It’s that time of year again. EA Sports FC 25 is still very much like FIFA, but it’s pushing forward into its second year under a new name. I understand that casual fans may want to skip an entry from time to time due to the fact that it’s very difficult to reinvigorate a series year after year with each iteration.
Let me be clear. EA Sports FC 25 gets a lot of things right. It’s fun to play, looks better than ever in the visual department, and also includes some new features and modes that are worth checking out.
But is that enough? There’s not much to write home about aside from the new Rush mode, which essentially replaces the more causal Volta mode. We’re sure more dedicated and passionate fans will come back for roster updates and refreshed kits, but for the truly dedicated fans, Ultimate Team training begins.
Interdiction in FC IQ also helps you update your tactics with a new level of strategic control, but it rarely translates into moment-to-moment gameplay in most modes. That being said, EA Sports FC 25 has enough features to captivate soccer players for another year.
beautiful game
EA Sports FC 25 utilizes HyperMotion V technology, which essentially conforms to the volumetric data and playing styles of different leagues and players, giving the game a more authentic look and feel. It certainly looks great, but before you get too excited, keep in mind that HyperMotion V technology was introduced in EA Sports FC 24, so it might not be all that impressive to longtime fans. please.
Next is FC IQ. This feature is new to EA Sports FC 25 and essentially adds strategic depth to how players can utilize different game modes. Its features are divided into three pillars: player roles, team tactics, and smart tactics. Please stay with me now.
For example, player roles in modes like Ultimate Team, Clubs, or the standard career mode analyze a player’s tendencies and abilities across each position on the field. Each of the nine standard positions on the field has a total of 52 roles, but the positions themselves are broken down into smaller subcategories, each with two to four roles.
Let’s take the striker position as an example. A standard striker can be either an advance forward, poacher, false 9, or target forward. That is, they are more likely to benefit from certain systems or simply play better in certain formations. Advance forwards can stretch the field a little better while staying onside, while false 9 forwards mix better with midfielders with good passing ability.
Team tactics serve as a guide to on-field formations and position-based advantages, allowing you to freely combine them. You have the option to create formations with or without possession, and you can also mix and match formations based on player matchups. It feels a little buried in the sea of menus at first, but for those invested in this sport and its players, it allows for a very deep level of strategy, which I appreciate. . This feature analyzes players on your behalf and recommends how they can be a better fit within that system.
Finally, Smart Tactics acts as a kind of in-game assistant, providing guidance and feedback on the fly during matches. They can also offer tactical suggestions if you want to shake things up during a game, and usually tie everything together into a nice little bow. This seems like the least intrusive of the features, but it’s a welcome addition for those who are confident in their choices, as well as those who want to learn more about the game.
feel the rush
I’ll probably spend most of my time talking about the new Rush mode, which replaces the Volta mode in previous FIFA and EA Sports FC games. It’s essentially a 5v5 mode on a small pitch, spread across different modes such as Kickoff, Career, Ultimate Team, and even Clubs. As you might expect, the pace is much faster and the games generally result in high scores. I found myself playing this mode more often than the others, especially when I had limited time to sit down and play.
But even in other modes like standard Career, the new Rush mode strives to deepen your experience by incorporating things like Academy and Youth Tournaments as you climb the ranks. The rest of the career mode feels pretty similar, but I appreciate its inclusion.
Most of all, I appreciate the steady pace this mode provides. To start each game, players must face the center and run in to claim possession of the loose ball. This is like Rocket League. I’m enjoying this new casual pace, replacing red cards with blue cards. This card only gets you sent off the ground for a minute. There are still penalty shootouts and golden goal showdowns, and I just wish the modes would lean more toward causality with more exotic pitches and individual modes.
The only problem is that there’s no sense of longevity or progression across each mode. That’s exactly what it is. That’s definitely the best thing about EA Sports FC 25, but I just wish EA Sports knew ahead of time what they had in store and fleshed it out next year.
football is life
The remaining modes feel relatively standard, but I don’t necessarily think any of them are broken. Ultimate Team has done its best to shake things up over the years with reimagined icons and legend cards, but it still burns every time I bring my wallet near my PlayStation 5. FC IQ also applies to these modes, even the new female career mode. But I found it difficult to absorb new stuff, especially from EA Sports FC 24.
Gameplay is great across the board thanks to HyperMotion V, but it’s still technically not a new feature, and EA Sports FC 25 has opted to lower its center of gravity and stay the course for another year. I feel like I’m doing it.
Visually, EA Sports FC 25 is sure to be better than ever, from detailed player models and accurate facial scans to incredibly recreated stadiums and authentic commentary. . Again, all great stuff, but nothing new.
There are some random bugs that inevitably plague each iteration, from clipping to random player movement, but I don’t think this year will be anything special. I understand how this review sounds at this point, but honestly, that’s all I have.
final thoughts
This year’s EA Sports FC 25 is playing relatively safe, but we think there are some that are worth checking out. The new Rush mode effectively reinvigorates the pace of the game on a smaller scale and feels like a worthy alternative to the previous Volta mode. Meanwhile, the new FC IQ feature adds a layer of strategic depth and control to just about everything else.
That said, HyperMotion V technology means that everything is incredibly familiar for returning players as far as ball control and defensive mechanics are concerned. I’ll admit that die-hard fans and enthusiasts will get more out of EA Sports FC 25 than casual fans, but it’s still worth checking out.
3 and a half stars (out of 5 stars)
Highlight: Same solid gameplay. Rush mode is great. FC IQ adds a new strategic layer
Highlights: Return of HyperMotion V technology makes gameplay feel very familiar from last year
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania, EA Canada
Publisher: Electronic Arts, EA Sports
Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC
Available: Currently
Review was conducted on PlayStation 5 using a pre-release code provided by the publisher.
