The new EA Sports FC is here. There are some notable changes.
While most video games, especially those centered around soccer, tend to progress in stages, FC 25 has some features that set it apart from its predecessor, which was EA Sports’ first soccer simulator since its split from FIFA. It’s equipped with features.
Here, The Athletic takes a look at what’s new in FC 25 and the highest ranked players in the game.
Renewal of tactics
A tactical system called “FC IQ” has been added to the heading. The way we think about tactics and the role of individual players has changed.
When determining your starting lineup, there’s a new section where you can customize your formation, build-up style, and defensive approach, and the game outlines the strengths and weaknesses of each system.
There are three build-up styles: “Counter,” “Short Pass,” and “Balance.” A ‘counter’ approach encourages players to get behind the opposition defence, ‘short passes’ lead to fewer goals conceded and more support for the ball carrier, and a ‘balanced’ build-up style allows players to get behind the opposition defence. I’ll launch it.
Each position has multiple player roles. For example, wide players can be deployed as wingers, wide playmakers, wide midfielders, or inside forwards. After choosing your player role, you can choose how you want your defenders to attack, and vice versa.
The caveat is that you need the right player for the role. Even if you put a player who is best suited as a target man in an advanced forward role, he is unlikely to perform well.
FC 24 allowed for a certain amount of tactical customization, but it wasn’t easy. Now it’s easy and most players can figure it out and know what to do.
Setting up a new tactical system takes a few minutes, but then you can create and flick through five custom tactical presets. You can also download tactical presets, so if you have any notable tactics that will help your players succeed in the game, you can easily use them as well.
The introduction of FC IQ is likely to be most useful in game modes such as “Ultimate Team” and “Manager Career,” where players can be bought and sold. In one-off matches, you’re limited by the players on the team you choose to play with, but there’s a lot of freedom in game modes that allow you to revamp your team.
This is a welcome addition, but it’s still not a perfect science. There could still be improvements and more flexibility regarding set pieces.
Overall, the game feels different than its predecessor, even if the need for speed is still the primary factor. This leads to the next point…
gameplay
One of the easiest ways to win in most versions of FIFA/EA Sports FC, especially in FC 25 and Ultimate Team, is to keep the influence of fast and slow players low.
Rodri is the highest rated player in the game (91/100), but his pace rating is “only” 66. In real life, it probably doesn’t make sense to drop a Spanish player for a lower rated player. However, in FC 25, faster players in similar roles may have more success in game modes like Ultimate Team.
On the plus side, the FC 25’s ball movement feels more realistic, a little less robotic, deflections are less predictable, and there are fewer opportunities to win second balls.
Each player also feels unique. The way Cole Palmer dribbles past opponents is different from how Lionel Messi moves. The same goes for passes and shots. Kylian Mbappe’s out-of-the-boot finish feels different than Kevin De Bruyne’s.
new game mode
FC 24 had a 5v5 competitive mode called Volta. But the goal was so small that it was difficult to score, so it felt more like practice.
FC 25 also introduced a similar Rush, but the objectives are bigger and you play on a regular pitch rather than a random, scenic 5-a-side pitch.
Rush also helps solve common problems when playing Club, a mode that allows individual players to play as a single player with a group of friends.
While it’s still possible to play Clubs in the regular 11-a-side format, the Rush to Clubs game mode now allows you to play 5v5.
The problem with the 11-a-side version is that if three friends play in a club, two of them will each occupy one position, and the other will control the remaining nine players, leading to disagreements. often occurs. In the 5-on-5 version, that factor is reduced.
Rush also uses AI goalkeepers, so you can’t create a 6’7” goalie with the best attributes, making it difficult to score.
If you’ve played Club before, you’ll know that it can be frustrating to only control one player and never get the ball. Rushing means more involvement from each player and theoretically fewer disagreements…
Rush can be played in multiple game modes, including Ultimate Team. This means that if you really enjoy playing 5-a-side instead of 11-a-side, it’s easier, cheaper, and less time-consuming to focus on acquiring high-value players in 5 players than in 11 players.
Rush also has blue cards. Therefore, if a player makes a reckless challenge, they will receive a temporary guilt bottle instead of being eliminated from the rest of the game.
