Early EA Sports FC 25 Impressions

[Steve_OS]

With the European seasons having kicked off, it's that time of the year where we get...

Written By: Kevin Groves

Click here to view the article.

[LoadStar81]

Two things I've noticed early in Player Career.

The backstory feature gives you five options: Clean Slate, which is the "standard" start; the three preset story lines; and a Custom Start, which is where you can go completely nutsoid with your opening. If you really want to go full "angel on your shoulder" with that, you can start as a 17-year-old with maxed-out personality, 100 Skill Points to allocate, and a million bucks in the bank.

HOWEVER. If you opt to start in, say, League Two, and work your way up, you won't get the full intros early on, EVEN IF THE OPTION IS SET TO "ALWAYS." Those roll in "select" 11-a-side games, per the weasel words in the menu.

[HenryClay1844]

You have watched remarkably little football if you think keepers are never beat at the near post.

[flo182]

Great review!

After not having played FIFA / EA FC for 2-3 years I came back this year to see if the IQ / Tactics feature really made a difference for singleplayer.

There are some things I really like, especially the graphics look way better for me but some other things really stop me from enjoying the game.

Two things were already mentioned.

- Lack of midfield play. Or at least there I haven't found a way to use midfield play to really built up successful attacks. Too often it's the same old style that relies on fast players on the wings.

- Centerback behavior. If things get dangerous through the middle of the field it's because centerbacks behave completely insane.

Another thing I don't like is the ball physics. It still feels like the ball has no real weight. Like playing with a balloon that at times randomly goes really fast and sometimes really slow. In my memory games like PES 1-6 on PS2 had better ball physics and I think even the old FIFA titles (09-16) were better.

[KG]

Quote: Originally Posted by HenryClay1844

You have watched remarkably little football if you think keepers are never beat at the near post.

Where did I say they never get beat near post irl? Hell, Onana gets beat near post all the time, even yesterday vs FC Twente.

Compared to FC24, keepers don’t get beat nearly as much by soft shots in FC 25


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dubcity]

The lack of midfield really is a joke this year. Especially if you play with (and/or against) a team that has enough stars and guys with a dozen of those player badge things. Don't even bother playing a match that includes Real Madrid. It's not too surprising, but with all the talk of hypermotion and tactics I don't understand why it's as bad as ever.

The problem for us is that most of the complaining EA will hear will be alone the lines of, "worst FIFA ever, my teammates don't make runs, and I give up BS goals. Hella scripted and unfair." For those of who want a game that resembles the sport we watch on TV, our points are drowned out by people with other motives.

[MiracleMet718]

I don’t agree with the lack of midfield play. I’ve had a lot of midfield play by both myself and the CPU and have seen goals created with moving the ball around the midfield and even playing it from the back line as well. It probably the first time in the last 5 EAFC/FIFAs that I’ve had it as well.

I’m playing simulation mode with tactical CPU sliders and haven’t had any issues with it. How are you guys setup tactically and how do you defend? Most of the people I play with that have had issues with midfield play are usually constantly pressing/chasing the CPU around defensively instead of sitting back and closing off the forward passing lanes.

I only press when I have the CPU with the ball either on the wing or areas where I have 2 players to collapse in the middle. Otherwise I sit back and switch off with my midfielders as they pass around trying to find those gaps. The passes go forward but since I push a little more with my CBs and force them to pass it back and then keep them outside.

[dubcity]

Quote: Originally Posted by desouza7

I don’t agree with the lack of midfield play. I’ve had a lot of midfield play by both myself and the CPU and have seen goals created with moving the ball around the midfield and even playing it from the back line as well. It probably the first time in the last 5 EAFC/FIFAs that I’ve had it as well. I’m playing simulation mode with tactical CPU sliders and haven’t had any issues with it. How are you guys setup tactically and how do you defend? Most of the people I play with that have had issues with midfield play are usually constantly pressing/chasing the CPU around defensively instead of sitting back and closing off the forward passing lanes. I only press when I have the CPU with the ball either on the wing or areas where I have 2 players to collapse in the middle. Otherwise I sit back and switch off with my midfielders as they pass around trying to find those gaps. The passes go forward but since I push a little more with my CBs and force them to pass it back and then keep them outside.

If you're going to play realistically it should really depend on team matchup and IRL tactics that they would use. Watford isn't going to gegenpress Manchester City, and Arsenal isn't going to sit back and defend against Crystal Palace. But in general teams do close down players up top, while also maintaining shape in the midfield. It shouldn't take a 10 defender zone defense to keep the midfielders in front of the ball.

The problem is the direct approach of passing straight through the midfield is way too OP and unrealistically easy, especially with teams rated 4 stars and above. That's the way I see it, anyway.