EA Sports FC 25 review: One for the tacticians

4.0 out of 5 star rating

As a seasoned football enthusiast with years of experience under my belt, I must say that FIFA 25 has truly managed to capture the essence of the beautiful game like never before. The introduction of the Rush mode has brought back the chaotic fun that was missing in recent years, providing an adrenaline rush akin to being one hit away from a boss in a Souls game but unable to land the final blow.

Once the European football season kicks off and the player trading period ends, the upcoming football-related event on our calendars is typically the yearly launch of EA Sports‘ top-tier soccer game, known as EA FC 25.

Casually, people often call the game FIFA, even though it was rebranded in 2022. This is justified as, despite numerous updates and modifications over the years, it continues to face problems that gamers have long been critical of.

Even though there are certain deep-rooted aspects that I’ve grown accustomed to and might even feel their absence if they were amended, this season has been filled with numerous favorable developments for the show.

For a significant number of players, it’s particularly noteworthy that Career Mode has finally gotten some focus after a long period, thereby enhancing its quality and making it seem less neglected, as it unfortunately has been compared to other game modes.

Currently, academies serve as valuable stepping stones for shaping your personal management journey, providing an opportunity to lean on younger talent which, historically, has been quite challenging.

Introducing an additional layer to the gameplay experience, this upgrade empowers players with a fresh, dependable method for enjoying the game, significantly enhancing the youth program that was initially established in previous years.

The menus have been redesigned to match the style of Ultimate Team, making them more consistent. When starting a new game, the customization options available made me feel like I had plenty of choices for my upcoming adventure.

It’s unfortunate that the database doesn’t have a more sophisticated design; it fails to take into account the past achievements of the players, instead concentrating solely on their future endeavors.

As a movie buff, I’d say: “Imagine if they included details like the youngest goal-scorer, top scorer, speediest goals, and league statistics in their records – it would have made watching even more thrilling!” Alas, these are aspects still absent from our viewing experience.

This minor adjustment could significantly enhance the feeling of realism within the game, providing an added layer of authenticity while allowing for more precise tracking of your advancements.

The standout problem with FC 25, which can be quite annoying, has nothing to do with new features or modifications. Instead, it’s all about the sluggishness of the menus. There are no major oversights or mistakes here; it’s simply a matter of speed.

An inconvenient user interface doesn’t spell doom – plenty of games can be played despite this issue – however, it often necessitates an excessive amount of time navigating through sluggish menus that are barely functional.

Completing SBCs in Ultimate Team, sorting tactics in Career Mode, and even making a substitution in a match is a laborious task, if it even works at all.

Since the release of the game, I’ve found myself unable to swap players effectively during Rivals matches on multiple occasions due to the sluggish and unresponsive nature of the menu interface.

I’m left scratching my head and feeling quite frustrated, given how this widely successful and financially thriving game I adore boasts some of the least intuitive menu interfaces I recall encountering. It exacerbates the long-standing issues within the game, making them feel even more aggravating.

As a passionate fan, I can’t help but notice the recurring issues in Ultimate Team, such as kit clashes, suboptimal matchmaking in Clubs, the limited change of kits for club captains, incorrect badges displayed by commentators when describing players, and more. It’s clear that FC needs to focus on improving these minor details, or someone else will step up and do it right.

Regardless of the above issues, this year’s new additions and moment-to-moment gameplay feel amazing. I’m particularly impressed by how enjoyable the new Rush mode is.

The game is quite straightforward, essentially similar to five-a-side soccer, yet it introduces an extra layer of complexity. It’s noteworthy that it appears in various gameplay modes, unlike Volta, which has been put on hold.

Experience the warmth of inclusion across Clubs, Ultimate Team, and Career Mode, with Rush seamlessly integrating into each environment. In Clubs, it’s an ideal opportunity to accrue XP when your full team is unavailable; it also allows for the utilization of less popular players in Ultimate Team in a distinctive manner.

In simpler terms, Career Mode integrates elements from Rush and Academy transformations, creating tournament-like structures that nurture and help young players achieve their maximum potential.

In Rush, the gameplay is incredibly intense and unpredictable, with goals coming from all directions, and if it reaches a Golden Goal, the tension builds up like being on the verge of defeating a boss in a Souls game yet failing to deliver the decisive blow.

In FIFA 25, there’s been a major transformation in the strategies and Player Roles. Initially, this might seem intimidating, but upon closer look, it appears that they’re borrowing ideas from Football Manager to make these tactics more like what you see during live football matches on weekends.

After you’ve begun exploring and understanding the system, it becomes apparent just how substantial a step forward this is.

In Career Mode, each player now has roles tailored to their skills, impacting squad construction and player acquisition. For instance, I’ve been deploying Trent Alexander-Arnold as a right-back and João Cancelo on the left, both of whom excel in the Falseback role. Instead of supporting the wingers by overlapping, they now move centrally to congest the midfield when we have the ball.

In my strategy, I position Declan Rice as a Half-back, which means he moves back into defense when we’re attacking. This setup allows us to mimic the smooth transitions and fluid play style that are common in contemporary football at FC. The players seem to interchange and rotate effectively, much like they would in a real game. It’s intriguing to see how this approach evolves as I spend more time with the game.

Despite FC 25 carrying its traditional set of familiar elements, this year brings several commendable enhancements that invigorate gameplay, strategies, and various other aspects.

In an exceptional manner, the Rush mode truly shines, infusing a thrilling chaos not often seen in the game for quite some time now. Moreover, strategies provide a greater degree of flexibility when it comes to gameplay mechanics compared to previous iterations.

2019’s version undoubtedly justifies its title as the superior football game available, yet it simultaneously highlights the necessity for rivalry. Consequently, there’s a sense of urgency to rectify certain annoying issues that have arisen.

The game FC 25 will be released on the 27th of September, available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices.

We reviewed FC 25 on PS5, and you can order your copy now.

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Read more on FC 25:

FC 25 ratings: The very best players
FC 25 Heroes and Icons: Returning legends confirmed
FC 25 Career Mode interview: Lamine Yamal, Fabrizio Romano and more
FC 25 producer interview: Professional fouls, diving and Volta
FC 25 soundtrack: Full list of songs
FC 25 defenders: Best CB, RB and LB

2024-09-24 18:34

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