Hands-on review: EA Sports FC 25

It's now been a full year since EA Sports had to stop using 'FIFA' in the title of its annual football game, and after the inevitable success of last year's FC 24, the next instalment of the franchise is here once again – FC 25. So, what's new this time around?

What's new?
Some of the most talked about new features are an overhaul of the tactical system, as well as an all-new game mode – 'Rush', which allows you to play a modernised, five-a-side version of the beautiful game.

EA Sports call the tactics revamp 'FC IQ', and it truly does allow you to customise your team's setup and gameplan more than ever before. This, in turn, makes everything feel that little bit more realistic, making victories even sweeter and making you wonder what you could have done differently in the event of a loss.

As part of the overhaul, players now have 'Roles' – for instance, a striker might have 'False 9' or 'Target Forward', which allows you to tweak exactly what they do on the pitch in Team Management. If they have a '+' after the role, it means they have 'mastered the Role', if they have '++' it means they are considered 'world-class' in that specific Role.

'Rush' is a quick and fun way to keep players glued to the game, and can be played across Kick Off, Ultimate Team and Clubs game modes. In Rush, instead of a traditional kick-off, the ball rolls in from the side of the stadium for all eight outfield players to contest, and red cards are replaced with blue cards - a one-minute sin bin. It's also played on a smaller pitch, and penalties are replaced with a one-on-one, 1990s USA-style face-off.

The new game mode replaces the under-utilised 'Volta', but it seems EA Sports has put much more emphasis on Rush and it's hard to imagine it having the same fate in a few years' time given its addictiveness and amusement. Each game is just seven minutes in length, and it encourages teamwork (with either strangers or friends) to win with the help of quick input text responses. 

Gameplay
Gameplay feels a lot more refined and realistic compared to previous years, which is to be expected given it's a full-price title for what many people consider a minor annual upgrade.

It feels like it takes more brains to win a game in FC 25, both beforehand by utilising FC IQ and by how you use your players to manipulate the ball during a match. 

Each pass needs to be done with thought, and you're frequently punished for trying a one-touch pass with a player that lacks good passing stats. This results in slower gameplay, which is a positive, as players try and build from the back and try different ways to outwit the opponent.

Shooting, too, feels like it's been 'nerfed' somewhat. Finesse shots from distance with specific players has notoriously been an easy way to score throughout FIFA and FC, and more recently, 'Trivela' shots have resulted in a similar outcome. In FC 25, though, it feels like you must get in a realistic position to shoot and score which, again, is a positive.

The engine in which FC 25 is built on, HyperMotion V, has been further refined to increase the realistic feel of the game. Full pre-match load-ups are back, which look great and really help set the scene and get you hyped up for the looming match. 

Post-match, the replay system has also had a revamp, allowing you to go back and watch your best moments in more detail than ever.

The combination of improved gameplay, increased realism, and the customisability of FC IQ truly do make this the most realistic football game yet. 

Career Mode has also seen some changes – in Manager Career you can now manage teams across the top give leagues in the women's game, and EA Sports has promised to introduce Live Start Points sometime post-launch which mirrors real-life events within your game.

Ultimate Team
It wouldn't be an FC review without the mention of Ultimate Team.

There isn't too much that's changed for FC 25, just some refinements that should appease its players.

Duplicate untradable storage has been added, which helps you completed Squad Building Challenges by maintaining players you've already packed that would otherwise have to be discarded.

Rush features in Ultimate Team, and it promises to play a big part in your journey to creating your ultimate team. Certain requirements are needed when choosing your players, like a maximum overall rating or only players that play in a certain position, like Centre Back. This helps the game feel fresh and offers players more choice.

The introduction of Evolutions last year, where you can evolve certain players into much better cards, has been retained, and it seems EA Sports is offering even more of them than last year. This allows supporters of lower league teams to build a team of players they idolise while remaining competitive against teams containing the likes of Mohamed Salah, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.  

Verdict
Many gamers might argue that FC 25 is simply a reskin of FC 24, but EA Sports has done enough to improve the gameplay and overall gaming experience to justify spending the money this year.

FC IQ is arguably the biggest addition to the game, but increased realism, and new game modes keep it feeling fresh. 

A true competitor and some healthy competition to EA Sports would certainly help further developments moving forward. Konami's eFootball promised to do just that, but ever since its inception, it has only disappointed. 

For now, FC 25 has the winning formula and is the undisputed king of football games.