September 27th 2024.
Get ready football fans, because EA Sports FC 25 is here and it's shaping up to be the biggest seller of the year! We've had the chance to play it for a week now and we're ready to give our verdict. One of the most exciting changes in this year's edition is the revamped tactics system, which not only affects how strategies work on the pitch, but also how you can set up your team before a game.
We've been experimenting with the tactics and have some findings to share. But first, let's take a closer look at how the revamped tactics work in EA Sports FC 25. These tactics work in tandem with the new AI system, called FC IQ, which aims to make your in-game opponents and teammates act and think more like real-world pros. According to EA, this system introduces tactics used by top football tacticians and upgrades the football IQ of every player on the pitch.
But what does this mean in practice? Well, the tactics have a brand new user interface with fewer team and player-specific instructions. Instead, you'll find new options such as build-up style, defensive approach, and player roles. These changes completely shake up the tactics system and make it more crucial than ever to set up your team properly before a game.
So, what have we found after a week of playing? First of all, we highly recommend making sure your players are familiar with the role you assign them. This is especially important now with the new AI, as it will greatly impact how your player performs in the game. One of the most exciting new player roles is the falseback, where you can give each player a specific job on the pitch, like a false nine or a falseback, with a sub-focus of attacking, balanced, or defensive.
But don't worry, we've got you covered with our top tips for the best tactics in EA Sports FC 25. Despite all the changes, playing a simple and direct style still works best, just like in previous editions of the game. Start by selecting your formation and then set your build-up style to either balanced or counter, with the latter triggering your players to make more forward runs when you have the ball.
When it comes to defensive approach, it's best to stick with a balanced or high defensive line. We found that anywhere between 50 and 70 works well, with 60 being a sweet spot for the AI to track runs and apply pressure without the ball. Our recommended formation includes two wingers, a fast or dribbling option, and a striker who is always ready for crosses in the box. Some good options include the 4-4-1-1, 4-3-3, 4-4-2, and 4-1-2-1-2. You can also consider having an attacking midfielder, either as a focal point in your passing build-up or as a shadow striker to attack crosses.
But that's not all, make sure to go into the player roles and set your striker as a poacher or advanced forward. For your wide midfielders, select a winger with an attacking focus or an attacking inside forward to keep them positioned high up the pitch. And if you want more presence on the flanks, consider having at least one attacking wingback. As for your attacking midfielder, the shadow striker role is best for making runs into the opponent's box, while the playmaker role is better for passing in the build-up.
Now, let's talk about what doesn't work in EA Sports FC 25. One of the criticisms we had in our review was the limited options for player roles. For example, the central midfielder doesn't have many attacking player roles, which makes the falseback position less effective. Additionally, we found that playing with a short passing style doesn't work very well. Despite our efforts to create a possession-based strategy, we struggled to make productive runs towards the goal once we reached the opponent's final third.
It would be great if EA could implement a feature that lets you create custom set plays, triggered at certain points on the pitch, to help with this issue. We also don't recommend playing with an extremely aggressive defensive approach, especially on higher difficulties. The AI is smarter now and makes fewer mistakes, making it difficult to take advantage of a high line and press the opponent as a team. Plus, it requires more stamina from your players.
Overall, we're impressed with the changes made to the tactics system in EA Sports FC 25, but there are still some areas that need improvement. We hope to see more options for player roles in the future, as well as the ability to create custom set plays. But for now, we recommend playing a simple and direct style to see success on the pitch. So, give your tactics a good think before you start playing and let us know what you think in the comments or on Twitter! And don't forget to sign up for our newsletter for all the latest gaming content and releases.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
