FIFA 17’s headline feature is The Journey, a story about a prodigious young talent attempting to make a name for himself in the Premier League. It’s a microcosm of everything that’s good and bad about FIFA – peerless presentation surrounding a match engine that’s an improvement on last year, but still needs work – and yet it’s the most fun I’ve had with the series for a good few seasons. Perhaps more importantly, it’s a welcome reminder of the personal stories at the heart of a sport (and a series) that, in recent times, has felt more concerned with its corporate identity. It’s not easy to find ways to surprise people in an annualised game, but this is a very pleasant one.
The story of likeable 17-year-old Alex Hunter and his rise from unvarnished academy product to bright young starlet follows a conventional path – not quite rags to riches, but close – though it’s affectingly told, even if FIFA 17’s PEGI rating ensures that it’s a rather airbrushed take on the modern game. Still, the setbacks and insults sting – on his debut as a substitute the opposition fans taunt him with a chant of “who are ya?” while you’ll attract social media criticism from supporters and fellow professionals (at one stage, an embittered ex-teammate hashtags you as a #benchwarmer). Naturally, this only made me all the more determined to succeed.
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The story of likeable 17-year-old Alex Hunter and his rise from unvarnished academy product to bright young starlet follows a conventional path – not quite rags to riches, but close – though it’s affectingly told, even if FIFA 17’s PEGI rating ensures that it’s a rather airbrushed take on the modern game. Still, the setbacks and insults sting – on his debut as a substitute the opposition fans taunt him with a chant of “who are ya?” while you’ll attract social media criticism from supporters and fellow professionals (at one stage, an embittered ex-teammate hashtags you as a #benchwarmer). Naturally, this only made me all the more determined to succeed.
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