Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox One, Xbox Series X (Reviewed) |S
Genre: Simulation, Sports
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Football is back in full swing, and if you follow European football like me, EA SPORTS FC 26 is the annual outing of the most iconic football game in the world.
As a huge football fan, I have played every incarnation of FIFA and FC games. This yearly event has snuck up on me and I’m fully in football frenzy at this stage, so I’m looking forward to playing a football game to complement the Premiership being back.
Game Modes Galore
EA Sports FC 26, like its predecessor, is packed with game modes – the favourites and I would say main modes are back – Clubs, Career Mode, Seasons and Ultimate Team. The UI and menus will just have your head spinning with the sheer number of modes and sub-modes. If you love football games, you will find a mode to suit you.
My favourite is the online Seasons mode, which is probably for the more casual player as opposed to the hardcore player who will sink many an hour into Ultimate Team, Career Mode and Clubs. Online Seasons is brilliant – you pick a team (your favourite) and play against the world of players as you battle from league 10 to league 1 through a table system. If you don’t want to play competitive games online, you can just play friendlies, where the stakes are lower and you will be relaxed.
Ultimate Team is the other huge mode, and it’s just too much investment for me, but plenty of people love it. It has been improved this year, which includes live events, evolution updates, rivals revamp and most importantly for me – punishing people who quit games!
The game has local friendlies and training modes for those who are new to the game and want to bed in before progressing into online and competitive play. Between the numerous modes, there is something for everyone.
Visuals
The game is stunning, and the player animations, the stadiums, and the atmosphere of the crowd all add to the spectacle. The menu layouts and the sheer amount of in-depth features are mind-boggling. You have even more control over your team. The menus are rich just like the gameplay. The gameplay is fluid, moves at an aggressive pace closer to arcade than simulation. Player likeness is brilliant as always, and new players and teams are up to date, too. The crowds are still somewhat flat and lifeless, but I’ll allow it as the general game is quick and electric at times. The improved HUD and extra tactic options allow you to use multiple tactical options in EA FC 26. The layouts for the team management are slick and super in-depth.
Music, audio and commentary all complement it. Your favourite players are mentioned by name, and you feel the commentators are watching your every move and giving a critical eye.
I suppose the question is, I like it so much, but what are the issues? I think the game hasn’t evolved enough, and I understand there is a core fan base that wants this, and there isn’t a real competitor. That’s the main problem – you need a real competitor to challenge and improve the football games. EA Sports FC 26 is menu-heavy, and the UI and general navigation are clunky and overbearing at times. The in-depth nature of the game may seem overwhelming to new players. The microtransactions are ridiculous – there are so many, and you can really buy everything you want if you are so inclined. It’s a good game, but not revolutionary.
Verdict
EA Sports FC 26 does have a lot going for it: fully licensed players, a huge roster of players, so many game modes and variations of gameplay from 11 vs 11 to 5 vs 5. Specific modes like Ultimate Team will suck you in and have you immersed in the football world again. Lots of casual modes, like Seasons, you can play online with little fuss. It’s probably gonna be the best football game of the season, and I’ll be stuck in online seasons until the next iteration. Love it or hate it, it’s here to stay.
Overall: 7.5/10
Enjoys more than the odd game, long time gamer, somewhat a technologist and everything else in between.
Also enjoys a good solid game of FIFA online. Currently PS4, XBOX 360 and STEAM.
