Of course, that won't please anyone – FM17, like its most recent predecessors, is not a game you load up for a quick blast. But developer Sports Interactive has previously addressed this issue with the addition of the FM Classic mode, for more streamlined play.

The main game is a time-eater, and feels more extensive than ever before. Player Roles finally play a... role in FM17. It's now abundantly clear that performance is reliant on effective deployment, both individually and collectively For instance, having your entire back four set to an attacking mentality spells trouble.

The coaching feedback screens have been streamlined – visually at least – and regularly relay more pertinent information. Ignore these at your peril, particularly when preparing for a game.

When you do click continue to the match, you'll be treated to more eye-candy through an improved match engine that looks and plays better than last year. The whole presentation feels slicker, beginning with players filing out of the tunnel, lining up, or warming up in smaller groups.

Though the goal celebrations are still a bit out: watching five or six players running in a straight line, sporadically clapping above their heads, feels like a potential area for improvement.

That very slight niggle aside, watching matches on FM17 is better than ever before and but you still won't believe you're watching a real fixture. Player AI is vastly improved, with fewer erratic outbursts from your team.

The animations have clearly had an awful lot of work done to them, and the level of sophistication employed here shouldn't be underestimated – the switch to a 3D match engine was one of the more controversial changes in the series' history, but it has now been emphatically justified. And, of course, the referees' magic spray has been added to the game, which fans of line-based regulations will enjoy.