EA Sports College Football 25 Review – Game Day Vibes

EA Sports College Football 25 Review – Game Day Vibes

As a long-time college football fan and avid gamer, I was beyond excited to get my hands on EA Sports College Football 25. Having grown up watching Saturday afternoons filled with gridiron action, I was eager to immerse myself in the world of college football once again.


Growing up, I wasn’t very interested in football and didn’t fully appreciate its intricacies. However, the intense emotions the game conveyed drew me in. Films like “Remember the Titans” and “Rudy” amplified this feeling. The anticipation with every hike, pass, and field goal; the thrill of close touchdowns; and most importantly, the unique ambiance of high school and college football captured my heart.

After an eleven-year wait, EA Sports College Football 25 delivers an authentic college football experience. The thrill of the team taking the field, accompanied by cheerleaders, mascots, and an enthusiastic crowd, is genuinely contagious. Every detail, from the seamless animations to the fluid motion of passes and handoffs, adds to the excitement. And it’s not just about the visuals – the sounds of the stadium, from the repetitive music to the crowd’s roars, immerse you in the action. The screen even shakes when the crowd goes wild, with a meter showing their fervor level as it builds during pivotal moments.

If you have experience with the Career mode in games such as Madden or UFC 5, you’ll notice many similarities, including the Practice sessions. (Or: The Career mode in games like Madden and UFC 5 will be recognizable to you, complete with Practice sessions.)

Without a doubt, there are some differences and debatable points when comparing College Football 25 to other EA Sports games, including those not called Madden. However, this title represents a strong return to form, paving the way for potential enhancements in future versions.

As a long-time gamer and football enthusiast, I’ve spent countless hours immersed in the exciting world of Madden NFL games. I remember the thrill of starting my journey in “Road to Glory,” crafting a star quarterback for a prestigious team, like Boston. The freedom to choose among several Archetypes based on preferred playstyles was both intriguing and exhilarating.

As a fan, I’d describe it this way: When it comes to creating your character, the options are abundant. You get to choose from various face templates and adjust different categories. After that, you select a mental ability. For me, Clearheaded was an appealing choice. It meant maintaining my cool under pressure, which came in handy during matches where my opponent had Homefield Advantage. However, this ability demanded that I take on a leadership role, adding depth to my character’s development.

During the breaks between competitions, it’s essential to manage your budget wisely among Leadership, Academics, Brand development, Healthcare, and Training. Prioritizing academics is crucial to avoid teacher disapproval. If you’ve tried Career modes in games like Madden or UFC 5, this setup should seem familiar to you – including the scheduled Practice sessions.

Based on my personal experience, I believe that effectively managing various aspects of your life, such as maintaining a good GPA and keeping positive relationships with team members, can significantly impact the level of trust coaches have in your leadership abilities. During interviews, humility goes a long way in increasing their faith in you. Furthermore, coordinators bringing forth diverse objectives for games or business deals may not always come with monetary compensation, but the benefits they offer can greatly enhance your leadership skills. These experiences have taught me that success is not solely defined by financial gains but also by the intangible growth and development that comes from overcoming challenges and working collaboratively with others.

EA Sports College Football 25 Review – Game Day Vibes

It’s debatable whether limiting your play selection to three options during challenges is effective. You might discover one that helps you complete the task, but there’s also a chance you may need to restart if none of them work.

In UFC 5’s Career Mode, I wasn’t particularly impressed with the writing. However, the cutscenes featuring Coach Davis and other fighters added authenticity to the transition from an amateur to a professional MMA fighter. In contrast, College Football 25 lacks this depth as Coach Trust serves more as a statistic allowing for leniency in gameplay decisions, rather than an engaging mentor figure. While it’s not a major issue, incorporating more dynamic interactions would enhance the college experience sensation.

During practice sessions, which include a range of mini-games and training exercises, it would be more enjoyable if the consequences for errors were less severe. When starting out and working on achieving various objectives, it can be disheartening when every mistake significantly lowers your score. There are indeed captivating mini-games, such as making accurate passes and throws to moving targets that represent your receivers or handling double-defense situations. A simple adjustment would transform weekly simulation into an opportunity for improvement.

