EA SPORTS FC 25 Review

Our family has a long history with football, and we consider EA Sports football a part of it. Since FIFA Soccer 96, my dad has played every single version, and I can say the same for me, starting with FIFA 16. Our already deep love-hate relationship with this franchise is growing stronger every year. Ever since the EA Sports and FIFA exclusive licensing deal ended in 2022, casting doubt on the future of this series, we have been especially concerned about the potential outcomes of EA SPORTS FC 25 this year. EA Sports has a lot at stake with this particular series.

EA SPORTS FC 24 didn't deliver as the fans expected since it seemed like a direct copy and paste of EA SPORTS FIFA 23, one of the best games in this series. This was predictable, considering that sports games typically undergo minor modifications from one season to the next, and the primary example would be the NBA 2K25.

In the same vein, it appears that EA SPORTS FC 25 is merely another year with barely any modifications, given its initial impression. It seems pretty much like last year's version in terms of presentation, the gameplay on the pitch, and the overall outlook. You may not immediately find something entirely new and distinct from what we usually seek from any new installment.

Then again, I'm not going to complain or compare what's new to EA SPORTS FC 25 and what's been taken from the old installment because we can't expect a sports game to be 100% unique each year. Those of us have been playing sports games for years; we know this as a clear fact.

However, we expect improvements and features to make the gameplay more engaging and allow us to stick to the game until the next installment. The answer is yes if that's the question you seek in this review. FC 25 delivers and has enough to keep you engaged for a long time, depending on why you play this game.

I play this series every year, mostly because of the new roster and the career mode. It was disappointing to notice the same intro to the career mode, but my ideas changed when I looked deeper. EA SPORTS FC 25 includes one of the most significant and long-overdue improvements is the inclusion of women's teams in Career Mode.

This considerably expands FC 25 to reach a further player base, especially female gamers who are into sports. Even though the core of the Career mode still runs the same way as EA SPORTS FIFA 23, where you build or carry on the legacy of a great player and develop his or her personality Tires based on Maverick, Heartbeat, or Virtuoso, there are some nice changes here and there that still makes it enjoyable.

Besides the women's team in career mode, the most notable addition to er. EA SPORTS FC 25 is Rush, a rules-based 5v5 mode. It's a fast-paced mode where you have more space to manage the ball and apply your style and skills, and the rules aren't too restricted. It moves at a faster tempo than Volta without being as disorganized.

Rush's new and exciting features include kickoffs that send the ball flying between the two teams and blue cards that put players on the bench for a minute following a foul. Since there are no intervals, the action never stops until the time runs out. Not only that, but Rush adds some spice to Career Mode, Ultimate Team, and Clubs as well.

Back to Career mode, EA SPORTS FC 25 allows you to start your career midway through the season, which is a good addition this year. For instance, you can step in after a player's transfer or succeed a manager who has been fired. You have the option to make the beginning of your Player Career resemble a small edition of The Journey, and there is a new in-game social media stream, albeit its influence is uncertain.

In addition, you can get live updates that reflect what's happening in the leagues as it happens. In a throwback to the elements of earlier World Cup games where players may reenact iconic moments, you can also play as icons such as Beckham, Zidane, Henry, Pirlo, Van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo and the only female icon Kelly Smith throughout their careers.

Indeed, I wasn't too excited when I started playing FC 25; my idea changed after a few hours of gameplay because the most significant difference was how the game was structured and the in-game depth delivered. Unexpectedly, EA Sports has taken a more strategic approach, and their shifting seems straight out of a football manager's handbook.

You can rely on playing in fundamental positions such as defense or midfield, and it's no longer sufficient if you want to excel in this game. EA SPORTS FC 25 introduces positions such as inverted wing-backs, center-backs who play the ball, wide forwards, shadow strikers, and roaming playmakers. Whether you're playing Manager & Career mode, understanding and utilizing your players in different positions on the pitch is crucial.

This change is all part of what EA refers to as FC IQ, which emphasizes tactics. The tactical focus may make the team-building and line-up selection process more time-consuming. However, this also gives you a more significant say over your players' actions while playing. Players such as Luka Modrić and Nico Williams, when given different roles but placed in the same position, demonstrate an apparent variation in their playing style.

