Fifa 17 Review 

My father can vouch for me when I say I'm a massive Fifa fan. Over the years, it's been criticised for being to "same-y", only ever adding in just enough to warrant people buying the next version without ever introducing any game changing features. However, PES (Pro Evolution Soccer) has begun to catch up with Fifa, even taking some of the big licenses of clubs and leagues from EA. This is perhaps why EA sports have finally sat up and taken notice and begun to add new features that genuinely improve the game. Last year we had the introduction of the Draft mode in FUT, which many would say is their favourite mode in the game. Yet this year the changes have been next level. Fifa 17 is the best Fifa game we've seen in a long time.

Lets start with Fifa Ultimate Team. Since its introduction in Fifa 09, its been the unrivalled favourite mode in the game. All the classic elements of the mode return, Divisions, Single matches and of course the Draft mode are all present. However, the two new features in FUT are both spectacular. 'Squad building challenges' are a fantastic addition. Allowing you to make use of all the 'useless' players littered throughout your club, in order to upgrade them into better players or trade them for rewards means that even the lowliest of bronze cards can be of value to you, and if not you then to someone else. The challenges of course vary in difficulty, from just as squad of 11 players to a team that requires a certain amount of chemistry and team rating, and the prizes are well balanced to the tasks, e.g. a silver pack for some bronze players all the way up to a special SBC Giovinco card for completing a squad of every MLS team. Its the closet that we've gotten to the idea of a collection book that fans have been clamouring for since the game mode began. 'FUT champions' is also great. The classic gold, silver and bronze cups are gone and have been replaced by daily knockout tournaments. Victory in any of these tournaments (running from Monday to Friday) earn you entry into the 'Weekend League', in which you compete against other tournaments winners in order to accumulate as many wins as possible over 40 matches. Then depending on your success, you're rewarded with prizes, which are truly spectacular. 100k packs, coins rewards and even guaranteed In-form packs are on offer to those who reach the higher stages. With the promise of the winners of the weekend leagues being entered into monthly tournaments and even access to the Fifa interactive world cup at the end of the year, EA have done an amazing job with this mode. For years we've been asked for better rewards for just playing the game and it now feels like they've listened. On top of that, the introduction of "One to Watch" cards is brilliant. Players who EA anticipate to have exciting debut seasons have been given special OTW cards that will upgrade over the corse of the year as the players perform well in real life and earn an In Form card, their OTW will mirror the stats of the In Form card. Another very welcome addition.

Next up career mode. It's an interesting one, some people love it, others don't even touch it, which is a shame considering theres a lot to enjoy about career mode. The new addition of more specific objectives and targets from the board is a welcome inclusion and adds a sense of reality to the mode. Now, instead of just being judged on your league positions alone, the board will also consider your youth development, brand management (shirt sales, pre season tours of foreign lands) and financial tactics. Perhaps you might hold back on signing Ronaldo and driving your clubs bank balance into the mud and instead gamble on a youngster from your academy. Its an interesting addition that certainly adds an air of authenticity to career mode. Not a lot else has changed however.

Pro Clubs could, and should, be the best mode in Fifa. Creating your player and joining a club with your mates and then taking on the world is a thoroughly enjoyable experience (even if frustrating at times). This year is the first in a long time that EA have even touched pro clubs and the changes are quite drastic. The whole upgrade system has been revamped, with your performance directly affecting how much you can upgrade your player. This a welcome adjustment, as people start to play for the team more, rather than taking shots from the half way line in order to boost their shooting stats. The inclusion of a badge and kit creater are also welcomed, although in the future it would be nice to have even more free reign.

Online Divisions are included once again. Nothing changed here, but in fairness there was very little to do. The Woman's international teams are again included, yet other than a few new player faces and  the introduction of  Norway, Netherlands and Sweden, there is little else changed. They are still restricted to their own mode and can still only face against other women sides.

Saving the best till last, "The Journey". When EA dropped the initial trailer for the brand new game mode, people genuinely lost their minds. This of course means that if the mode turned out to be no good, then  people would have been outraged. Thankfully, its quite the opposite. You play as Alex Hunter, a young prospect fresh out the exit trials and trying to make it as a professional footballer in the top flight of English football. All 20 of this seasons EPL sides are available. Throughout the story, you're faced with decisions, and depending on how you respond to certain situations, other characters opinions of you will change. For example, if you form Alex into another football diva with a massive ego, his sponsorship deals will rise, yet his team mates will think less of him. The story has been inspired by real life footballers journeys, including Marcus Ashford, Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Reece Oxford who were all consultants when the story was written. You can really tell. For a second, you feel as though you are Alex Hunter, you're delighted when you scores a banger from 30 yards, you're devastated when you're loaned out to the championship. The new game engine, Frostbite, only furthers the reality. Thanks to the new engine, EA can show us areas that we've never seen before, including the dressing rooms of all 20 premier league grounds, Alex childhood bedroom and flashy new apartment, and even the Hackney marshes. It's detailed and in depth enough to feature as its own individual game, but EA have fit in snugly into their game and I believe you'll do well to find anyone who doesn't love "The Journey".

Similarly the new engine mean the graphics have also gone up a level. Last year I felt as though PES had almost caught up to Fifa in terms of graphics but this year EA have pulled away again. Everything from Marco Reus' sleeve of tattoos to whatever ridiculous haircut Paul Pogba is sporting at the time are dead on. Its almost as though you're watching the real thing at times.

EA sports have really hit back at the accusations that they just releases the same game every year. The new inclusions are all fantastic, what's kept from previous years is as good as ever and I'll stress again - the graphics are amazing.