The biggest sports game returns, with its yearly iteration in the form of EAFC26. Can this year mark a turning point for the franchise? Or are you left frustrated once again?
It’s In The Game (And Money)
My love of sports games can be traced back to as early as the PlayStation one with FIFA 97. I revere the game of football but over the years my love for the game has waned slightly. The most recent addition to the FIFA now FC franchise was EAFC25 and much to my dismay was my least favourite from the whole franchise. Terrible gameplay, awful microtransactions and not enough content completely soured my experience. Now with FC26, whilst some huge issues remain, I can thankfully say that EA have righted some wrongs and have made a substantial improvement over last year. That said, the issues which remain are absolutely unforgivable and in some cases are even more scandalous.
FC26 launches with a plethora of content that will quench the thirst of any football fan. The main modes from previous games return; Ultimate Team, Clubs and Career Mode, along with the casual Kick Off modes. All of these offer different play styles which cater to many different players’ needs, thus making it the most accessible FC game yet. Ultimate Team remains the main competitive mode for players with its rivals and champions head to head modes that are both as addictive as they are infuriating. Clubs is still the best way to enjoy the game, with friends teaming up, creating your own club and achieving glory against other teams. In addition, Career Mode has become a brilliant in depth mode to test your knowledge and ability, whether it’s as a manager or as a player, along with added live modes to allow you to play and follow real life events. However, as mentioned, some issues really drag the package down.
To put it simply, the microtransactions and the season pass available on launch in this game are disgraceful. The way in which this franchise has become so infected with microtransactions saddens me to my core. Everywhere you turn in the game there are prompts and in game stores which allow you to use real money. Whether it’s packs for new players in UT or cosmetics in Clubs, the amount of focus EA places on this is sickening.
Ultimate Team is, as usual, the biggest victim with the in game rewards from matches and events reduced even further from before, deliberately tempting to you to sink more money into the game. And don’t get me started on the season and premium pass! The fact that the premium pass costs 500k in game coins is a joke. It’s not just the cost though, it’s the bizarre choices the developers have made. Icons can be used in career mode this year but instead of putting them in the base season pass, they are locked behind the premium pass. Considering you have to earn tens of thousands of XP to unlock these, with most of the XP tied to Ultimate Team, it’s a real shame. Whilst the modes and content are there and in abundance, these monetary choices are unforgivable and inexcusable. EA, do better. Thankfully, they have, in the gameplay department.
A Refreshing Streamlined Tactical Concoction
Thankfully, gameplay in EAFC26 is the best it has been in years. The developers have tried to go for a simplified approach, splitting between the Authentic and Competitive gameplay style pre-sets. When selecting the Competitive pre-set, the game offers a faster paced style, filled with more moments and vastly improved AI teammates. It is by far the most optimal way of playing FC26, in particular online, due to the improvements with the AI. Authentic does exactly what the name suggests – a slower, more realistic approach to football, with slower players forcing you to rely on your own tactical knowledge. These pre-sets really do offer a great amount of variety and it’s a testament to the development team at EA that they feel so damn good.
Attacking in FC26 has never felt better. Shooting and movement feels sleek and highly responsive, making it an absolute joy to weave your way through the opposition’s defence. Stick dribbling is the best it has ever been. Passing feels much crisper and responsive, allowing you to ping the ball around the park like you’re prime Kroos! Defending, however, is another story. The difficulty in defending in this year’s iteration feels as hard as it ever has. Mistiming a tackle has never felt so impactful in a game and whilst the AI has been vastly improved, the AI players still needlessly go out of position when under pressure from a counter attack. EA has tried to counteract this by giving the AI goalkeepers a huge boost, with great positioning and much better shot stopping. They’re not perfect but they are so much better than the terrible goalkeepers of last year.
Clubs has received some minor new additions to its gameplay styles that have helped freshen up this hugely popular mode. The new Archetype system is a brilliant new way of progression in this mode. The ability to craft your player into a certain playstyle or emulate a great of the game is a brilliant new system and whilst the meta of the mode will certainly change, it is great to be able to have so much freedom in your choices.
The Beautiful Game
There are many issues with EA’s stewardship of the FIFA and now FC franchises, but one thing I feel can never be questioned is their commitment to authenticity and presentation. The visuals in FC26 are gorgeous and so lifelike at times that it’s uncanny. Every stadium looks magnificent in detail and scale, whilst the fans continue to be vastly improved upon year after year. Each player looks hyper realistic, with superstars like Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland looking particularly impressive. The commitment to authenticity in this franchise is one that should be lauded. The UI remains as sleek and strong as ever, whilst the continued additions to cosmetics in both UT and Clubs is fantastic, although dampened by the use of microtransactions. This is another stellar effort across the board in visual presentation.
Similarly, the audio design and soundtrack have been crafted to perfection. Every goal scored bristles the net with such force and emphasis it is truly brilliant. Every referee whistle pierces the sound barrier with great force. Every crowd chant virtually known to man is in this game for each team, making you feel like you are truly surrounded by your fellow fans. Keep Right On, particularly sounds great if you’re a Birmingham City fan like myself! Then there’s the soundtrack, which kills it once again. With over five hours worth of in game music, featuring artists like Ed Sheeren, Labrinth, Tom Grennan and many many more, there’s a song for everyone to enjoy! A superb effort in collating a soundtrack that will entice any music fan to listen to it!
Verdict
When EAFC26 clicks into gear it really feels like the most authentic, exhilarating title in the long running franchise for quite some time. Brilliant modes and great improvements to gameplay help push this series to new heights. Beautiful visuals and an infectious soundtrack seal this as the best title in years for the franchise. It’s just a real shame that EA have to infect this beloved series with shameful and disgusting microtransactions and a truly pathetic season pass. Nerfing rewards, throttling prices and some inconsistencies with the AI stop this from being an instant classic. EA, you’re slowly getting on the right track again, don’t mess this up.
