EA Sports FC 26 Review - The Feedback Era

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FC 25 brought some new options to the table, like the return of Career mode and deep tactics, but at the end of the day, there were no significant changes in the gameplay. However, EA Sports FC 26 was actually revealed with a feedback trailer where community posts and comments on last year’s game were the highlights of the show. That’s a big plus, and after playing FC 26 for a couple of days now, I have to admit that a lot of the feedback has been addressed in this title. It’s no miracle, but I believe that more players will enjoy this year’s FC for its refined improvements.

Starting with the elephant in the room, there are two gameplay options to choose from when playing FC 26: Authentic and Competitive. The first one is available in offline modes, such as Kick Off, Career Mode, and Leagues, while the latter is available in both offline and online modes, including the Ultimate Team. Now, to describe the two in a few words, Authentic is slow gameplay, and Competitive is the same arcadey, fast-paced game we had for years.

Personally, I’m not a fan of the Authentic mode, as it slows things down significantly while trying to simulate real-life soccer. There are no differences in the core gameplay; however. This option appears only to affect gameplay speed, allowing players to react more quickly to attacks, defense challenges, and improve their shot accuracy.

It’s A Goal Festival In Ultimate Team

Going over the online matches where Competitive gameplay mode is the only option, the first thing you realize is how gameplay feels super smooth. This isn’t typical smoothness; it’s the dribbling mechanics shifted toward the more simplistic pleasures where you can run past all the blockers holding R1+L1. This is the so-called “Ballerina” dribbling that was nerfed in previous games and is now back in full swing.

This suddenly slams the skill gap in online gameplay, and every match you play will have a total of 8 goals at the very least. You’ll need fewer RS skill moves and more LS control over the ball instead to walk past Virgil van Dijk in 2 seconds, which brings me to my next point: The Defense System.

I figured that the new simple dribbles and smooth gameplay aren’t actually the problem in EA Sports FC 26. In fact, allowing more players to enjoy the game is a good call, but the manual defense in this game is harder to master than in previous titles. For instance, successful tackles are now refined to prevent the ball from deflecting toward the attackers, allowing them to regain momentum, which is perfect. However, can you still make a successful tackle?

Defending in EA Sports FC 26 is like sliding on ice in front of the razor-sharp attackers, and that’s an unfair advantage that leads to 10+ goal matches. It’s not responsive, the tackles in both Tactical and Advanced modes are harder to grasp, and overall, allowing the AI to do the job is probably the only option left. Just stand back, hold the R1 button (on Alternative setup), and do your best to block only the shots.

The same applies to team tactics and presets, which are now too easy to pick and choose. You can still customize your bookwork if you want a refined tactic and adjust the sliders, but I think the simple presets are all you need for beating your friend offline or hard grinding in Ultimate Team.

If there’s one thing that has improved significantly in FC 26, however, it’s the goalkeepers’ animations. There are new moves that the man guarding the post does on the pitch right now, and almost all of them end in redirecting the ball to the corner. No rebounds, no second touches. They grab the ball when possible and clear it with a save if the shot’s heavy. So far, this is my favorite change in the game, as it prevents the occurrence of lucky and uncalled goals.

You Can Have Your “Ultimate” Teams Later

Image Source: Electronic Arts via The Nerd Stash

Unlike previous titles, EA Sports FC 26 does not include numerous packs at the start, allowing the majority of players to stick to their 70- to 85-card sets for more grounded and competitive gameplay. And I have to admit, it works! I no longer have to face a team of ’90s best-of-the-best, with Pelé right in front of me on the very first day of the UT.

The Ultimate Team is also offering more game modes this year, including the Elimination Cup, which presents high-value prizes to anyone who qualifies in a 16-team knockout bracket. In the absence of Volta, Rush has made a return with chaotic 4v4 gameplay, which I highly recommend playing with friends rather than random players.

Probably the most essential part of the EA Sports FC 26 Ultimate Team, Rivals, is also back, and it delivers an easier grind path. Instead of having to get wins in a row, now you’ll have protection points at certain levels. You can only lose 4 times, for example, before reaching the next checkpoint, which brings in more engagement and less frustration for the players. There are even bounties, bonuses, and extra prizes in this mode to keep the controller in your hands for longer.

Overall, EA Sports FC 26 is a refined version of the past two titles, featuring major fixes and an easier-to-handle gameplay experience. Dribbling is taken back to the peaks, passes and shots are more consistent, and goalkeepers actually do their job of clearing the ball this time. However, if there’s one thing that holds it back, it’s the manual defending. The imbalance of cheese dribbles and a hard-to-master defense system is the only gameplay element I found disturbing, which turns every competitive match into a high-scoring contest.