While it improves game modes like the Career mode, it could make simple tasks more difficult for those who like to play solo or with others online. For instance, when I tested the online coop with my colleagues and put Marcus Rashford as a wing-back, he wasn't as effective as in the left-forward position.

The actual statistics from the previous two games were used to determine each player's attributes in these new roles. Though intriguing, the specifics of how this may benefit less famous footballers remain obscure. Because I didn't see much of an impact when I altered the playing position of Kobbie Mainoo or Rasmus Højlund. Additionally, the values used by EA are not entirely clear.

For instance, Bellingham appears to be a Shadow Striker with a low suitability %, which is incorrect. This part is typically suited for high-profile players, but he has a Shadow Striker+ for it. Perhaps the figures are yet subject to change. Now, each player has a Familiar Roles + representing their strength, with a double + representing the greatest of the best.

These added attributes add much more realism to the game. It may not be a drastic change, but it's noticeable when you control them separately during the gameplay. It's enjoyable to play in Career mode and observe the player's outcome over a few seasons. Even the goalkeepers' experience is more grounded in reality this time. Their reactions are more lifelike, and their reflexes and saves seem realistic.

This also enhances the game's predictability because scoring isn't always a piece of cake. There were always specific areas of the field where you could score with relative ease in earlier installments. Even though this remains somewhat the same, the increased uncertainty has opened up new possibilities, giving each match something different.

The other gameplay modes have not been significantly changed. Classic Match, 3v3, Champions League, Cup Finals, Home & Away, and Best of Series remain the same. Those who enjoy Ultimate Team will indeed find something enjoyable there. However, it has never been my cup of tea, so I can't really tell if anything significant has changed in this mode.

Those who enjoy the tournaments will find plenty to take part in. A beta tournament on PlayStation 5 is scheduled to start on 24th September, and you can also create the usual custom tournament with your friends. The tutorial, aka the Learn To Play section, now has Rush mode. Even though it doesn't change your skills drastically, it gives you the sense of fast-paced gameplay, which dramatically helps you play online coop matches.

EA SPORTS FC 25's presentation has undergone some nice visual changes. During matches, you will observe distinct alterations in the mascots, managers' reactions, audience dynamics, and more dynamic camera angles. In the game's first performance-versus-resolution graphics setting, you can now choose between improved visuals and smoother gameplay.

Though the match intro and the ending's visual presentations are pretty much the same as the previous version, they can now be extended to add to the stadium ambiance or shortened to avoid them altogether.

EA SPORTS FC 25 also seems more up-to-date in its visual presentation. The original design of colored dots has been replaced with more detailed panels, seemingly influenced by Ultimate Team's aesthetic. Instead of displaying a lengthy number of statistics, player information now emphasizes play styles more. As an added bonus, you can even receive tactical tips while you play the game.

Goalkeepers now use different techniques, and there are new types of professional fouls. You can also adjust the wind and weather factors, which can affect the outcome of games, such as ball travel and movement speed or free kicks. These don't change the game much but make the experience more immersive.

Watching replays through a point-of-view camera is a neat new feature added to the game this year. It is pretty impressive to score a goal and then see it from the player's point of view, like Kylian Mbappé or Jude Bellingham. Additionally, an interactive celebration scenario will unlock when you celebrate near the crowd, which is something we used to see in PES games.

Though these details don't affect the game's mechanics, they provide a nice touch of personality and make it more enjoyable to play. The Dynamic camera varies when you control a single player or the entire team. There's still no player cam option, which I wish EA Sports would introduce to the series soon.

In the end, EA SPORTS FC 25 might not meet expectations if you anticipate a radically different experience from the previous installment. The game expands upon the last versions by introducing new tactical elements, making the gameplay more engaging. That shall suffice some, while others may see it as identical to the previous installment. You can give it a go if you're a dedicated football simulation fan seeking new tactical depth and enjoying features like Rush and a more robust Career Mode. It's so far one of the best sports simulations of 2024, along with Madden NFL 25.