EA SPORTS FC 25 Review – A Tactical Triumph

EA SPORTS FC 25 Review

After making the switch from FIFA to EA SPORTS FC 24 last season, the pioneering football simulator continued to innovate while maintaining its successful core formula. This season, FC 25 aims to give you even greater control over the tactical aspects of the game, offering a more authentic representation of the beautiful game. But will these new systems and modes in EA’s latest installment be a clinical finish or an own goal?

Introduced in FIFA 22, HyperMotion took data from real-life matches and implemented various aspects into the game to create a sense of realism on the pitch. While this aspect continues to grow, it was last year’s introduction of PlayStyles that helped make each player feel unique. FC25 completely overhauls the tactical aspect of the game and it’s this trifecta of systems that combine to produce an unprecedented level of immersion, where player individuality, tactical depth, and lifelike animations create a truly dynamic football experience.

FC IQ gives you complete control over tactics so that you can decide how your team sets up and reacts on the field. Player Roles are central to this and are a welcome addition to the franchise. You can now assign specific roles to individuals to drastically alter how they play in that position. For example, you can utilize a traditional target man up top or try to fool the opposition with a false 9. Players who are most productive in certain positions will receive a Role+ when assigned. Due to this, you must now consider which player is the best for your formation rather than purchasing the highest-rated.

Take Control

The most popular mode in the EA SPORTS FC series is Football Ultimate Team and it’s great to see FC IQ seep into this. Historically, manager cards simply improved the chemistry of your team depending on the coach’s nationality or league club. Managers now come with their real-life data, meaning that if you assign the Guardiola card then it alters the tactics so you can tiki-taka around the opposition. New cosmetic-based evolutions add even more cards into the mix so that you can personalize your team even further. Although monetization aspects remain, EA manages to pack tons of content into the mode to make it engaging throughout the year.

This year, Volta has been subbed for Rush. The mode permeates each aspect of the game making this a central feature. Whereas Volta was trick-centric and an evolution of FIFA Street, Rush maintains the mechanics of the base game but alters the parameters to create thrilling, action-packed matches. You team up with 3 other players in a 5-a-side match on a smaller pitch. Rules have been tweaked to suit the pitch size such as offsides initiating from the final third instead of the halfway line. In addition to this, two yellows now equals a blue card which puts you in a sin bin for a certain amount of time. Other changes include a race to the ball instead of a kick-off and 1v1 segments replacing traditional penalties. Changes add a refreshing twist to the formula and due to this, Rush is on track to become a staple in the franchise.

Oh, What a Rush!

Rush imbues the entirety of the experience. In Ultimate Team, you can select your favorite player and team up with others to gain Season Points, whereas in Clubs you can improve your own player in these smaller matches. This even seeps into Career Mode where you can train and develop the youth team via Rush competitions. This along with the new approach to season rewards accentuates EA’s ethos to unite all of its game modes. Seasonal rewards are based on engagement so you no longer feel tied to a particular mode. This is a positive step forward for the game which will allow you to branch and experience the full package on offer.

For years, fans have craved an overhaul of the Career Mode. While FC 25 isn’t the major shift that many hoped for, it does include new elements that improve your time as a manager. The best feature is Live Start Points which allows you to continue from your favorite team’s position at a certain point of the season. This considers all real life context meaning that you will have to work around suspensions and injuries to achieve your objectives. Snapshots will follow major stories in the world of football, so if a manager gets sacked, you could jump in and take over at the club. These are strong additions that make the career mode more dynamic. However, even with the inclusion of the women’s league, a realistic simulation mode and other refinements, the Career Mode still requires a revamp.

To Be the Man

The Player Career includes some notable differences which definitely improve the mode. In addition to playing out your fantasy as an icon from the sport, you can also select Origin Stories for your personal avatar. Whether you want to be a child prodigy from a footballing family or a player on the path to a major comeback after a near-career-ending injury, there are options to make your journey unique.

EA SPORTS FC 25 introduces a tactical layer that alters how you play on the pitch. Combined with new PlayStyles, and improved HyperMotion, the game is an authentic representation of the sport. Although there are only small tweaks to systems, each thoughtful change improves your time under the floodlights. Rush injects new life into the multiplayer portion with its fast-paced, 5-a-side matches. While Career Mode still requires more attention, the new features are a step in the right direction. Although FC 25 doesn’t completely reinvent the formula, it successfully refines the gameplay experience, delivering a more immersive, strategic, and enjoyable football simulation that fans of the series will appreciate.

***A PS5 code was provided by the publisher***