existing feature set nicely, and the move to Frostbite appears to have gone off without a hitch. It's not really accurate to say FIFA is back since it never really left, but it is fair to say that it has momentum again, and that speaks well of its future as we head into the back half of this generation.
EA introduces FIFA's best new mode in years and delivers an excellent game on the pitch. The Journey may well bring back lapsed fans.
If nothing else, this is certainly the most fascinating FIFA in years.
The EA Sports stalwart is facing strong competition from Pro Evolution Soccer, but has come out fighting with plenty of style and just enough substance
If you're a FIFA 17 fan, go ahead and buy it – you won't regret your purchase. Just be aware that, right now, EA's game can't match the standard of the new console footie king – PES 2017.
The Journey is FIFA 17's headline act, and it's a surprising success. The story of Alex Hunter is this year's centrepiece, and adds yet more value to the already robust and rock solid footie offering that we've come to expect of the series. What's more, the jump to the Frostbite engine has worked wonders as far as presentations is concerned. As accessible as it is comprehensive, FIFA once again proves that it's still a top performer.
If this year's PES is the old hand that is quietly improving incrementally, FIFA 17 feels like a hot prospect that's burst onto the scene with a new engine and a new mode in tow. The game is exciting and full of potential, but it has issues on which to improve in future instalments if the franchise wants to stand alone as the best. While it doesn't stack up to PES on the pitch, everything else away from it makes FIFA 17 a worthwhile purchase for fans of the beautiful game.
There are plenty of improvements that will keep franchise fans happy and the playing time provided by Alex Hunter’s story is almost worth the asking price alone, but the visual evolution has come at a bit of a cost to FIFA’s gameplay.
FIFA 17 is another strong entry in the iconic series, and one that looks to lay the groundwork for future titles by switching to a new engine. The hyper-realistic graphics are great, with facial expressions finally helping players look more than mannequins.
As always, FIFA 17 dramatically outshines its rival off the pitch with its re-creation of the match-day atmosphere. On the pitch, the transition to Frostbite has improved the look and feel of the game but a few gameplay inconsistencies frustrate and the returning server issues are just as prevalent as always.
FIFA 17 is visually stunning and "The Journey" is a welcome, if imperfect, new mode to the series. The new title is recognizable as a FIFA title, as any long-time fan of the series can attest to, which can be just as negative as it is positive. It's a fun, solid title but one that already has us thinking about what needs to be improved for next year's installment.
FIFA 17 tries to answer the challenge of rival PES with significantly improved visuals and new gameplay mechanics that improve physicality and offensive options on the field. The game still feels more arcadey, which is good or bad depending on your preference, and the improved career mode is still missing some options sought by series fans. While PES might still hold the mechanical edge on the pitch, however, FIFA 17’s more polished production values combined with its continued edge in licenses means it will remain the football game of choice for many fans.
In all honesty, people are going to rate FIFA 17 very differently and it’ll largely come down to how much you value the single player experience and just how much you enjoy it.
Overall, FIFA 17 takes enough steps forward to warrant its place in your gaming library this year. Occasionally EA can deliver a lackluster experience and take its position as the ringleader of football sims for granted – but with the addition of The Journey and a more refined gameplay style, FIFA 17 will satiate any footie fantasies you have for the next 12 months. Don’t be put off by FIFA’s overtly British aesthetic (Alex Hunter’s tale takes place strictly in England – and the Premier League will default itself to most of your settings), it’s a game that can be enjoyed by everyone. Just don’t be like me and take it far too seriously, otherwise you’re due to shell out some money for controllers broken out of rage…