EA Sports College Football 25: A Triumphant Return to the Gridiron

After over a decade-long hiatus, the beloved NCAA football series has been reborn as EA Sports College Football 25 (CFB25), reigniting the passions of longtime fans and sparking curiosity among newcomers. Developed by EA Orlando (formerly EA Tiburon) using the Frostbite Engine, CFB25 aims to capture the essence of college football, delivering an immersive and authentic experience.

First Impressions and Settings

Upon booting up CFB25, players are greeted with six main menu tabs, offering a wealth of options to customize the gameplay experience. The "game options" tab is a great place to start, with settings like "Placement & Accuracy" and "Revamped Passing" that significantly impact the passing game. "Placement & Accuracy" allows players to control the arc and placement of the ball, offering a more precise passing experience compared to the default setting.

The game also features a comprehensive settings menu, allowing players to adjust everything from menu narration to CPU punting accuracy. These settings can be tweaked to suit individual preferences without affecting achievement or trophy progress. To test these settings and familiarize yourself with the game's mechanics, the training tab offers a variety of mini-games covering offense, defense, and special teams.

Visuals and Performance

Running on a Series X, CFB25 boasts a resolution of 1440p upscaled to 4K. The in-game action runs at a smooth 60fps, while cinematics and transitions are locked at 30fps. While the frame rate drop during these moments might seem jarring on paper, it is hardly noticeable during actual gameplay. Overall, the game performs as intended, with smooth gameplay and fast loading times.

While the game looks visually impressive, some players might miss the option for performance/quality toggles, with a 120fps mode being a welcome addition. The response time for 60fps is around 16.67ms, while 120fps would halve that to approximately 8.33ms, potentially offering a smoother and more responsive experience for some players.

Gameplay and Mechanics

Players familiar with Madden should be able to jump right into CFB25. For those new to the world of sports games, it can be helpful to think of football as a role-playing game, where each player on the field is a class with specific skills working towards a common goal. CFB25 shines in its gameplay, offering swift animations that create dynamic moments and avoid the sluggishness that has plagued recent Madden titles. Run-pass options (RPOs) are particularly satisfying to execute, with smooth transitions from faking the handoff to passing the ball.

When calling plays, players can either rely on coach suggestions or call audibles on the fly. Holding the right trigger pre-snap reveals the play. Using the "Placement & Accuracy" passing type allows for precise back-shoulder throws to receivers. Once the ball is in the air, receivers have multiple options, including catching the ball in stride, securing the catch, or making an aggressive play. After catching the ball or receiving a handoff, players can utilize various moves to evade defenders, such as jukes, hesitations, hurdles, spin moves, and even pitching the ball to a teammate.

Defensively, holding RT/R2 displays the defensive coverage. Players can switch between controlling the defensive line, tasked with rushing the passer and stopping the run, or the secondary, responsible for covering receivers and making interceptions. The "game controls" option in the settings tab provides a comprehensive list of offensive and defensive inputs.

Game Modes: Road to Glory and Dynasty

CFB25 offers several game modes, including Road to Glory, Dynasty, and Ultimate Team. Road to Glory allows players to create a player and guide them through their college career. This mode showcases the RPG elements of football, but it has faced criticism for feeling underwhelming compared to previous iterations of the series.

Dynasty mode, on the other hand, is a standout feature, offering a deep and engaging experience for players who enjoy team management and strategic planning. Recruiting is a key aspect of Dynasty mode, requiring players to scout and persuade recruits based on their individual wants and needs. The mode also features consequences for failing to meet contract expectations, adding a layer of realism and challenge.

Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile

Road to Glory: A Mixed Bag

Road to Glory has faced criticism for being a barebones career mode. Unlike NCAA Football 14, where players proved themselves as high school prospects, in CFB25, you simply choose your position and star rating at the outset. While starting as a lower-rated recruit and working your way up sounds appealing, the process involves repeatedly playing the same mini-games to earn playing time. There is also a lack of story or commentary to reflect your rise to the top.

Once in the starting lineup, player agency is limited. The inability to audible out of plays and the restricted number of Play Change points per game can be frustrating. The attempt to replicate academia through limited energy points allocated to activities is also a miss, as players can easily game the system. Scenarios presented through text messages are often unremarkable and their boosts are rarely worth it.

Dynasty Mode: A Deep and Engaging Experience

Dynasty mode is the polar opposite of Road to Glory, offering a tapestry of planning and execution. Recruiting is in-depth, considering specific player wants and needs and requiring players to shape their team around them. The limited amount of time and scholarships adds a strategic element to scouting players.

Improving a team's chances of signing recruits involves overcoming dealbreakers, such as school prestige and playstyle. The choice between an established coach and creating your own is accommodating, with established coaches offering abilities and upgrades, while creating your own allows for customization of attributes and playstyle.

Dynasty mode also features consequences for failing to meet expectations, adding realism to the game. This can lead to fun scenarios, such as getting fired from a prestigious school and then leading an underdog team to victory against your former employer.

Ultimate Team

While I don’t play it myself, it is also worth mentioning that My Ultimate Team (MUT) EA Sports College Football 25 has been added in. It is identical to what is in Madden, still placing plenty of focus and emphasis on microtransactions and pay-to-win gameplay. Anyone that enjoys it, regardless of this, isn’t going to be deterred from trying it out with college players instead of NFL stars.

Achievements and Online Play

CFB25 features a straightforward list of achievements, encouraging players to explore the game's various modes. However, some achievements may be bugged, as one player reported encountering a glitch with the "playoff bound" achievement in Road to Glory mode.

Online play is primarily tested through the Road to College Football Playoffs mode, where players can choose a team and compete against others online. Server performance is generally stable, with only occasional brief pauses due to network issues. The game also features cross-platform play and voice chat.

Audio and Presentation

The game's soundtrack features marching band horns and drums, which may appeal to some players but could be a turn-off for those accustomed to licensed music. The commentary is provided by broadcast and big game teams.

EA Sports College Football 25 excels in capturing the atmosphere of college football. The vibrant crowds, university-specific traditions, and uniquely designed stadiums create a distinct ambiance for each school. The game also looks impressive during gameplay, with detailed player models and realistic movement and AI reactivity.

NIL and its Impact

The inclusion of real players in CFB25 is a welcome addition, made possible by the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules. However, this also introduces restrictions, such as the inability to edit NIL players and export draft classes to Madden. These restrictions are a trade-off for having real players in the game, but they do limit customization options.

Critic Reviews and Community Feedback

Initial reviews of CFB25 have been largely positive, with critics praising the game's visuals, gameplay, and Dynasty mode. Forbes noted that EA delivered a much deeper experience than just a Madden reskin with college uniforms, carving its own identity in every way possible. COGconnected stated that College Football 25 is a success, making them excited about simulated football again. Screen Rant considered it a must-play for hardcore college football fans.

However, some players have expressed concerns about the online gameplay, with one user describing it as "Madden 20 except worse." Others have criticized the lack of tutorials, the team rating system, and the simulation aspects of the game.

Despite these criticisms, many players have praised the game's visuals, authentic presentation, and overall fun factor. One user described it as the best game of the year, while another lauded EA for putting actual effort into the game.

tags: #ncaa #football #25 #review