EA Sports College Football 25 Review: TD or Fumble?

I loved the NCAA games so much as a kid. My friends and I used to play them to death. I talk about that here. Picking a bad team (Let's Go Hoosiers!) and making them a powerhouse while competing for recruits. With the news of college football video games coming back, I was ecstatic with every news release that came with it. Knowing EA was holding the reins, I was ready to be hurt.

EA Sports College Football 25: Dynasty Mode

This is my favorite mode in a college football game—or in any sports game. The ability to take control of a team and run through multiple seasons while making all the big decisions is so much fun to me. For this, I chose my alma mater, Indiana University. I decided to create a head coach with an emphasis on recruiting. You have three choices when picking a head coach: a motivator, a recruiter, and a strategist.

You can still complete the original game's chores as you begin your season. I started by creating a recruiting board, looking for athletes, and providing financial aid. Additionally, you may decide which players to redshirt and alter your schedule (I might have added a few simpler games for me).

I'm pleased with the Dynasty mode overall. It reminds me of the old games I liked so much as a kid and gives you much power over what you can accomplish with your team. I did lose a lot in the end! This is a challenging game. Playing for the Hoosiers in the Big Ten is also tricky.

EA Sports College Football 25: Road to Glory

Road to Glory is another possible option that I had never really explored before. In this mode, you create your own player to play as a freshman in college until you are drafted or graduate. I created a five-star quarterback who, for whatever reason, chose to go to Arkansas State.

You have weekly options as a player, including resting, practicing, being a leader, being a community leader, and studying to keep your GPA at 3.0. Texts outlining other options, such as skipping class or even NIL offers, will also be sent to you. You can also complete several weekly practice drills to gain experience points and improve as a player.

You only have control over yourself when you play. You gain your coach's trust based on your performance. Although I have only played a few games in this mode, it seems pretty addictive. Anyone who likes an RPG component in a sports game may find this appealing.

Online Experience

Immediately, my friends and I entered Dynasty mode online. I decided on Kennesaw State for this. That one star was alluring to take over and improve, even though I've never heard of them. The only difference between playing the Dynasty offline and online is that you can play with friends. I play mine with eight other individuals, and it's going well.

I had a great time playing someone else online. There wasn't any lag affecting the game, and I had no connectivity problems. The lag was why I missed my kicks, but I am terrible at this part of the game. You should be thrilled if you have this to play with buddies because you will have a terrific time.

Bugs

While I praise the game, I must admit that I have encountered a number of issues thus far. Throughout the game at Northwestern, shadows were continuously flickering over the field. Additionally, the game froze when super-simulating the PAT and Kickoff to save time. I've been playing with my pals, and this has happened to us several times.

Other arbitrary incidents have also occurred, such as the referee standing in the middle of a play or a team's incorrect players being displayed when statistics are displayed. Additionally, the number of roughing-the-kicker calls is crazy. I hope EA can send an update to address these minor issues because this is an early release.

Ultimate Team and Road to the College Football Playoffs

I didn't spend any time playing these two game modes. The majority of EA sports games are like Ultimate Team. To build your ideal team, you gather player packs. There are a lot of microtransactions in this, and I never feel like doing them.

I have no experience with the College Football Playoffs road. You pick your favorite team and lead them through a college football playoff, but I haven't tried it.

Gameplay

I enjoy watching sports, and it helps me and my friends stay in touch even though we live in separate places. Football, in particular, is one of the most entertaining sports games I've played in a long time. Simply put, it had a much faster tempo and worked well in a video game.

It feels amazing to run the ball. Juggling, spinning, and trucking through players is something I'm enjoying, but it isn't easy to get correctly. Playing defense is also gratifying. Once more, it's a challenging game, mainly if you're playing Heisman.

It's entertaining to see the crowd grow or shrink depending on how your season is going. The commentary Bachelor/Bachelorette host Jesse Palmer provided during the game is also excellent. The kick meter is both fascinating and quite tricky.

Overall

This game has made me very pleased. The fact that EA could produce something as good as well astounds me. It reminds me of the old NCAA games I played. Additionally, College Football 25 has been selling incredibly well, which is encouraging in the hopes that it will continue to be a regular release. Can we attend a college basketball game as well? Hopefully, EA won't become avaricious and sabotage the game with further releases.