Regarding enhancements, the organization of tutorials in “College Football 25” is unconventional. While you can begin training and practicing specific drills such as field goal kicks and offense instantly, other skills like running or touch passes necessitate being honed in College Ultimate Team through challenges. The process of opening card packs, claiming coins, and so on, can be quite time-consuming and tedious. However, once you surmount these hurdles, there are multiple aspects to train, which will help acclimate you to the game.

It’s debatable whether it’s fair that you can only select from three plays during challenges. You might find one that helps you complete the task, but there’s a chance you won’t and will need to restart. I would have preferred clearer exercises that focus on specific strategies instead of having to figure things out as I go while playing (although it was engaging).

EA Sports College Football 25 Review – Game Day Vibes

Despite having some criticisms towards the different aspects of College Football 25, the high-quality production and engaging gameplay largely outweigh these concerns.

construct your squad, progress through seasons, complete passes to move forward, earn coins, and open packs. The historical challenges might be intriguing enough for a deeper exploration, but overall, it doesn’t particularly appeal to me. Due to Madden’s widespread acclaim for this mode, others may have different experiences.

During Rise to Glory, the same restrictive play system reappears. It’s reasonable for a coach to prevent players from making all the decisions, but introducing some variation could make it more appealing. Instead of pressing Triangle on the DualSense (Y on Xbox Series X/S) to receive two options suggested by the coach, which might not be ideal, how about having three random suggestions initially? Additionally, allowing for a few player-chosen picks that expand with increased trust could enhance the experience.

The proposed change would enhance the trust element and give players greater control, but it might lead to issues such as players overusing their trust to secure optimal plays. However, I find the current system limiting and overly reliant on randomness. I’m open to exploring new possibilities and making the most of existing opportunities.

In Dynasty, I find myself taking on a new role compared to Rise to Glory. Instead of being a player striving for greatness, I now assume the position of a coach. This shift brings about similar principles, but with a fresh perspective. I’m tasked with scouting and recruiting talented players, assessing the advantages my school can offer them, and securing their commitment to join our team. The experience becomes even more specialized as I could choose to be an Offensive or Defensive Coordinator for more targeted roles.

Experiencing the thrill of leading your team, whether they’re underdogs or top contenders, is something hard to resist. The intense competition of battling other teams to advance in the rankings, while fine-tuning your skills to maximize their progress, and overseeing coordinators, can create an exhilarating experience, especially when dealing with the pressure from above. The satisfaction of victories and defeats becomes more significant next to Rise to Glory due to the added burden and tension.

EA Sports College Football 25 Review – Game Day Vibes

With its strong base for gameplay, impressive graphics and smooth performance, captivating storytelling, and meticulous attention to detail, this game offers a compelling experience, complete with imperfections.

Despite some criticisms I have towards the different rules in College Football 25, the high-quality production and engaging gameplay largely make up for it. The expertise of commentators such as Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit, along with the use of replays and highlights, enhance the realistic television experience. The recently introduced Wear and Tear system compels me to consider the wellbeing of my players, not just for the current match but also for their future careers.

With so many players and teams, plus uniforms and mascots, I’m more understanding about inaccurate branding and logos (which the developers plan to correct). The gameplay is engrossing no matter if we’re talking offense, deciding between safe gains or risky scores, or defense, where each tackle and interception carries weight. The defense could benefit from some reinforcement, but overall it wasn’t a deal breaker for me.

In its complete form, EA Sports College Football 25 might not captivate every dedicated fan. Yet, its strong gameplay mechanics, stunning graphics and sound, impressive presentation, and meticulous attention to detail create an immersive adventure, with room for improvement. Despite not fully grasping all elements of the game during my playtime, it ignited in me a renewed appreciation for the excitement college football can bring.

This game was reviewed on PlayStation 5.

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2024-07-25 15:12