The beautiful five-a-side pitch you’d expect to see in FIFA Street is still there, and there’s also a new 3v3 feature where you pick three players from your team to compete on a smaller pitch. .
The result is a lot of goals, passes off the wall, and a lot of concentration on the countdown.
The 3v3 game mode gives lesser players a realistic chance to win when playing against players who are much better at the game. Because 3-on-3 matches are essentially simplified versions of regular matches, the disruption of the match levels the playing field.
manager career
Getting fired in your managerial career is no fun, but FC 25 has a “no firing” option, which is great news for the good average managers among us. You can also make your board permissive or strict.
The scouting system in manager mode is also different, allowing you to scout players according to their individual roles. There is also a strong focus on youth development, and you can even participate in youth games. Sending scouts to specific areas to look for young players adds another dimension to your save game, beyond just playing or simulating the game.
For the first time, it is possible to play as a female team in career mode during your manager career. You can take charge of one of the Women’s Super League teams and use the avatar of one of 12 WSL managers.
The Manager Career Development Planning feature allows you to retrain players for specific roles. So if you sign a midfielder who wants to play in a box-to-box role, but they aren’t naturally suited for that position, you can incorporate them into your training plan to develop them into that position.
However, the simulation logic still feels a little too random. You can have a strong team made up of highly rated players, but when you simulate a match, you may lose or draw against a team that is rated much lower than your team.
Draws and losses in games that you simulated that you expected to win are areas where there is room for improvement. In theory, a team of players who are all rated 85/100 should beat most teams they play in a simulated match, but this is not always the case.
conclusion
When reviewing a game like FC 25, which releases a new version every year, I always ask two important questions. Are there any notable changes? If so, did they result in better gameplay?
The changes in FC 25 make the game feel different than older versions, but not dramatically. The new tactical system is fun and better than before, but the core fundamentals of the game remain the same as in FC 24.
Overall, FC 25 is more realistic, has more customization, and most importantly, is a more fun experience (though it’s one I have to look ahead to, override the “don’t fire” rule, and rethink my priorities). (That is until it happens).
Top 25 Most Rated Male Players
player
club
evaluation
Kylian Mbappe
real madrid
91
Rodri
man city
91
erling haaland
man city
91
jude bellingham
real madrid
90
Vinicius Jr.
real madrid
90
kevin de bruyne
man city
90
harry kane
bayern munich
90
Martin Odegaard
arsenal
89
Gianluigi Donnarumma
P.S.G.
89
Alison
liverpool
89
Thibaut Courtois
real madrid
89
Lautaro Martinez
Inter Milan
89
virgil van dijk
liverpool
89
Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Barcelona
89
mohamed salah
liverpool
89
phil foden
man city
88
lionel messi
inter miami
88
antoine griezmann
atlético madrid
88
Ruben Diaz
man city
88
Robert Lewandowski
Barcelona
88
federico valverde
real madrid
88
ederson
man city
88
Bernardo Silva
man city
88
Jan Oblak
atlético madrid
88
Antonio Rudiger
real madrid
88
Top 25 Most Rated Female Players
player
club
evaluation
Aitana Bommati
Barcelona
91
alexia puteras
Barcelona
90
caroline graham hansen
Barcelona
90
sam carr
chelsea
90
sophia smith
Portland Thorns FC
89
Ada Hegerberg
lyon
89
Mapi Leon
Barcelona
89
Kato Tomari
P.S.G.
88
Debinya
kansas city current
88
Kadidiatu Diani
lyon
88
Patri Guiharo
Barcelona
88
Beth Mead
arsenal
88
wendy leonard
lyon
88
Guro Reiten
chelsea
88
Irene Paredes
Barcelona
88
christian endler
lyon
88
alexandra pop
wolfsburg
87
Sakina Karchaoui
P.S.G.
87
Mallory Swanson
chicago red stars
87
rose label
Gotham FC
87
Eva Pajor
Barcelona
87
Khadijah Shaw
man city
86
Fridrina Rolfo
Barcelona
86
Selma Basha
lyon
86
lauren hemp
man city
86
(Top image and all images and screenshots: EA Sports)