September 19th 2024.
eFootball has gone through some major changes over the past three years. While it has made significant improvements in terms of graphics and gameplay, there is still room for growth for this free-to-play simulator.
In 2021, eFootball was simply a rebranding of its predecessor, Pro Evolution Soccer 2020, with an updated player transfers due to the COVID pandemic. However, with the switch to the Unreal Engine, there were high expectations for eFootball 2022. Unfortunately, these expectations quickly turned into disappointment as the game was plagued with terrible graphics and numerous bugs. In comparison to the sleek and polished EA Sports FC 25, which we recently previewed, eFootball was not even in the same league.
Despite this rocky start, eFootball has persisted and is still going strong three years later, now without a number in its name. We were curious to see if the free-to-play simulator had redeemed itself over time, and after playing for a few days, we can confirm that it has significantly improved.
But the question remains, is eFootball 2025 better than it used to be? While many of the criticisms from three years ago, such as poor graphics, bugs, slow game speed, and a lack of licensed clubs and leagues, are still present, they have been reduced to a lesser extent. Graphics have improved, although they are still not up to par with EA Sports FC 24. Animations have also gotten better, although there are still some awkward and unrealistic moments. And while there are fewer bugs, the game speed is still frustratingly slow. This can limit how you play, as you must constantly be aware of pressing opponents and struggle to maintain possession of the ball. Unfortunately, there is no option to change the game speed or match duration, except in friendly matches. Additionally, eFootball still lacks licensing agreements with many real-world teams and leagues. While there have been some improvements in this area, with 21 licensed clubs compared to the nine in eFootball 2022, it is still far from ideal for a simulator.
Now, let's take a look at the new features in eFootball 2025. Despite its flaws, there are some exciting additions to this year's game. The most notable one is the finesse dribble option, which allows for more precise ball control using the L2/LT button. This works similarly to EA Sports FC, allowing you to move quickly while maintaining control of the ball. Another positive addition is the Smart Assist feature, which simplifies gameplay by having the AI take control in certain situations. However, this feature is not available in online matches, so it's best to wean yourself off of it in order to improve your skills. Additionally, eFootball has introduced timed events with rewards, although they lack variety and creativity.
One major disappointment with eFootball 2022 was the lack of traditional game modes, including Master League. Unfortunately, this is still the case, with game modes split between creating your own Dream Team, similar to Ultimate Team, or playing with authentic squads. Currently, eFootball offers an online ranked league system, a single-player mode, and single-player and online friendly matches. However, these modes lack variety and creativity, making it feel like minimal effort was put into them.
On the other hand, Konami has put a lot of effort into the rewards system in eFootball. There are four types of rewards: experience points, eFootball points, nominating contracts, and coins. These rewards are constantly given out after every game and even for completing short training sessions or logging into the game. In fact, for the first seven days of playing, you will receive a login bonus, a welcome login bonus, and a Booster Token to upgrade your players.
In conclusion, while eFootball has made significant improvements since its launch three years ago, there is still room for growth. The graphics and gameplay have improved, but there are still some flaws, such as slow game speed and a lack of licensed clubs and leagues. However, with new features like the finesse dribble and Smart Assist, as well as a rewarding rewards system, eFootball 2025 is definitely in a much better state than it used to be.
It's been quite a journey for eFootball in the past three years. The once simple simulator has undergone some noteworthy changes, and while it has made some strides in terms of graphics and gameplay, it still has a ways to go. When eFootball 2021 was released, it was essentially just a name change and a player update from its predecessor, Pro Evolution Soccer 2020. But with the impacts of the COVID pandemic, there were high hopes for eFootball 2022, especially with Konami's use of the Unreal Engine. However, these expectations quickly turned into disappointment as the game launched with numerous bugs and abysmal graphics. In comparison to the polished and well-funded EA Sports FC 25, eFootball was simply not on the same level.
But here we are, three years later, and eFootball is still going strong, having dropped the number from its name. Many were curious to see if the free-to-play simulator had redeemed itself in that time, and after playing it for a few days, it's safe to say that it has greatly improved. The question is, has it improved enough to rival its competitors? The answer is not quite. Many of the criticisms from three years ago, such as poor graphics, bugs, sluggish gameplay, and a lack of licensed clubs and leagues, are still present in the game. However, they have been addressed to a certain extent.
The graphics, while still not up to par with EA Sports FC 24, have improved significantly compared to eFootball 2022. Animations are also better, although there are still some awkward and unrealistic moments during gameplay. The game speed is still an issue, with passes taking too long to reach their target, causing unnecessary stress and limiting gameplay options. It's frustrating that this cannot be adjusted in the game settings, except for friendly matches. Additionally, the duration of matches is locked at 10 minutes for all campaigns, which can be a drawback for some players.
One of the longstanding issues with eFootball, dating back to its days as Pro Evolution Soccer, is the lack of licensing agreements with real-world teams and leagues. This means that instead of playing with teams like Real Madrid, you'll get a generic team like Madrid Chamartin B. While there has been some improvement in this area, with eFootball 2025 featuring 21 licensed clubs compared to the 9 in 2022, it's still not ideal for a simulator to not accurately simulate the real world.
Moving on to the new features in eFootball 2025, there are some exciting additions that have been well-received by players. The most significant one is the finesse dribble option, which allows for more control over the ball using the L2/LT button. This works similarly to EA Sports FC, giving players the ability to move at a decent pace while maintaining control over the ball. Another positive addition is the Smart Assist feature, which simplifies the game for beginners by allowing the AI to take control of certain moves based on the situation. However, this feature is not allowed in online matches, so it's important for players to wean themselves off of it to avoid becoming too dependent on it.
Another disappointment with eFootball 2022 was the lack of traditional game modes, including the popular Master League. Unfortunately, this is still the case with eFootball 2025, as game modes are split between creating your own Dream Team, which is similar to Ultimate Team, and playing with authentic squads. The game offers an online ranked league system, a single-player mode, and single and online friendly matches. While there are also timed events, they lack creativity and variety.
However, one area where Konami has put in a lot of effort is the rewards system. There are four types of rewards: experience points, eFootball points, nominating contracts, and coins. These are constantly given to players after every game, training session, or login. In fact, for the first seven days of playing, players receive a login bonus, welcome login bonus, and a Booster Token that can be used to upgrade a player. This system is designed to encourage players to come back to the game regularly.
In conclusion, while eFootball has certainly improved since its last release, it still has some catching up to do compared to its competitors. The graphics and game speed have improved, and there are some exciting new features, but the lack of traditional game modes and licensing agreements with real-world teams and leagues may be a deal-breaker for some players. However, with its free-to-play model and constant rewards, it's worth giving eFootball 2025 a try to see if it's a game that suits your preferences.
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