Football Manager 2017 (PC) Review

Year upon year, Sports Interactive successfully conquers the seemingly impossible task of consistently finding new and immersive additions with which to enrich the overall experience of its simulator. One can only imagine the increasingly difficult task of adding to and improving upon a formula so well tested, and one flirtatiously bordering on the right side of perfection. Therefore, it's with that consideration in mind that perhaps it is understandable that whilst various new additions have been included, they don't necessarily revolutionise the game as other gameplay features have in the past. However, what Sports Interactive has achieved is an impressively meticulous level of refinement throughout the entire game, creating a far more manageable experience to navigate through, and it is all the more enjoyable for it.

In the past, some players have complained about the UI in many of the previous games, as they evolved in depth. It had become far too hard to access parts of the game, such as tasks and pieces of advice highlighted briefly as emails, shortly before hiding amongst stacks of folders, further buried within a multitude of options. Sports Interactive has done a wonderful job of displaying everything the player needs in a streamlined and concise manner in FM2017, which really does improve the experience. Players, now, may be alerted concerning matters such as transfer targets or information on a player's form. This can now be acted upon instantly by clicking on the action button presented, allowing for decisions to be taken in the moment, rather than getting caught up on a frustrating trail, looking for such options. The simplicity of this particular improvement undeniably compels one to further immerse themselves into investigating and exploring all the options at their disposal when setting up their team and tactics.

Information that was once hard to come by now is conveniently displayed automatically through pre- and post-match reports, assisting by underlying the current opponent's weaknesses, allowing the opportunity to make suitable changes and increasing the odds of victory. The level of detail is astonishing. Post-match, the manager will be directed to analytical information detailing factors, such as individuals playing patterns, positioning and passing, in the form of statistics and graphics. All of this helps to further fine tune tactics from match to match. This level of presentation, paralleled with a far more user-friendly interface, will undoubtedly encourage a new audience - who may have viewed the complexity in previous entries with trepidatious eyes - to trial this year's Football Manager as an entry point.

Another notable improvement worth mentioning is the polishing up of the match engine. Admittedly, inconsequential to some it may be - dependant on one's playing style - it nonetheless deserves mention. Adopters of last year's game would have noticed some inconsistencies within the match engine, such as unpredictable player behaviour, better characterised by actions of players suddenly giving up chase of opponents for no apparent reason. Sometimes a squad member passed irrationally, even if through on goal. Situations such as these frustratingly brought forward the question of legitimacy concerning the outcome of games as a result of senseless player actions, which, more often than not, were not represented by their stats. It's a relief, then, to have such problems ironed out. Players behave far more realistically and intelligently.

Furthermore, there are also far more varying actions on the pitch. It's instantly apparent, just in the amount of different style attacks, shots and goals that are on show, increasing the sense of control a manager feels they have over their team, and thus, making a win that much more gratifying. It's also a pleasure to see that such polish has also been extended cosmetically, too, with improved graphics and additional viewing angles, lifting the entire aspect of the game to match the overall level of detail and presentation.

The inclusion of a social media tab is one many will hope not only sticks around, but is added to as future instalments roll out. Here, managers will be alerted to fans' reactions, cleverly mimicking the real world of modern football. It deftly creates another focal point to which people will use to assess their success. If fans don't like that a certain player is being transfer listed, or are unhappy about results and deem the manager responsible, they will let their uncompromising feelings be known. It can be quite a compelling feature, let down only by the repetitiveness that amounts after a while. It's a feature, though, that certainly shows a lot of promise moving forward.

Elsewhere, FM2017 has moved ever so daringly into the political spotlight, with the implementation of Brexit as a scenario. Those who are aware of Miles Jacobson's views and worries on the matter will not be dumbfounded by such a feature making its way into Football Manager. It certainly has a bearing on proceedings as the season progresses, too. Once Brexit is implemented, managers may find it harder to acquire the services of certain players who have not fulfilled a certain percentage of caps internationally. Such scenarios not only serve to comment on possible similar scenarios to follow in the real game of football, as Brexit approaches, but within the game, it means a different managerial style will have to be adopted.

Those seeking multiplayer action can do so in the improved version of fantasy draft mode, allowing for quick play mode, in a scaled down version of the game, perfect for short sessions. Otherwise, regular online mode also exists, which again is better served when playing with friends, as coming up against random opponents can all too often be unpredictable and lead to frustrating delays in play.

Much to the delight of old school Football Managers fans, Football Manager Touch has also returned - although it must now be purchased separately - and it's still the perfect compromise for those wanting a simplified version of the same great game. It now incorporates much of the same new features, just in a more streamlined fashion.