Time to lace up your boots again as EA SPORTS FC 25 is back for its yearly installment. The game formerly known as FIFA, has a habit of being received as nothing but a copy and paste the previous years iteration. Will this year be any different?
Well yes, and no. I was critical last year about the lack of changes in EA FC24 compared to the one before (read here) and didn’t want to feel the same this year.
When you start the game, you would be forgiven for thinking that very little has changed. The old reliables are still there; Season mode, Player Mode, Manager Mode, Ultimate Team and all the usual bells and whistles. Minor graphical upgrades and updated team rosters. It would be easy to feel hard done by, when it feels like a simple upgrade that should be available as DLC.
But you would be wrong.
Pitch Perfect
The gameplay, while similar, feels beefier. The passes feel less automated. The players movement feels more realistic. Mistakes feel natural and player related rather than glitches and the on-screen representations play like their real-life counterparts.
This year has a major focus on tactics. That immediately gave me a sense of dread. One of the biggest draws of this game had been its “pick up and play”-ability. I didn’t want to mess around with in-depth tactic screens and fiddle about for ages to just have a game of football. But I need not have worried. It still possible to jump into a game with preset tactics and it feels fine. But when you do tinker with the team settings, EA SPORTS FC 25 comes into its own.
The sheer number of settings you can change is daunting at first, but once you tinker for a moment, it feels just right. It’s very user friendly and makes sense. The difference it makes in each match is noticeable. As I said earlier, it’s not a gamebreaker when it comes to the advantage it gives you. Your team don’t play any better, they just play like you want them to.
Players will run into positions you have assigned to them. They will track back. Player will be more defensive when the opposition is in control. They will counter attack when possession is gained. It’s really effective and distinguishes the game as not just an aesthetic upgrade.
Rush-ian Interference
The Volta mode has been replaced by a mode called Rush. This is a 5 vs 5 kickabout on a smaller pitch and is immeasurably more fun than Volta. It feels more accessible to the normal player. Volta had a habit of being unplayable against anyone who could pull off the skill moves whereas Rush is just a great time. Another lovely little addition to EA SPORTS FC 25.
The career and manager modes are quite similar to previous years, but have slight improvements which are noticeable, if insignificant.
There are, as always, some negatives though. The horrible, yet exceptionally lucrative Ultimate Team is still as pay-to-win as it always has been. It makes complete financial sense for EA SPORTS FC 25 to not change the microtransaction heavy setup, but I can’t stand it.
You don’t HAVE to buy all the collectible cards to improve your team, but the only other option would be to grind. That’s not the way I want to play my EA SPORTS FC 25. But obviously, with the money it rakes in, some people love it so I guess it comes down to personal preference.
Final Whistle
There are some unexplainable glitches in opponent AI which can be jarring causing them to magically appear in a different position and mess up collision detection. I have also noticed that there was some unexplainable rubber-banding when it came to player speeds. Players with a huge gulf between their pace statistics were matching each stride for stride when chasing the ball. To be fair, I have noticed it less as time has gone on so perhaps EA have noticed and are patching them out.
I have always said that FIFA / EA FC25 series has been the benchmark for football games. The only thing that frustrated me was the lack of difference between the yearly updates. For the first time in a long time, I can actually wholly recommend the newest addition to new and old players alike. There is plenty there for any football fan to appreciate. It will appeal to casual gamers and nerdy statisticians who want to drill into the plethora of customization available.
EA have proven that there is life after losing the FIFA name.
EA Sports, it’s in the game. Thankfully.
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