EA Sports FC 25 review: Not an ideal role model

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EA Sports FC 25 review: Not an ideal role model

As a gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I find myself in a peculiar predicament every time EA Sports FC rolls around. The initial excitement and hope for change are quickly replaced by a familiar sense of disappointment.

Each year when I start up EA’s leading soccer game franchise, I experience an unusual mix of mental conflict. At first, it seems like the changes they promised are taking effect during the initial matches. However, after spending a few hours with Online, My Player, and Manager modes, the true nature of the situation becomes clear. While EA Sports FC 25 manages to incorporate minor enhancements, it falls short on delivering its grand promises.

Know your role

In EA Sports FC 25, the complex new role system stands out as a commendable update. At first, when I began tweaking tactics, I had doubts about its depth, but upon closer examination, it offers a multitude of authentic strategies to explore, which is truly impressive and reflects real-life football tactics.

In one match, I outscored my rival 8-3 by employing a broad strategy featuring two forwards. Interestingly, this isn’t our team’s typical formation; we usually play with a false nine. However, after that defeat, my opponent made a strategic shift to a tailor-made 3-4-1-2 counter-pressure system. This tactic put immense pressure on me when I was attacking and showcased an impressive defensive line that effectively controlled the penalty box every time I approached it.

Tailoring strategies so intricately based on the team composition truly adds a captivating layer to chess games. Altering and adapting player roles only enhances this intrigue further.

Rather than sticking to the traditional work rate system, players now have distinct roles that shift their playing style and primary focus. For instance, by shifting Garnacho from his wing position to a striker role, specifically as a “shadow striker,” I can utilize him effectively for cleaning up rebounds during an attack.

Artificial (less) intelligence

EA Sports FC 25 review: Not an ideal role model

Regrettably, the AI in EA Sports FC 25 seems to be less advanced when it comes to delivering lifelike interactions and actions. Frequent blunders during simple pass executions persist, and the computer-managed defenders often fail to deliver effective performance.

The FC IQ and roles aim to address numerous issues by enhancing the character’s off-the-ball personality and offering a more authentic gameplay experience. However, it is evident that Pace continues to reign supreme in the game mechanics. Regardless of how much you defend, if Mbappe darts down the wing, not many players can effectively thwart his progress towards the 18-yard box.

In EA Sports FC 25, as before, you may encounter familiar issues such as goalkeepers missing saves or choosing to punch instead of catching the ball, so it’s essential to gear up for the typical gaming annoyances.

In the field of Career Mode, EA Sports FC 25 boasted considerable changes to enhance the overall user experience. However, while minor advancements have been made, the mode remains virtually unchanged or even less engaging compared to its previous version.

my game continues to struggle with its subpar role-playing mechanics, utilizing a Point System for Personality that grants enhancements through relaxation treatments and high-end automobiles instead of traditional upgrades. The narratives within My Career also follow the conventional method of dialogue bubbles, lacking immersion and atmosphere.

It may seem like a trivial complaint, but NBA 2K25’s career taught me the importance of immersion. Even though it has plenty of low-effort cinematics and text-bubble interactions, walking into and participating in warm-ups as my player and other minor elements made it feel like I was on a journey.

EA Sports FC 25 review: Not an ideal role model

In EA Sports FC 25, although menus have been streamlined, much of the game mode appears to be duplicated rather than innovated. Notably, the starting/substitute/reserves bar decreases between matches regardless of your team’s performance, and training remains simple to exploit for skill points by consistently earning good grades, which is facilitated by the simulation feature.

It’s refreshing to note that the goals for remaining at or switching to a new club this season appear significantly less far-fetched compared to last year. Introducing a women’s career and a five versus five gameplay mode are commendable improvements, offering a welcome change of pace, but unfortunately, Career Mode continues to disappoint overall.

We talking about tactics?

EA Sports FC 25 review: Not an ideal role model

Due to the strategies I previously discussed, playing Manager Mode feels more engaging now. With your familiarity of the game, you can emulate your preferred managers’ approaches by customizing your own tactics and squads.

Instead, let me say: I enjoyed adopting Sir Alex Ferguson’s 4-4-2 formation, which emphasized wide midfielders. Rather than occasionally employing a mid-block defense, I dabbled with a higher press, but this strategy tended to misfire more times than not when facing swift teams.

Concerning Ultimate Team, I’ve never been particularly fond of its microtransaction-heavy gameplay style, and EA Sports FC 25 doesn’t deviate from that trend. During my three hours of play, it seemed that teams with paid advantages still had the upper hand in matches, making for an unenjoyable gaming experience.

Moving to Rush Ultimate Team made the games feel noticeably more challenging compared to Volta. I strongly advise teaming up with friends instead of going solo, since the latter often pairs you with players who heavily rely on skills and moves, rarely passing the ball, which can be quite frustrating.

Similar to annual updates in numerous sports teams’ lineups, EA Sports FC 25 will resemble the game you played last year quite closely. While FC IQ and roles add a sense of variety and excitement to strategies, there are numerous refinements and enhancements required in the AI to ensure fairness. When it comes to sliding for tackles, not much has been altered this time around.

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2024-09-24 16:27