College Football 25 REVIEW

I never thought this day would come, but EA has finally done it: they released a good sports game in 2024. How did this happen? It turns out that giving a development studio multiple years to work on a game does wonders. The yearly release schedule for sports games has been hurting the final product for a long time, and it's not even necessary. These games should release every few years with roster update DLC patches to hold the community over. However, because these companies care about profit more than anything else, we get yearly releases that are barely any different from the year before.

It's no secret that Madden, EA’s other football game, and for the last 11 years their only football game, has been complete garbage for over a decade. Anyone who has already played College Football 25 will instantly realize just how bad Madden is in comparison if they haven't already come to that conclusion.

I am one of EA's loudest critics—not because it gets views, not because I am a mindless hater, but because Madden has been a very poor product despite being the exclusive and only Sim NFL game since 2015. I will never forgive EA or the NFL for signing that exclusive rights agreement, killing off the legendary NFL 2K Series in 2005, and then following it up with low-effort Madden games that seemed to only get worse over time. No matter how good College Football 25 is, I will never forgive EA for the past, and that is why I refuse to be affiliated with EA in any official capacity.

So imagine my surprise when I started playing College Football 25. I heard all the praise from the EA Game Changers who played the game early—not the expert, Eric Rayweather, Bordeaux, and basically everyone who has already played it with early access. Just like you guys, I was skeptical. An EA Sports game running on the Frostbite engine and it's actually good? No way. But then I played it myself. Those guys were all accurate in their initial assessment, and I fell in love a bit. This game isn't amazing; it's not the greatest sports game of all time, and it's not even the greatest football video game of all time, but it's a really good game overall. After playing terrible Madden games for over a decade, it's so refreshing.

Over the years, my main issues with Madden have been its dull, boring, and shallow nature—no Create-a-Team mode, a lackluster franchise mode, stale repetitive gameplay, lifeless presentation, slow and sluggish menus, horrific glitches, and more. It never felt like those in charge of Madden ever truly cared. College Football 25 directly addresses all of those complaints. Let's dive deeper.

Gameplay

My favorite part of College Football 25 is the gameplay. Let me be clear: this is not the most realistic or simulation-focused football gameplay we've seen in a video game. All-Pro Football 2K8 has cleaner animations, more accurate throwing mechanics, and much better AI blocking. In the old 2K football games, blockers could actually make decisions and adapt based on the development of the play. This led to very organically developed plays where the same play against the same defense led to wildly different results each time. EA has never had this blocking logic, and they still don't.

However, College Football 25 has the most fun gameplay in any football game I've ever played. It's not the most realistic, but it's incredibly fun. You can break down plays and notice dumb blocking AI or the occasional janky moment, but overall, this gameplay is night-and-day different from Madden 24 and is not just a reskin. The gameplay feels more reminiscent of the PS2 and PS3 era Madden games, giving you that same sense of speed and fluidity.

Gameplay is fast. Spins and jukes are immediate and exhilarating. Throwing the ball has been revamped. This feels like five years of progress from Madden 24's gameplay; it feels like I'm playing Madden 29. It blows my mind how good this game plays. While it leans towards the arcade side, for college football, it's an awesome feeling. High-scoring games are fun, and struggles when trying to pull off an upset are exciting.

Player movement stands out, making open-field situations thrilling and allowing for creativity with moves. Gameplay speed is so fast that you forget the game is animation-based. Actions like shooting gaps, making defenders miss, and overall control feel satisfying rather than frustrating.

Presentation and Graphics

Graphically, this game looks fantastic, with two exceptions: cheerleaders and sidelines look rough when zoomed in, and the crowd also looks bad when zoomed in. Besides that, this game is genuinely beautiful. College Football 25 has much better lighting, motion blur effects, bloom, and fantastic attention to detail. Stadiums for all 134 teams are in the game, keeping gameplay fresh. The grass looks good, and jersey textures glisten in the sun. Replay angles are great, and there is a lot of care put into the on-field graphics.

Dynamic weather is missing, which is a bit unfortunate, and statistical overlays and popups could be more frequent. Commentary is mid, and the play-by-play is often delayed. The soundtrack is puzzling, consisting mostly of band music, which gets repetitive quickly. Despite all this, the game's overall polish is commendable for an EA Sports game.

Game Modes

Dynasty Mode: It's pretty good but not the deepest you'll find. The majority of its depth is in recruiting, which is very interactive and strategic. Outside of recruiting, there is little to do besides view stats or play your game. The Sim engine is random, and like Madden, bad teams can make it to the playoffs. Despite these issues, the gameplay, presentation, and recruiting help carry Dynasty mode.

Road to Glory: This career mode returns, allowing you to choose between an elite five-star player down to a two-star underdog and various positions. Customizations and in-game strategies make it engaging, though it lacks the high school start seen in older games.

Ultimate Team: Historic players can be found here, but they are behind a paywall. Microtransactions make it a cash grab, which is a shame because the mode has potential but is currently grinding-heavy.

Road to the College Football Playoff: This mode offers progression-based online play, giving an overarching goal while playing through online matches.

Mini Games: There are plenty, and they're fun, especially with local multiplayer.

Team Builder: Not present yet but will be available after early access.

Conclusion

Despite some flaws, College Football 25 is a refreshing and fun football game that stands out compared to recent EA titles like Madden. It gets an 8.5 out of 10 from me. EA, if you're listening, learn from this game. People love it not because it's the first college game in a long time, but because it's actually good.

Keywords

EA Sports
College Football 25
Madden
Gameplay
Presentation
Dynasty Mode
Road to Glory
Ultimate Team
Online Play
Graphics
Recruiting
Fun Factor
Microtransactions
Attention to Detail

FAQ

Q: Is College Football 25 better than Madden?

A: Yes, in many aspects, such as gameplay, presentation, and overall fun factor, College Football 25 surpasses recent Madden games.

Q: Is College Football 25 worth $ 70?

A: Yes, it offers an engaging and polished experience, making it a worthwhile purchase for football game enthusiasts.

Q: What are the main differences between College Football 25 and Madden?

A: College Football 25 offers faster gameplay, better AI, unique team playbooks, and a more immersive experience compared to Madden.

Q: What game modes are available in College Football 25?

A: The game offers Dynasty Mode, Road to Glory, Ultimate Team, Road to the College Football Playoff, and various mini-games.

Q: How does the recruiting system in Dynasty Mode work?

A: Recruiting in Dynasty Mode is interactive and strategic, involving player DMs, unique player faces, and a challenging yet rewarding experience.

Q: Does College Football 25 have dynamic weather?

A: No, dynamic weather is not present in the game, which means game conditions remain constant throughout a match.

Q: How is the commentary in College Football 25?

A: The commentary is adequate but not exceptional, with delayed play-by-play and some underwhelming calls during big plays.

Q: Are there microtransactions in College Football 25?

A: Yes, microtransactions are present in the Ultimate Team mode, making it a grind-heavy experience for those not willing to spend real money.