

More often than not, their passing is one touch, and their efficiency in getting in the ideal position to receive a ball is inch perfect. In any given match, the speed at which the ball moves from one end of the pitch is far too fast, mainly when it’s your opponent in possession. The control in general isn’t very tight, and getting a good run is a seldom occurrence using the skill stick is pretty easy, but breaking out of a tight spot can prove difficult. It helps when defending and trying to break away from a marker in the middle of the pitch, but connecting it with a break away from an opponent is a bit of a struggle. While the new physical play mechanic helps you to shield the ball and give you 360 degree protection, it doesn’t help the game to flow and move when attacking. My main issue with FIFA 17 is the control. Volleys can be played with more accuracy, as can finesse shots, and shooting feels much better all-round this year.

You can now head the ball down on a cross by holding shoot and tapping it at the end as well, but it doesn’t always work the way you want it to. It’s great when firing in a belter from outside the box or on the rebound when a keeper is slightly disorientated from the last attack. Holding the shoot button and tapping it at the pinnacle of the shot smashes the ball on target, but keeps it close to the ground. Shooting this year feels much better than in FIFA 16, mainly because of the power you can put in to a driven shot. Through passes can now be played with more control, putting extra power and swerve into them and helping to play them more accurately to your teammates, which is a significant improvement over last year. On the ball, FIFA 17 has some tweaks to shooting and passing that are noticeable and help the movement of play, but control of the ball can feel slow and not as smooth as it should. With a brand new engine and a completely new story mode, FIFA 17 manages to fulfil some great ideas and offer some big improvements to gameplay, giving FIFA fans plenty to love, even if there are a few issues with how the game plays.

Some entries have been a massive disappointment whereas others have been simply brilliant. The FIFA series has been around for over 20 years, and it’s seen some huge changes along the way.
