FIFA 17: Latest Metacritic Review Scores and Ultimate Team Mode Tips

Gamers in North America have their hands on FIFA 17 and are slowly getting to grips with the adjustments made by EA Sports to its latest soccer title.

There’s plenty to get acquainted with. Big changes have been made to the match engine, although the introduction of The Journey is one of the biggest shifts the title has seen in years. Of course, the Ultimate Team mode remains a staple of the edition again, too.

To be proficient in each of these segments of the game, some time and effort is required, and just like in reality, those players who put the time and effort in are likely to see the best results. Here’s a look at how you can make improvements on Ultimate Team and what’s being said about this year’s edition.

Ultimate Team Tips

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Such is the popularity of Ultimate Team and the amount of investment some gamers put into building a strong squad, finding an edge can be tough.

Being patient is vital. Although we all want to assemble a side that includes Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, unless you get lucky when purchasing a pack, that's not going to happen overnight. So when you first delve into the game, be sure to be considered when assessing the squad and looking at how you can raise funds.

That may mean putting some players up for auction on the market. While a quick sell will give you an immediate hit of coins, a few extra points can be eked out if you used the auction function astutely; do so with every player and those small gains will start to add up.

You can also take advantage of gifts from EA Sports, as the FIFA 17 FUT Twitter account did:

When you do have a bolstered balance, it's vital to consider chemistry; players from the same team, league and country will perform with greater fluidity than those without those links.

An illustrious player may catch the eye when perusing the options available, although a rapacious purchase is often regretted, no matter how highly rated your new star may be. A team attuned to one another will be easier to handle than a hodgepodge of isolated stars.

In terms of the types of players you should target, speed is typically the most desirable attribute in FIFA games, and it's set to be crucial again in this edition. "Pace, having been nerfed last year, is back to being slightly overpowered," says Chris Schilling of IGN in his review of the game.

It's unwise not to consider the items that can assist your team, too. When opening a pack, it's easy to skip through to see what marquee player you may have landed, but often, aids with fitness, injuries and chemistry can make just as big a difference. Donning a smart kit in front of an iconic stadium, both adjustable with cards, can provide a significant boost as well.

Reviews  

Here's a look at how some publications have rated the title, courtesy of Metacritic:

Xbox One, Top Scores	Rating	PS4, Top Scores	Rating
Gaming Nexus	95	GameSpot	90
COGconnected	93	EGM	90
ICXM	90	CG Magazine	90
LevelUp	88	PlayStation LifeStyle	90
IGN	84	Game Informer	88
Game Revolution	80	PlayStation Universe	85
Average	86	Average	85

Early reviews of the game have been largely positive, although there have been some criticisms of the new title.

Nathan Ditum of GameSpot suggested “this year's FIFA, then, can be fairly summarised as one big change that doesn't quite pay off, and lots of small ones that do,” noting The Journey still needs tweaks to be effective. He added the game remains “out in front” of rival series Pro Evolution Soccer although “its lead has been cut this year.”

Schilling suggests the title will appeal to some over PES, although not others. “If you can afford it, this year it might just be worth getting both,” he added. “A terrific story mode and improved graphics make for a better game than last year, though it’s behind PES on the pitch.”

James Tyler of ESPN FC is also concerned EA Sports have targeted style over substance. “With over two decades of practice at making FIFA games, it should be possible to match the game's groundbreaking visuals with their gameplay equivalent,” he concluded. “While those elements matter, the ability to play this endlessly until FIFA 18 releases next year surely matters more.”