EA Sports FC 24: Brand New Name, Same Old FIFA

ign.com:

EA Sports has unveiled FC 24, its first non-FIFA football game following last year’s breakup between the two once famous friends. But don’t expect a revolution on the virtual pitch to accompany this big-budget rebrand. Instead, expect welcome quality-of-life improvements, a few positive gameplay tweaks, and a significant change to Ultimate Team that could dramatically shake up the competitive online meta.

After extensive hands-on time with FC 24, it’s safe to say this year’s game looks and feels like what you’d expect from a FIFA 24. There are loads of new animations - there always are loads of new animations - for FC 24 and you do notice them during gameplay. Erling Haaland’s stunning karate kick goal for Man City against previous club Borussia Dortmund in last season’s Champions League is in the game, for example. So is Haaland’s unique running style, his long arms waving about behind his arched back.

FC 24 has a long list of PlayStyles that make a player much better at a specific thing. They’re in Ultimate Team, too, which means the inevitable Team of the Week Haaland (I do not blame EA Sports one bit for drenching FC 24 with all things Haaland given the season he’s just had) may include the Power Header PlayStyle. Just what the world’s most overpowered goal machine needs: more power.

Brand wise, FC 24’s “PlayStyles” logo has a diamond in between “Play” and “Styles”. This is reflected in-game: you’ll see a player’s Play(insert diamond here)Style pop up above their head when they’re on the ball. It’s a bit distracting and rather pointless. Players, particularly fans of Ultimate Team, will know which PlayStyle their players have. Best to turn this visual indicator off once you get sick of it.

Will these PlayStyles,