As is tradition every fall, EA has released the most recent version of its football simulator. This time things are different, since the publisher has dispensed with a name it had for almost three decades. EA Sports FC 24 It is the beginning of a new era without the name FIFA in the titlealthough deep down, it is still the same game as always.
EA’s move seems one of the most disruptive in its history as a company. The word FIFA is linked to the EA Sports game in the entertainment industry, as well as brands such as Aspirin, Kleenex or Nutella that became generic names. Phrases like “the new FIFA” or “the challenges in FIFA” are part of the lexicon of millions of players today.
After playing for several hours EA Sports FC 24 I discovered that the name change is the only new thing. The game has a minimal facelift and retains the structure of a FIFA. Minor gameplay tweaks, occasional additions to single-player modes, and a total focus on Ultimate Team (FUT) stand out in this year’s edition.
EA Sports FC 24 is FIFA 24for better or worse. The new features will not be to the liking of many, but they will keep those who invest hours in the online game satisfied. After all, most people who buy a FIFA They do it for the updated squads and FUT cards, not for the experience of enjoying a realistic soccer simulator.
What’s new in EA Sports FC 24
The most notable change in EA Sports FC 24 It is the user interface, which gets rid of the blocks and offers a side menu similar to what we saw in the old FIFA. The menu is dynamic and changes with respect to the game mode. Although it may be disconcerting at first glance, most sections in the career modes, clubs or settings are left unchanged so as not to alienate players.
Every year, EA Sports usually presents the latest developments in its football game with great fanfare. EA Sports FC 24 is no exception and one of the ones that the study promotes the most is Hypermotion V, the new motion capture technology that uses stadium-mounted cameras and artificial intelligence to add realism to the game. When combined with other factors, such as intros dynamics or menus Matchday — which include “never seen angles of the action” — we would be facing an experience faithful to what is experienced in a real match.
Although they sound good on paper, the reality is that they will go out of style sooner than you think. Once you have seen everything, you will press Skip 99% of the time because all you want to do is play. Other additions, such as the materials of the shirts or the movements of the fingers or the texture of the faces, are only seen in the replays, since most users usually choose the furthest camera to have a complete panorama of the field.
EA has a bad habit of focusing on superfluous things and showing trailers with angles that we will never use in the game. What matters to a FIFA player is the gameplay and in this section EA Sports FC 24 It does not stray from the usual path.
As FIFA 23but a bit faster
In terms of control, EA Sports FC 24 It’s similar to what it was FIFA 23 before the latest patch. The gameplay is fast and optimized for offensive play, so the scores will be high in both career mode and multiplayer. Adjustments to animations and ball physics are minimal but evident.
EA Sports FC 24 it’s a simcade football where the defenders are conspicuous by their absencebut a change in sliders or the game speed within the settings menu could improve the experience.
The problem is that the gameplay at launch won’t be the same in one, six or nine months. EA often releases updates to patch exploits or nerf plays, although in most cases it ends up affecting control. The way a match develops will change and the game will change over time, in most cases, for the worse.
Ultimate Team (FUT) is the priority
It’s no secret that FUT is the priority for EA in all FIFA games. In EA Sports FC 24, Ultimate Team is the most robust modality, with additions such as evolutions or women’s soccer. The first allow Level up your players after completing certain challenges, which translates into improvements to their physical attributes. The cards also change appearance as they evolve, reminding us of legendary cards in traditional games like magic
He debut of women’s soccer in Ultimate Team consists of adding professional players to your team. There is no distinction and everyone can play a mixed match, although your lineup benefits if they share nationality or play for the same team in their respective leagues. Also integrated are the PlayStyleswhich are exclusive skills for each player and that add an extra to the general classification of your squad.
Overall, Ultimate Team feels like a different game from the rest of the options. The menus are different and the updates are constant, since EA needs to take advantage of those packages that you pay for with real money. About this, the micro payments They are present in everythingfrom special editions to rapid evolutions, so those who invest the most money will be the ones with the most powerful equipment.
The big problem of Ultimate Team is designed to be addictive. EA has been perfecting the mechanics of mobile games and applying them to FUT for a long time. Offering rewards in exchange for completing challenges or participating in temporary events is the ideal recipe for FOMO syndrome, which generates a fear of feeling like you are missing out on something if you don’t connect.
What about career mode?
The Career mode is one of the ones that generates the most controversy in each edition of FIFA. Hundreds of complaints in reddit and other social networks They accuse EA of abandoning this modality and delivering a shortened version year with year. In the case of EA Sports FC 24the changes are minimal and follow the basis of FIFA 23.
The most striking feature is the possibility of Hire additional coaches to improve your players. The Manager Career introduces a management system where you are allowed to choose between seven different tactics (wing play, tikitaka, counterattack, etc.) that adapt to any formation. The choice will depend on your playing style and you will have to match it when hiring coaches.
Although trainers function as support, this feature adds micromanagement to the game. Now you must be aware of their suggestions to modify the evolution plans of your players. To compensate, EA Sports FC 24 eliminated training sessions with mini-games, as they are now only limited to one in the pre-match.
Who’s playing Player Career They will have new features such as an agent who is responsible for shaping your career, an immersive camera and a renewed version of styles that are based on the player’s personality. In this last, Your player must do extracurricular activities to unlock points and unlock skills.
In practice G. The agent is your bridge to get hired by the team of your dreams, but his suggestions are bad that it is better to define the objective on your own. He skill tree concept taken from an RPG It’s a good idea, but EA executes it in a questionable way with activities that have no relation to your progress.
Worth EA Sports FC 24?
The FIFA They are a kind of toxic relationship where you swear you will leave your partner, but you go back to them. That’s how it is EA Sports FC 24, a game with few new features, updated templates and licenses for important teams and competitions. Ultimate Team is still a pay to win which inherits the best of Las Vegas mobile games and casinos.
It is true that soccer games have a limit established by the rules of the sport. Even so, there is room to innovate with new modalities or improve existing ones. EA has had moments of brilliance with FIFA Street or Volta itself, however, never become relevant because the money is in FUT.
Even so, EA Sports FC 24 It is the only recommended soccer game on the market. With Konami out of the way, Electronic Arts has carte blanche to get its way every year. After all, sales will come and million-dollar revenues will continue to justify the strategy of investing very little in product development.
If you have an older FIFA and don’t care about FUT or updated squads, it’s not worth the purchase. EA Sports FC 24. FIFA 18 either FIFA 23 They include the World Cup and you can buy them second-hand at an affordable price. If you want a robust DT mode, Football Manager is the reference and the 2024 edition is just around the corner.
EA Play has a 10-hour trial period for EA Sports FC 24so you can take advantage of your Game Pass subscription to experience it before making a decision.