The Beautiful Game.

As we're heading towards the release window for the big three, I felt it'd be easier to just put them all together in one thread for discussion and game-arranging, but to also have any and all virtual football games young and old welcome too. Talk of classic ps2-era pro evo is v welcome by me.

Anyway, I'll kick off with my shinfo about the Fifa 17 demo and what I'm expecting from the full release.

Now I've already paid for the pre-order. I knew I was going to get it anyway after Rangers got included. The thought of toasting fools online with Holt, Halliday and Windass (Barton is on the bench, heheheh) was too much to resist. Still doesn't mean I'm not allowed to cast a critical eye over it. Conversations will always arise about it being "just a squad update", and that it's silly to pay that amount AGAIN but given how much I get out of it, (same screen and Online Seasons between mates mostly, and the Career mode I'll chip away at) I feel it is perfectly good value for money. Anyway, to the game...

In case you've missed it, EA have ditched the "Ignite" engine which was created to help them adapt to the current generation, and went for the Frostbite engine this year. A complete engine change should mean that this year is a misstep while they get used to it and next year will be better. Not here. Fifa still plays a remarkably great game of football, presented well and buttery smooth 60fps. At first, any fifa player would be hard pushed to actually notice any difference in the gameplay, other than it looks shinier. But if you look further, you'll see..



Great vid that. But whilst I enjoy the way it plays, the way it looks, there's just something I can't quite put my finger on that makes it feel disappointing. The gameplay and graphics are very tightly knit between this year and last year, the menu system (STILL) is the exact same, the match presentation package is the exact same, the subs/tactics screen is the exact same. Was Ignite just a modified Frostbite? Is this Frostbite just a modified Ignite? I dunno, there's something that just doesn't add up. Changes on the pitch are very welcome though. Through balls are much much better, passing is more crisp, shots from distance are superb, jockeying for position actually feels like something you've control over, and the new set pieces (apart from same screen multi-player penalties) are excellent. But I still feel a bit annoyed by the menus and presentation of it all. Hmmmm.

Anyway, that's me for now. PES jobbers and FM fanatics also welcome.

Mon the gers.

*BLOWS WHISTLE*