Well, as much as I love to hate this game and it's parent company, I have to admit that this patch has been a definitive success.
Somehow within this new focus on realism, nonsense persisted.
Pre-patch, FC25 gameplay was – to be polite – a steaming pile of garbage. The game felt new, sure, yet somehow within this new focus on realism, nonsense persisted. For starters, pace as a concept seemed to have been removed from the game entirely. Now I did appreciate a shift towards a slower, more tactical style of game closer to that of real-life football, but, last time I checked, if Salah gets played in behind most defenders, he’s not getting caught.
The pre-patch reality was starkly different. Picture that scene in Jurassic Park when Jeff Goldblum checks his mirror, only to be met with a T-rex ‘closer than it appears’. Well swap out the T-rex for an opposition centre-back, and swap out his character’s lucky escape for an unavoidable interception, minus the teeth and death and whatnot. It was a sorry period, especially for through ball merchants like me.
On top of this, interceptions were woefully inconsistent. It could take three attempts to win a ball you should’ve on the first, yet at the same time, defensive AI (particularly on new-gen consoles) was at an all time high, with the strategy pre patch literally being to not control your centre-backs. Just switch to your CDM, AI can do the rest.
The game was bad. Very bad.
But then, a miracle. EA listened to community feedback (this should not be overlooked it quite literally never happens). They patched the aforementioned issues. The shape of the game has changed completely.
Manual defending returns, and, my word, it had been missed.
Gone are the days of Simeone-style 10-man AI defence, because the responsibility is firmly back in the hands of the player. Manual defending returns, and, my word, it had been missed. No-one can defend, so mind-numbing, gridlocked CDM wars have given way to high scoring thrillers. Attacking feels fluid, fun, actually feasible! The death of realism has been the rebirth of fun.
This patch has been heavenly for me. The through ball is here to stay.
Oh, and pace. Pace is very back. I had been trudging my way through pre-patch games with an evolved 94 pace Iñaki Williams and getting caught every time. Now he just dusts people. This patch has been heavenly for me. The through ball is here to stay.
The only miss here has been interceptions, which remain clunky, but in light of everything this patch has brought, I can forgive this minor sin. For the FC community, this patch has been a lifesaver. Long may this bliss continue.