We analyze the first installment of EA’s simulator outside the FIFA saga, with a name change that comes with a continuist proposal seasoned with a very satisfactory gameplay.
EA Sports FC 24 review for PS5, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Electronic Arts announced last year the end of the saga FIFA as we knew it until now since it ended its agreement with the International Federation of Football Federation which caused a name change in their football games.
With this premise we find this year with EA Sports FC 24, the first title of a saga renewed in appearance but that preserves intact all its playable base with a delivery with certain improvements, which is very fun on the pitch, as complete as ever in its modes…. and qperhaps also a missed opportunity to give a total facelift to its soccer simulators, preferring a sweet transition to be rupturistas with its past.
A gameplay that emphasizes offensive play
As always, let’s start talking about the most important thing in any self-respecting soccer game, which is what happens on the pitch with a basis practically the same as last year although with certain improvements that make the experience more satisfying and fun than the previous installment.
Rather than the names of the new technologies used by EA for this release and what improves each of them within the games, we are going to focus on the improvements that we believe are easier to identify with respect to last year beginning with the goalkeepers, which was what we first noticed playing our first games. Of course, the goalkeepers react much better than those of last year especially in shots from below or at close range and even in the exits, moving in a more realistic, natural and logical way. Yes, they still have some problems with spin shots from outside the area, but we believe that overall the improvement is very clear in this regard.
Also we quite liked the pace of this year. It always tends to be a bit fast and the races are fast-paced, it is something classic in EA’s soccer games, but we think it has a pretty good balance, although this will probably change with the next patches as it happens every year.
On the other hand, there are new animations that make all movements, shots, dribbles, passes or tackles feel much smoother and we also have new movements and positions to protect the ball and prevent the opponent from stealing the ball.
All these improvements and other small details that have been polished make playing EA Sports FC 24 very fun, especially enjoying matches against the AI or with other players using normal teams, being a joy to make game changes, see how the player controls the ball, how he turns to make a shot or how a goalkeeper intervenes to spoil a goal play.
The problem we see to EA Sports FC 24 is that it favors too much the offensive game. Forwards will have an advantage over defenders on most occasions, the execution of many dribbles in a row is not punished as it should be and in the race or certain movements it still gives us the feeling that players skate too much on the field. This makes EA Sports FC 24 again a title in which the main fun is in doing many tricks and running like a fighter towards the opponent’s goal. It is not necessary a great game vision or move the ball well to score, but with a single player with good pace and skillful with the ball we can make incredible breaks in any defense and cause too many scoring chances.
Therefore we have a title that is nothing groundbreaking, which does have small improvements and polished aspects with respect to the last FIFA, but still favors too much offensive football, dribbling and correcalles, taking away realism from a formula that if certain aspects were adjusted would be unbeatable.
The usual game modes for all audiences
As for the game modes, do not expect new modes, but changes or tweaks in some of them. As we say, EA Sports FC 24 brings improvements to the formula that EA had been developing so far, but does not break with its past.
In the player career mode, the most interesting feature is the arrival of the agent, a new personality system to define the style of play of our player and a new system of objectives to renew our contract with the club or attract the interest of other teams, in addition to the arrival this year of the Golden Ball award.
If we go to the Manager’s Career there are many improved concepts when it comes to managing the team, especially as far as the tactical arrangement is concerned, with much more emphasis on the different styles of play as high pressure or put the bus and also in the preparation of the matches, something that we believe will appeal to the most tactical players. In addition, it also includes a new figure of assistant coaches that allow us to better adapt the team to the style of play with which we want to play the games.
As for the Club mode may be the most important thing is the arrival of crossplay, its introduction on Nintendo Switch and a new system of leagues and reputation, while Volta comes to us with almost no major changes in this regard.
In addition to all this we also have a greater integration of women’s football, with a good amount of clubs, national teams, the UEFA Women’s Champions League and more leagues compared to last year so we can enjoy the explosion of this soccer also in EA’s game.
Ultimate Team is now mixed and it’s hilarious
A Ultimate Team, the star game mode of EA’s soccer titles, we are going to dedicate, as always, its own section to talk about its new features or what it includes in this new release, being probably the most important change the arrival of women’s football.
This was already announced by EA a few weeks ago, although by the reactions some seemed to have forgotten. From now on, in Ultimate Team we can use completely mixed templates, ie, with male and female soccer players enjoying the beautiful game together.
There is no kind of distinction or special section for women’s soccer in Ultimate Team, the players are fully integrated without any distinction, being able to play in envelopes together with other players and being able to align them without any restriction. In fact, EA has cleverly decided to equate the female and male leagues of the same country to match at the level of chemistry in our lineup, that is, if for example we are building a squad of LaLiga EA Sports of Spain, the players of Finetwork Liga F (the female league of our country) will match perfectly at the level of chemistry for us to select and play with them.
It is tremendously fun and rewarding to form a mixed squad, we believe that it is a success that at a playable level gives even more possibilities and certainly is an addition that we believe that comes very well to Ultimate Team and that many players of the soccer title will appreciate.
On the other hand also evolutions come to UT that allows us to evolve the characteristics of certain players to improve their individual skills or their playing styles, creating personalized stars to our liking.
In addition, at the level of micropayments and how they affect this game mode, we believe that EA has achieved a pretty good balance in this regard. Yes, people who spend a lot of money are going to have an advantage, this is so, but the progression of the season pass (which is totally free) seems to us quite fair, fast and with very interesting rewards so that all players can form squads of a great level with their favorite footballers.
Conclusions
EA Sports FC 24 is, without a doubt, a better game than the one that was FIFA 23, although it is also a missed opportunity to break the deck and to offer us a much more groundbreaking and risky delivery taking advantage of the change of name of the license.
Instead, EA, which is aware that they need to change things in their soccer game, has preferred start your new saga with a sweet transition to not bother your player base, something that is understandable especially if we consider that right now has no rival and may take several deliveries to reach the vision they have for this new saga.
At a playable level the title is very enjoyable on the lawn, it is very satisfying to string together plays, make changes of play and approach the goal to try to score a goal and even see how the rival goalkeeper moves with agility and takes the candy out of our mouth, although it is also frustrating to see how the offensive, abusive dribbling, the race and the soccer more show that subtracts much realism and for us satisfaction to the playable proposal.
As for the game modes, there are no major developments but there are certain improvements that we believe that everyone will like, being the most interesting the arrival of women’s soccer to Ultimate Team, a great move by EA that makes us have more possibilities to form our squad, being very fun to enjoy an eleven full of players and top-level players of the beautiful game.
We have conducted this analysis thanks to a PS5 code provided by EA.
EA Sports FC 24 (PS5, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
EA Sports FC 24 is a superior game than last year’s, but also very continuist, being a missed opportunity to revolutionize soccer games taking advantage of the change of name of the saga.
Pros
The inclusion of women's soccer in Ultimate Team.
An audiovisual spectacle: music, stadiums, logos, faces…
Very enjoyable on the pitch thanks to some improvements…
Cons
No new game modes.
Hay demasiada continuidad en todos los aspectos.
…although it still favors too much dribbling and offensive actions.