FC 26 Beta (Career Mode feedback)
Context; (Newcastle United, Original Manager mode tested)
Started on Legendary difficulty, then quickly changed to Ultimate after a few games as it was far too easy. Using a ix of Manual and semi-assisted controls.
This brings forward the first negative - 'The difficulty' and what stopped me playing FC 25. It is just too easy. I was top of the table with Newcastle after around 19 games or so. We were the top scorers and had conceded the least amount of goals. I only made a few transfers (Sold Isak and replaced with Kolo Muani, signed De Gea & Lindelof.) Not a Premier League winning outfit. Unfortunately, what started out with optimism and excitement, soon turned to boredom and lack of interest in the save. Despite the appeal, winning 4,5,6 - 0 every week is no fun after a while. This definitely needs a tweak. I will try unpick this in the gameplay round up.
Career mode overall - After the initial starting menus and new options which are a welcome and innovating addition (The manager merry-go-round, historic data-finally and a couple other tweaks) I was excited. But after playing a while it definitely didn't feel like it was 'new' and that I was back on FC 25. The menus are much smoother and quicker than FC 25 but don't look much different. There are some great QOL improvements and quick links to various things you need to access, such as a player info card right from the top scorer standings etc. But overall it certainly doesn't feel any different to previous career modes after a while. One big thing I didn't like was the league table layout - That thing is ugly and have never seen a league table laid out like before! all broken up, I get why, but just no. It needs to look more realistic. Also, the clean sheet standings includes all players, shouldn't this just be the goalkeepers as I have never known an outfield player win the 'Golden glove' Career mode worked well for a beta and I didn't come across any game-breaking bugs.
The youth network has no improvements I could see. They all still look a little off and samey, Names are still basic for their their respective Nationality and nothing unique to invest your interest in. And no, I am not acknowledging the fact they added subs in the rush matches as a 'new feature' what a joke. I imagine after playing one tournament in the youth setup, no one will touch this feature anymore. It is boring and really under utilised by EA. Not only is 5-aside unrealistic, but why isn't there a Youth league? Why is there no cup presentation or just something to keep you invested in actually using the Youth features?
GAMEPLAY; Using authentic gameplay
Positives: The passing felt very well paced and felt good. Player movements are much improved to last year, although still feel a little 'skatey' at times. PES had a good handle on how player movement should feel. But it was better than last year. The ball physics felt better and tackling is all improved. At least from the player perspective (As the ai never, and I mean never slide tackled me in over half-a-season.) Headers and crossed were the best and biggest improvement that I saw, it felt realistic and satisfying to use crosses and headers. Much improved from many previous EA titles. Even the AI cross (Alot) which is refreshing. Low driven shots are good addition, although this was a feature in past titles and not new. It feels good to score them and the ai to use them instead of using the same near post, top corner shots they always do. The AI used a variety of shots, crosses and passes.
Negatives: Shots somehow don't feel good and I can't put my finger on why that is.? Longshots feel too fast and look a bit silly when a goalkeeper saves a shot at super speed by just jumping up and catching it. (It almost feels like goalkeepers are too big for the nets or the nets are modelled too small for long shots) Low shots are OP. Midfield space once again is far too open and this is where I feel the game is far too easy. Running from a defensive own half position to the ai's penalty box is far too easy and open. It creates a constant end-to-end game often resulting in high scores and easy matches. The 'player roles' I feel is far too restricting for the ai where they almost adopt the Man Utd philosophy of football ''THAT AIN'T MY JOB SO I AM NOT RUNNING THERE'' Leaving gaps and letting you roam freely. Also, the ai still have no situational awareness. 1-0 down with 10 mins to go, do they change philosophy from knocking it around at the back, do they become more urgent with 5 mins to go? No, no they don't. The manager ai is just not developed. So, although I didn't really play enough to see if a manger change at a club will actually make a difference, I have some doubts. Lastly, The Ai do not slide tackle at higher difficulty levels, resulting in zero fouls, cards or penalties. No derby day lunges or bad tempered, frustrated challenges that breathe any kind of passion or emotion to a match which unfortunately makes it very obvious you are playing a video game. This was my experience anyway. As for my slide tackles. I never saw a red card (I think this may be a bug as some were pretty bad) The red cards did need toning down from 25 but not removing. Hand balls is implemented poorly again so quickly turned this off for penalties (Only activated this to actually get a penalty and see what that felt like.) A couple of minor bugs where the ai goalkeeper kicked the ball into the back of their defender resulting in some funny goals but again nothing major like last year.
To sum up, I just don't feel like there is enough passion and storytelling in a match. I didn't finish my experience and come away thinking about certain matches I enjoyed for good or bad reasons. The matches are still too open and often finish in a goal-fest. I got bored after half a season! The youth features are basic and have seen minor improvements over the years. The menus seem smoother and quicker and did feel better. There is some promise here on some positive movement for career mode and fingers crossed the full game and a few patches can get this thing moving. However, I don't hold much hope this will be the case and as I have for the last 15 years I will be saying to myself ''Next year, career mode will be awesome''
If, by any chance, someone from EA does read these. I would gladly offer some innovating and fresh ideas to help improve the realism of career mode absolutely free of charge as it is something I have played since Fifa 98!! I can't stand Ultimate Team. But, I do understand it is what makes the $$. The team in charge of Career mode must either be hugely restricted on what they can implement or just not that creative or bothered, which I can't believe the latter to be true.
