It’s that time of the year once again. While it’s still pretty much FIFA, EA Sports FC 25 pushes forward for its second year under the new name. I understand that every year, casual fans might want to skip an entry now and then for the single fact that it’s simply too hard to reinvigorate a franchise every year with each iteration.
Let me clarify; EA Sports FC 25 gets a bunch of things right. It’s fun to play, it looks as good as it ever has in the visual department, and even includes a couple of new features and modes that are worth checking out.
But is it enough? Aside from the new Rush Mode which practically replaces the more causal Volta Mode, there’s not much to write home about. I’m sure the more dedicated and hardcore fans will return for roster updates and refreshed kits, while the Ultimate Team train rolls on for those who are truly invested.
The interdiction of FC IQ also helps with updating tactics with a new level of strategic control, but it rarely translates to moment-to-moment gameplay across the majority of modes. That being said, EA Sports FC 25 does just enough to intrigue the footballer’s mind for yet another year.
The Beautiful Game
EA Sports FC 25 utilises HyperMotion V technology, which essentially complies with volumetric data and playing styles across various leagues and players, to give the game a more authentic look and feel. It certainly looks great, but before we all get a little too excited, it’s worth noting that the HyperMotion V technology was introduced in EA Sports FC 24, so it might not look as impressive for returning fans.
Then there’s FC IQ. This feature is new to EA Sports FC 25 and essentially adds a layer of strategic depth to how players are utilised across a range of game modes. It splits its features across three pillars, being Player Roles, Team Tactics and Smart Tactics. Stay with me now.
Player Roles in a mode like Ultimate Team, Clubs or your standard Career mode, for example, break down a player’s tendencies and capabilities across each position on the field. While there are 52 roles in total across each of the nine standard positions on the field, the positions themselves are broken down into smaller sub-categories, with 2-4 roles in each.
Let’s take the striker position as an example. A standard striker can either be an Advance Forward, Poacher, False 9 or Target Forward, meaning they are more likely to benefit in a certain system, or simply play better in certain formations. The Advance Forward might stretch the field a little better while remaining on-side, while the False 9 forward mixes better with midfielders with better passing attributes.
Team Tactics serve as a guide for formations and position-based advantages on the field, which can be mixed as you like. There are options to create formations with and without possession and even have the formations mix and swap based on player matchups. It initially feels a little buried in waves of menus, but for those invested in the sport and its players, allows for a great level of strategic depth, which I appreciate. The feature will even analyse players for you, to recommend how they might be better suited within that system.
Finally, Smart Tactics serves as an in-game assistant of sorts, which dishes out guidance and feedback on the fly during matches. It can even offer tactical suggestions should you want to shake things up mid-game and usually ties everything up in a nice little bow for you. It feels like the least intrusive of the features, but it’s a welcome addition for those who are confident in their choices, but also for those who wish to learn more about the game.
Feel the Rush
I’m probably going to spend most of my time talking about the new Rush Mode, which has replaced the Volta mode of previous FIFA and EA Sports FC games. It’s essentially a five-on-five mode on smaller-sized pitches, which spans across various modes like Kick Off, Career, Ultimate Team and even Clubs. As you can imagine, the pace is much faster and games are generally high-scoring. I found myself playing this mode more often than any other, especially when I only had a limited amount of time to sit down and play.
But even across other modes like the standard Career, the new Rush Mode makes an effort to deepen the experience by throwing in things like academy and youth tournaments, as you work the way up the ranks. While the rest of the Career Mode feels rather similar, I can appreciate its inclusion.
Above all, I appreciate the consistent amount of pace this mode brings. To start each game, players must face the middle and run in to claim possession of the loose ball, akin to something out of Rocket League. It’s having fun with this newer casual pace while replacing red cards with blue cards, which only send you off the ground for a minute. There are still penalty shootouts and Golden Goal faceoffs, and I only wish the mode leaned into its causal nature with more outlandish pitches and individual modes.
The only real issue is that across each of its modes, there’s no feeling of longevity or progression. It sort of just is what it is. While it’s still arguably the best thing about EA Sports FC 25, I just wish that EA Sports knew ahead of time what they had, and can only hope that they flesh it out next year.
Football is Life
While the remaining modes feel relatively standard, I don’t necessarily think any of them are broken. Ultimate Team has done its best to shake things up over the years with restructured Icon and Legends cards, but the wallet still burns every time I bring it near my PlayStation 5. FC IQ also applies to these modes, be it the new Women’s Career Mode or Ultimate Team, but I just found it hard to soak up anything new, especially coming off EA Sports FC 24.
Gameplay generally feels great, thanks to HyperMotion V, but it’s still technically not a new feature, and it feels more like EA Sports FC 25 is choosing to lower its centre of gravity and stay on course for another year.
Visually, EA Sports FC 25 admittedly looks as good as it ever has, from the detailed player models and accurate facial scans to the incredibly recreated stadiums and authentic commentary. Once again, it’s all great, but it’s just not new.
There are a few random bugs that inevitably plague each iteration, from clipping to random player movements, but I don’t think it’s anything out of the ordinary this year either. I get how this review sounds at this point, but it’s honestly all I’ve got.
Final Thoughts
While EA Sports FC 25 plays things relatively safe this year, I do think there are things worth checking out. The new Rush Mode virtually revitalises the pace of smaller games and feels like a worthy alternative to the previous Volta Mode, while the new FC IQ feature adds a layer of strategic depth and control to almost everything else.
That being said, HyperMotion V technology means everything feels incredibly familiar for returning players, as far as ball control and defensive mechanics are concerned. I can admit that either dedicated or hardcore fans will take more from EA Sports FC 25 than casual fans, but it’s still worth checking out nonetheless.
THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Same solid gameplay; Rush Mode is fantastic; FC IQ adds a new strategic layer
Lowlights: Returning HyperMotion V technology means that gameplay feels incredibly familiar to last year
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania, EA Canada
Publisher: Electronic Arts, EA Sports
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC
Available: Now
Review conducted on PlayStation 5 with a pre-release code provided by the publisher.
