After 11 years of waiting, the college football video game we had been anticipating was finally here. The hype around EA Sports’ “College Football 25” has matched the level of some of the most popular games of all time, yet it still delivers.
To test the waters of this insurmountably hyped-up game, I immediately ran to see how well the Egg Bowl was translated into the game.
The Egg Bowl
Davis Wade Stadium is beautifully translated. The silence on offense, followed by the head-shaking noise of 60,000 cowbells on defense, is almost awe-inspiring.
Up five points with 1:30 seconds left on a rainy night in Davis Wade, the ringing of cowbells makes a clear effect on Dart and the Rebels’ offense. All the while, the fourth-quarter tension granted by the Egg Bowl makes every movement on defense feel extremely consequential.
The presentation also contributes to the atmosphere. As the team runs out into the cold and wet arena, hearing the announcers tell how the fans “have a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell” shows how much care went into this historic rivalry. Everything is here to make and/or break the Thanksgiving of a Mississippi house divided, which is more than could be asked for.
Gameplay
For years, the “Madden NFL” football video games, which are also developed and published by EA, have been scrutinized for their gameplay. Luckily, EA Sports’ “College Football 25” does not carry with it a lot of the same issues. The throwing arc is much more accurate to the real world than it has been for years in “Madden.”
Gameplay flows better, and as EA pointed out in their gameplay showcase leading up to release, players are more likely to make mistakes in college, so having a star player can really make a difference.
Defenses will mess up in this game, and not just while you are playing on offense. Defense is tough to play, with star players on offense knowing how to exploit your every misstep. Games feel more like a chess match than they ever have with “Madden” because of this.
On offense, the lack of star players on your offensive line means your best protection might as well be Swiss cheese. This works out with a fast running back, however. Running the ball feels almost insurmountably more satisfying than it has in “Madden” in previous years, while passing is, in turn, tougher. These are changes that make perfect sense, even if it is frustrating for a linebacker to seemingly teleport because a quarterback has a subpar release time.
Dynasty
Recruiting within Dynasty mode, when combined with the transfer portal, was probably the biggest question leading up to its release. The mode itself is quite fun, and recruiting, while new, is enjoyable.
I enjoy always looking into the players that I have and my depth chart and messing with schedules going into the season. The mixing and matching of schedules is fun and unique and, much like everything else, extremely consequential. Scheduling Georgia for Week 0 as Kennesaw State does have consequences, but it is so nice to be able to find that out.
The recruiting system is simplistic while also intentional. Every recruit seems to come with their own challenge, but it never seems too hard to overcome. I was sent back to 2013, however, when a recruit named Damonte Cheeseman appeared on my potential recruits list.
Dynasty does indeed live up to the hype here.
Road To Glory
Road to Glory was probably the game mode in prior college football games with the least depth. The practice and play routine was an easy gameplay loop to follow, which is captured here with depth added to it. Coaches, advisers, teammates and classmates text you, which gives your player a character that you can connect with. You can truly play it like a Role-Playing Game (RPG).
A 5-star quarterback might just skip class to party and spend more energy on making NIL deals than studying, while a 3-star fourth-string running back might put his nose down and get to work.
This truly adds replay value to Road to Glory more so than any “career mode” has in any sports game in a while.
Coach trust-building on big plays and falling on mistakes makes every play consequential, meaning everything you do within this mode has the chance of having adverse effects on your success. It truly is satisfying to climb the ranks and go from backup to starter to star.
Issues
The game is not infallible, however. As it stands, the difficulty scaling is the worst part of the game. In Dynasty mode, Varsity difficulty got me a win as San Diego State over the No. 22 ranked Clemson 63-42, while All-American had me down 59-20 at the start of the fourth (only playing offense in both games).
This is not an uncommon strategy for EA Sports’ football video games, however, and it will most likely be fixed when the community creates recommended slider settings.
Past the difficulty, the Frostbite engine still has issues. For the uninitiated, EA has used the Frostbite Engine for every football video game they have done since “Madden NFL 19.” This was initially created for “Battlefield,” a series of first-person shooter (FPS) games.
The Frostbite Engine, I believe, is one of the reasons for the odd running animations and the look of some players. The graphics are well done, but sometimes players sit a bit too heavy in the uncanny valley.
Overall
Overall, EA Sports’ “College Football 25” lives up to the hype. The gameplay matches the feel of college football and provides a realistic atmosphere at a much higher level than in the past.
Both the Road to Glory and Dynasty modes are fresh and interesting without ever departing from the formula that was so loved back in the day. There is something for every sports fan to enjoy here, but there is a heart within this game that, to be frank, will be tough to match in the future.
It is obvious that fans of college football and the series of old had a major hand in developing this love letter to them. The attention to detail, knowledge of the game’s own nostalgia and love for the atmosphere of this sport we all hold so dearly contribute to a game that has and will continue to touch many hearts.
Editor’s Note: We would like to thank Duski Hale for the help in receiving a copy of the game used for this review.
