With FIFA 17 , the football simulation from EA Sports will have a story mode for the first time. Additionally, extensive improvements in gameplay are coming.
The EA Play event for E3 just wrapped up. It will be a revolutionary year for FIFA: The power of Frostbite allows for “brand new experiences,” such as the story mode “The Journey,” which can be seen in the following trailer:
With the switch to the Frostbite engine, the future of virtual football is ushered in: For future FIFA installments, this new graphics engine will allow for “big changes.” The favorite sport of Germans is set to be even more authentic in FIFA 17.
The graphics will experience a significant leap forward: The appearance, expressions, and movements of players will be more realistic, with improved lighting effects and much more to enhance the football atmosphere.
In FIFA 17, you will also experience numerous innovations that do not only relate to the graphics boost: A completely new narrative mode, “The Journey,” will be available.
The story mode “The Journey” in FIFA 17
In this new mode, you take on the role of football talent Alex Hunter. With him, you will experience a professional career in the English Premier League.
The gaming experience here will be very immersive: You will learn the football business from the inside and discover what it is like to be a professional footballer. You can choose which team in the Barclays Premier League you want to join.
In FIFA 17, you will discover “new football worlds” with “The Journey”: You are not only on the pitch but also in the tunnel, in the locker room, in the coach’s office, even on the plane and at Alex’s home.
You will learn the entire backstory of the young player: How he gets his first jersey, all his ups and downs. The development of the story depends on your performances on the pitch – or how you conduct interviews (are you friendly, reserved, arrogant?). Events like a red card will also affect the story. There is a “core story,” but the path you take in it is entirely up to you.
On the pitch, you have specific tasks to fulfill that the coach assigns you at the beginning of the match (such as: score at least one goal). Almost every action affects your player rating: Did you miss a tackle? Was a nice goal scored? In the upper right corner of the screen, you will see live how your rating goes up – or down. You can also decide before the matches whether you want to control just Alex or the entire team.
The performances you show influence the progress of your player: You can gradually upgrade him and transform him into a star player.
Authentic storylines in “The Journey”
In this story mode, EA Sports aims to combine authenticity and a high fun factor. Authenticity is achieved, for example, by finding yourself among the big stars of world football. If you choose Manchester United, you will meet Rooney or Schweinsteiger in the locker room. If you are in Liverpool, you will be motivated by Jürgen Klopp. Numerous coaches and players have been newly captured with motion capture for this.
A feature is “Dynamic Scenes”: If, for example, you perform poorly, you will have to go to the boss’s office and justify yourself. You will also receive reactions on social media: What are your fans saying about you, what does the press think?
A cutscene we saw shows a possible low point in your career: You have a conversation with your grandfather, who wants to lift your spirits while bad reviews about you pour in on television. This scene also showed that FIFA 17 really makes a leap forward in graphics: The facial features are realistic, the emotions are convincingly portrayed.
Overall, this new mode should let you experience the professional life of a footballer up close. For this purpose, “story consultants” in the form of active football stars have been brought on board.
“Big changes” in gameplay in FIFA 17
Four gameplay aspects will be significantly revamped in FIFA 17:
- Changes to set pieces: In FIFA 17, you will have more freedom with set pieces: You can move freely during free kicks and penalties. Take a few steps back or move a bit back and forth before you start your run and kick the ball, either slowly or quickly – at your chosen pace. You will also have more freedom of movement during throw-ins.
For corner kicks, a yellow cursor will be provided to the side, with which you can control the corner kick as you wish. The behavior of players in the penalty area is supposed to be smarter than before. - Overhaul of physical play: Players’ physical interactions will be more realistic across the whole pitch. Players will authentically interact with each other during contacts thanks to modern balance mechanics.
Shielding the ball will be more realistic than ever: Players will recognize where their opponents are and can intelligently position their bodies in between. Thanks to the new balance mechanics, high balls can now be collected with the foot from the air, whereas in previous FIFA installments, only heading was possible. You can also look forward to new animations in collisions – even with the goalkeeper. - Improved player intelligence: In FIFA 17, every player should continuously analyze spaces to demonstrate intelligent behavior. Attackers will recognize spaces better and will run paths that were previously unthinkable in FIFA: They can also curve around opponents to gain advantages. Players will make diagonal sprints in appropriate situations and continue their runs – and not abruptly stop – if chances arise. “Fake runs” are also possible.
The defense, on the other hand, will try to close down spaces. For such spatial analyses, the system in FIFA 16 was not intelligent enough, as EA Sports admits. - New techniques: In FIFA 17, there will be new skill moves and more options on the pitch. Dropkicks, new passes, new shots, sprint dribbles, you can “press down” headers: You can play the game in your own way. Three times as many new animations will be introduced in FIFA 17 compared to FIFA 16.
No information has been provided yet regarding the “Ultimate Team” mode, career, or “Pro Clubs.” Details on which new leagues and stadiums will come will also be revealed at a later date.
Ttime says: I was allowed to try an early version of FIFA 17: During this time, I was able to get a glimpse of “The Journey” and play two matches in kickoff mode.
The story mode made a good impression in this short time: I was in the locker room at Manchester United, able to observe stars like the German national player Bastian Schweinsteiger while the coach made his announcements. In the game, I was subbed in around the 70th minute, received some information from the coach beforehand, and was expected to assist a goal, which I did. In a post-game interview, I was asked questions about what it is like to play alongside the big stars. I could choose from several response options, each portraying a different image of me. Am I friendly, arrogant, ambitious?
The first few minutes definitely made me want more. The graphics were convincing. It will be exciting to see how extensive “The Journey” will be, and how “individual” one can shape their professional career. If this mode turns out to be just a fleeting pleasure, it would certainly be a shame. There’s potential here.
After just a few matches in kickoff mode, I am unable to assess the gameplay of FIFA 17. I have played thousands of games in each FIFA installment of recent years, and FIFA 17 still feels like FIFA. However, the gameplay changes were indeed noticeable immediately: The movement patterns of players have changed in certain areas, and the new animations are recognizable after just a few seconds. It is quite easy to set up a nice passing game.
The new movement freedoms for free kicks and penalties are really cool – even though I still need to practice them. In the penalty shootout, a few balls went past or slowly rolled toward the goal.
However, I really struggled with one thing: defense. It was incredibly difficult to get the ball. Using the methods I employ in FIFA 16, it was hard to gain possession in FIFA 17. I still need to study which buttons to press and when.
How the fun will unfold in the final version will be revealed at the end of September this year. FIFA 17 will be released on September 29, 2016, on Xbox One, PS4, PC, Xbox 360, and PS3.
By the way: The start screen of the game features James Rodriguez from Real Madrid.
