FC25 - Broken In Many Ways - Time To Vent - Super Experienced Players Thoughts..

Hey all,

PART 1

I have taken part in threads to display some of my frustrations with this game but now I felt like I needed to compose a thread on certain findings with the lastest title.

Some background on me. I have played every FIFA title since the Sega MegaDrive. I have played World Cup Italia 90', KICK OFF, Sensible Soccer, Actua Soccer, ISS Pro, PES (from PES 3-2008) Championship Manager/FootballManager and UFL to name a few. Been around the block so to speak.

I am very much a football man. Not only having played the game but someone who studies tactics, formations, play styles etc... I really studied the game.

I watch a lot of football on TV... Anyway, enough about all that.

So let's dive in to EAFC25...

First things first. The game on the outside looks pretty (Xbox Series X here) how lovely it is to see shirts moving in the wind as players cruise around the pitch, lovely ball physics, beautiful stadium lighting. Oh the blades of grass on a freshly cut pitch.

Then you go in to a game and play.

This is where the issues start. The lack of player IQ is amazing. It's supposed to be in the game but rarely do you see it. I have had a handful of games where players have joined me in the attack (in the lower divisions). But the higher you go (Div 1) the game starts to break down and the less intelligent the AI looks. Instead it's a mess with players stopping those intelligent runs part way through, constantly running offside and defenders who at times decide to run towards the corner flag rather than staying with the striker who is about to run through on goal.

It's beyond frustrating.

The mechanics of teams that set up with a deep defence with around 7-8 players pakced inside their 18 yard box on every attack spoils what could be a better balanced game. The fact that someone can attack with 4 or 5 players yet get their box packed before you can move the ball up the field is just no fun. The AI runs fast back to base then you can attack. It's broken. Where is the stamina drain? They don't tire...

Defending teams are protected with the AI doing the dirty work so they don't have to. Sure, Takeover the player last second and steal the ball, wash and repeat. The way they magnet themselves to the ball makes it extremely tedious to play against and entering the 18 yard box is a war zone. Heavy rag doll tackles that borderline GBH are ignored by the referee which allows the opposition to counter attack you. Should you win the ball back it's often followed by 5 or 6 rebounds to which the attacker more time than not runs off with the ball. Attackers seem to be often better tacklers of the ball than CDMs or Defenders themselves. How?

Should you even get in behind a defence the goalkeepers when rushed out are absolute mad men who will kick you up in the air or dive at your feet and clear you out in order to win the ball. Sure, in the lower divisions you may run around them for a tap in OR win a penalty. But not often in the top division because players know how to press the life out of you so you don't get the moment to go round. (Sometime you can - depending on gameplay speed)

Attacking isn't smart - unless you play the game at a speed that EA intended. However, this isn't actually possible at higher levels because the way people press and press and press. It destroys the game and forces you to rush around. The AI team mates then behave weird with runs and movement. Often they stray offside all the time or hesitant to help you. This leaves the game feeling very lifeless and empty. It becomes a real chore to play and extremely tedious.

I don't even play Ultimate Team - This is all from my Seasons experience. 

The way the gameplay plays with slow players catching you up (even from kickoff) when your faster players have full energy is just bizarre. I'd go as far as saying why bother having player stats at this point. They are not reflected. It's broken.

People who can't defend are protected by the AI - It's wrong in so many ways.

I think FIFA 10 was the last FIFA that guaranteed a goal from entering the box and finessing it past the keeper. Following this came more random outcomes, the GK would save some, the post would get hit more and some would just go wide. I am all for some random outcomes as long as the balance still remains with the better player winning. I am all for someone being skilled in defence and doing a masterclass job on you. It's OK, it happens IRL - But not in its current form. It's allowing players to do very little yet get so rewarded.

I was the one who fought very hard after the release of FIFA 12 to get EA to remove selecting a goalkeeper online while allowing the AI defence to win the ball for you. The player would then resume outfield duty until the ball was lost again. They would then go back to being the goalkeeper - Like seriously... who at EA thought that was smart and would work without abuse?? DOES ANYONE ELSE REMEMEBER THIS? I was the one who had a megathread to remove it. It destroyed the game until it was patched out for online play.

I never like the idea of allowing the human player an easy way out while the AI cleans up your mess. Am I OK with second man press? Sure... but not the AI winning you the ball back constantly. Just isn't right.

As a console player on next gen the game doesn't feel optimised fully for the experience. I mean, the player base must be over 95% console yet it's very rough feeling. I don't feel in control of what I am doing.

I refuse to play PC players now due to the amount of cheaters out there - YES, even riddled in Seasons mode. People seem to go to any length to win a game. Even if it means they are not playing football yet Wasing their own time. Odd...

Even vs other console players I know when the opponent changes mentality to either more attacking or defensive because I get a moment screen judder and then their AI and mine behaves differently. This also happened on FC24 - But was not always visible. It's way more visible on 25. Like always happening during games.

All in all the game doesn't feel polished. It doesn't feel optimised on console. My AI is so random, mostly not bothered to help me out with smart runs etc... if I am not triggering runs they just stare at me while I run around.

I have never felt so helpless on one of your titles. And some others have had their issues too. It's mostly the feeling of being out of control that baffles me most.

Running angles...

It often seems to me that my opponent can sprint across the pitch faster than my crossfield ball. It happens way to often resorting in a header battle. Rarely you get to drop the ball down and go. It's not right. Even turning at an angle the opponent can you off quicker than you dropping your shoulder and cutting in. The law of physics is very questionable here.

Is there a really good game somewhere in all of this? I think so! - But right now I'm having a hard time playing it (My WLD record is good) so don't get me wrong. But I don't know if I'm playing the game or the game is playing me.

I am happy to help EA with suggestions etc... should someone wish to reach out. I know the inner working very well and very experienced.

I truly believe I know what the community wants from this title. Right now, we are feeling very lost and unsure of the future of this title.

Thoughts?