What do you give the sports simulation that has everything? In Fifa 17’s case, the answer is a 15-20 hour, Mass Effect-inspired story mode called The Journey.
Charting the rise of 17-year-old prospect Alex Hunter, it takes you through the first year of a Premier League career, including weekly training and a full slate of fixtures, and is far more enjoyable than it has any right to be. Select Manchester United and you compete with Zlatan Ibrahimovic for a first-team spot. Choose Swansea and you see Francesco Guidolin gesticulating on the touchline. And cut-scenes, featuring an array of hangers-on such as agents and endorsement reps, offer a tantalising glimpse into the life of a fledgeling superstar. Reece Oxford was involved as a consultant – and you sense that much of what’s presented as fiction is reality for the West Ham youngster.
That Mass Effect reference wasn’t a typo. Developer EA Canada worked with Bioware on the mode’s dialogue options, which give you Commander Shepard-style choices at various points such as post-match interviews and scenes out on loan. (Vermire Athletic, sadly, aren’t an option – only Norwich, Newcastle and Villa.) The media, your first-team coach and those hangers-on can all be conversed with in this way, albeit in a fairly linear manner; while most of the speech is of better quality than Match of the Day’s “all credit to the lads on the pitch” fare, your responses have little tangible effect. Come across as too fiery and you might be dropped for a game or two, but a strong training performance usually catapults you back into the starting XI.
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