GAMETECH: Living the dream with Fifa 17

MODERN football, eh? These days, when you ask people to make a wall, they go on Facebook. Tic-tacs used to come in plastic boxes, not penalty boxes. England used to crash out of major competitions in hilarious fashion, while Ireland sang something about fields that weren’t high. Come to think of it, maybe things aren’t so different after all.

Another thing that hasn’t changed is the great debate between Fifa and Pro Evolution Soccer. They are the only title contenders in a two-team league — if you want to play digital football, these are your only options. So, who should you bet on?

This year, the race is tighter than ever. Fifa 17 has added some lovely new features, including an experimental story mode called The Journey. Pro Evo, meanwhile, has refined its core gameplay to a smooth machine. The question, perhaps, comes down to this: do you play football games for the thrill of the game, or for the thrill of the dream?