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As the second installment in the EA Sports FC franchise following the company's split with FIFA, EA FC 25 has the opportunity to truly cement its legacy in the genre of football simulation games. With the right tweaks to gameplay compared to its predecessors, some exciting new game modes, and engaging content, the developers were expected to knock it out of the park with their latest release. The question is: Were they able to?
The answer to this question is multi-faceted. Similar to most other titles released so far by EA Sports, EA FC 25 has a few areas where it excels and others where it disappoints. While there are some exciting new additions to various game modes that can make it appealing to the mainstream audience and hardcore gamers, there are also some glaring shortcomings that need to be improved upon.
Despite various innovative new features that hold promise for the future of the franchise, EA FC 25 still has much to improve upon
EA Sports are no strangers to innovation when it comes to their work with football simulation titles. Their FIFA series was a dominant force in the gaming industry, with their yearly releases attracting gamers in droves.
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Check out EA FC 25 review
Fans will be pleased to know that despite the rebranding, the developers have not lost their touch, as there are mutliple additions to EA FC 25 that completely change the way the game is played on the virtual pitch.
While there are multiple tweaks that alter the overall experience compared to previous titles, there are two major features that showcase a completely new side of the series: the Rush game mode and FC IQ. The former is a new 5v5 game mode that allows fans to experience the thrills of casual high-paced football action, while the latter gives them an opportunity to showcase their tactical brilliance.
However, as mentioned earlier, there are still aspects of the game that players might find rather troublesome. To explore the pros and cons of EA FC 25 in greater detail, it is more efficient to break the overall experience down into key components.
Gameplay
This is undoubtedly the biggest concern for fans of the series whenever a new title is released. Any new features, game modes, or mechanics added to the game are redundant if the gameplay itself is not up to scratch.
When it comes to this aspect of EA FC 25, it is hard to decide whether gameplay has improved or regressed compared to its direct predecessor.
There certainly are some marked improvements. While it can be frustrating for fans of the more arcade-style quick gameplay, I definitely prefer the slower and more calculated approach to the game, as it makes it a realistic experience where any attempts at forcing unrealistic plays are punished.
The new FC IQ system is also a refreshing change that transforms every game into a chess match, as fans are now required to tailor their tactics to counter their opponent while also suiting their players.
However, the enhanced realism and immersion comes at a cost. Passing is extremely inconsistent in EA FC 25, with even players like Kevin de Bruyne and Luka Modric being unable to string together consecutive passes without making an error that leads to a loss of possession. As someone who thoroughly enjoys breaking down the opposition with tiki-taka plays, this truly acts as a hindrance.
Defensive AI is too overpowered yet again, making it more difficult to score goals. On the other hand, goalkeepers seem to make way too many errors by parrying shots directly back to the opposition.
Overall, EA Sports need to make several changes to fix these issues in EA FC 25, as better gameplay will allow them to showcase the new FC IQ system at the peak of its potential.
Game modes
This is where the innovative side of EA Sports truly takes over. While many complain about the inconsistencies in thier gameplay, none can deny that the developers continue to be the frontrunners when it comes to introducing new game modes and interesting features that keep older modes fresh. EA FC 25 is the perfect example of the same.
The most notable new entry to the franchise is Rush. This 5v5 game mode takes the series back to its roots, allowing fans to truly experience what made virtual football fun to begin with: having a good time with your friends. While Drop-in matches can sometimes be frustrating if your teammates refuse to pass, the mode is at its best when experienced with your mates.
Career Mode and Pro Clubs have also received special attention in EA FC 25. Both modes have improved customization features, better progression systems, and a Shared Seasonal progress tab across various modes that allows fans to earn rewards from their progress in Ultimate Team, Pro Clubs, and Career Mode combined. Player Career Mode also allows fans to play as Icons now, which is an amazing new addition.
Ultimate Team is yet again the most popular mode. With the new and improved rewards system, and Rush being added to this mode as well, there are plenty of ways to stay busy and upgrade your team over the course of the week.
Evolutions are now less restrictive, allowing for a larger pool of players to receive upgrades. The new duplicate storage, while tricky to access, also makes opening packs and completing SBCs a whole lot easier.
Overall, EA FC 25 has knocked it out of the park when it comes to innovation in game modes.
Presentation and menu UI
This is arguably the biggest turn-off for fans of the series. The menus of the game, especially in Ultimate Team, are unbearable slow and cumbersome. The input lag is the worst it has ever been, making it a chore to do something as simple as typing a name in the player search bar or adding a player to your squad in Ultimate Team.
This is accompanied by frequent crashes, especially when claiming rewards from the Seasonal progress ladder. While the combined season across various modes is a good idea, it seems rather counter-productive if I have to restart the game every time I claim a new reward from the ladder.
In terms of appearance, EA FC 25 menus, as well as in-game visuals, are basically the same as FC 24. While this is not a major issue, it makes the game seem like a re-skinned product that lacks effort on the visual end.
In Conclusion
There is plenty to enjoy in EA FC 25 for football purists who want a more tactical and realistic depiction of the sport we all love and adore. The new FC IQ system combines Player Roles and PlayStyles to provide a unique personality and feel to every individual player on the virtual pitch.
Rush is a breath of fresh air as well, with many hailing it as the best addition to the game in years. The mindless fun and non-competitive stakes of this 5v5 mode make it the ideal arena to rewind and relax after a grueling session of Ultimate Team Rivals.
As far as the cons are concerned, the inconsistency in the gameplay is a huge issue, with AI involvement and innacurate passing making it impossible to attack effectively. However, these issues are easy to fix via updates and patches. The lag in the menus also requires special attention, as it is almost unplayable at times due to the frustrating input delay.
Overall, despite appearing to be a copy-paste of EA FC 24 in terms of the gameplay and menus, EA FC 25 has a distinct personality of its own. The vibrancy of the new game modes and improvements to the previous ones make it feel more like a fresh coat of paint instead, ensuring that the franchise has a promising future if the developers listen to the community and make amends where needed.
EA FC 25 review
Reviewed on: PlayStation 5 (Review code provided by EA Sports)
Platform: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Nintendo Switch
Publisher: EA Sports
Release date: September 27, 2024
