EA SPORTS FC 25 - review

Something doesn’t feel right. I led Aston Villa to an incredible Champions League title, put together an unbelievable Ultimate Team, and designed a formation that, at least somewhat, helps me avoid total humiliations in online matches… Yet, my heart isn't beating with joy for the beautiful game.

This must be similar to how Guardiola feels when he walks onto the pitch to celebrate another Premier League title with his perfectly prepared miracle-workers from the laboratory, while a quiet feeling grows inside him that this time isn't like the first.

In other words, EA Sports FC 25 is like FC 24. Which is, actually, quite similar to FIFA 21-23, which is, again, very similar to the ones our ancient ancestors played by the fire in their primitive tribes. There are noticeable improvements – especially in the form of new tactical controls and the 5v5 Rush mode – and I’m glad they are there. But, as much as they contribute to the continuous experience of the game, I can’t shake the feeling that this should no longer be an annual, expensive title.

Here’s something bright: PC performance is significantly better this year. FC 25 feels like it received extra attention in the PC version, and frame rates have particularly profited. Last year I had problems with lag and strange slowdowns in the middle of a match, but this year, on the same specs, I’m enjoying Ollie Watkins' goals and replays of sliding tackles in PvP matches, all at a stable 60fps.

Zidane and tactical depth

Of course, that’s not a reason to buy the game, but the first time you open FC 25, you are greeted by something that could be: Zinedine Zidane, inviting you into his office and telling you how important tactics are.

For a moment, I hoped that Zizou’s expensive appearance would herald a complexity similar to Football Manager, where I could adjust positions for Raumdeuters and Segundo Volantes to my heart's content. In the end, the tactical depth of FC 25 isn’t quite that detailed, but it offers some new elements to explore.

During a match, you can change your playstyle with a few clicks on the D-pad, switching from a possession-based to a counter-attacking style, and so on. These options are separate from standard offensive and defensive strategies, so when you manage to turn a result around thanks to tactical changes, the victory feels sweeter because you feel you contributed to that success.

Of course, in online matches where everyone picks the fastest players and uses skill moves to score without mercy or artistry, tactical nuances are mostly lost. But it’s not FC 25's fault if mcfc_haaland420 doesn't want to use the systems the game added.

Last year in FC 24, the ‘PlayStyles’ AI mechanism gave players certain tendencies: Grealish likes to cut inside, Rodri holds the ball, Haaland finishes like a rocket, and so on. FC 25 formalizes this, giving you greater influence over how and where these AI tendencies are activated. Although it’s nowhere near the complexity of Football Manager and its terrifying heat maps, it gives you extra options to explore after opening the billion packs needed to assemble a solid team in Ultimate Team.

The meta and rush mode

And, look, this is neither here nor there, but now you can enter a code for a custom tactic and apply someone’s tactical setup with one click. It’s useful and will help you win more matches. But, at the same time, it stifles the whole effort, doesn't it? Online multiplayer in this series is as ruthless as sponsored Instagram posts from reality TV contestants, which means the community will quickly arrive at the “best” tactic, which everyone will end up using. Again, not the fault of FC 25. That’s yours, mcfc_haaland420.

Let's talk a bit about Rush mode, because FC 25 is clearly proud of it. Rush’s fast and simple 5v5 matches appear in all long-term modes, as training in Career and as another way to grind billions in currency and endless tracks in Ultimate Team. Interestingly, this mode is the exact opposite of the tactically oriented football the game tries to promote – just four players running and passing, trying to create that perfect passing sequence to break the defense.

Here’s what’s nice about it: in a five-man team, you feel the differences between players much more clearly. In Career mode, you get to know your young talents in a Rush tournament, trying them out and thinking about how they would fit into the first team. In Ultimate Team, it’s an opportunity to feel how light and elegant Jamal Musiala is, and how much power and momentum Haaland brings to his runs.

Ultimate team maintenance and a slower pace

I’m glad to see that contracts have been removed from Ultimate Team, which was previously too cluttered with menu options. Player Evolutions have now been expanded to include customizable visuals on your favorite players' cards, which… well, some players will be happy. Much more useful is the ability to store up to 100 untradeable cards, so you can use them for Squad Building Challenges later. This is more like maintenance, a quick cleanup of UT’s endless menus. The experience is mostly unchanged, except for the impact of new tactics and the appearance of Rush mode.

My favorite part of FC 25 isn’t in the tactics, the Rush matches, or the fact that the game finally runs at a stable 60fps on my PC for the first time in recent memory. My favorite part is the fact that the game plays slower.

You watch an AI vs AI match in NBA 2K and you tell yourself: that looks like basketball. Then you watch 22 aliens running 40 km/h in modern FIFA/FC and remind yourself that this fun but absurd style of constant counter-attacks doesn't have much to do with real football.

That effect is reduced in FC 25. Not so dramatically that someone would pick up pitchforks and the CAPS LOCK key, but enough that you can use something other than speed to build an attack. You can even take advantage of some of the tactical or personnel changes the game suggests (not always useful, but the suggested substitutions are a handy way to bypass a few menus) to create a goal. Or patiently build an attack, waiting for a midfielder to make the right move. These were always options, but they were far inferior compared to non-stop sprinting. Now you have an extra few seconds to think and plan.

FC 25 is, in a way, like Serie A. And while I secretly remain furious that the move away from the FIFA license means EA now doesn't have the rights to some of the best Serie A teams (seriously, you should see the “we have AC Milan at home” replacements for licensed teams), I can still say I’ve had more raw, honest fun with FC 25 than with any of its predecessors. Partly because the PC port this year feels like it got proper attention, and partly because I feel a bit freer to play a different style of football. Deep down, I know this step-by-step progress doesn't justify 50 pounds for a “new” game every year. But here I am, playing it and enjoying it like an old, comfortable sweater that just had its elbows patched.