EA Sports FC 27 presents a mixed experience, introducing valuable strategic elements that intuitively reflect real-world tactics. However, improvements to computer-controlled player behavior and pathing remain unfulfilled, perpetuating long-standing series issues. The addition of open-world elements via 'The Grounds' further complicates the experience, resulting in a balance where positive changes are often offset by negative ones. The source review notes that while 'The Grounds' has some merit, it often feels like an unnecessary addition.
The Grounds: A Flawed Open World
The open-world environment of 'The Grounds' in FC 27 is criticized for not enhancing the online communal experience. The source review suggests that traditional menus could achieve the same matchmaking and activity navigation more efficiently, without the visually saturated, low-resolution city, lifeless NPCs, framerate drops, and unnatural character animations that detract from immersion.
Further compounding these issues are numerous unskippable cutscenes and subpar voice acting within 'The Grounds'. The return of a popular character, Alex Hunter, voiced by Adetomiwa Edun, was initially a point of excitement for the source reviewer, but his delivery in FC 27 felt rigid and detached compared to previous appearances.
The performance of the returning character, Alex Hunter, is described as lacking the passion and natural delivery of his earlier appearances. Similarly, Kylian Mbappe's voice acting is noted for its stiff, mechanical cadence, suggesting a direct script reading. The source reviewer expressed relief that their created character remained silent, avoiding further awkward interactions.
Multiplayer suffers from persistent connection issues and errors, including frequent disconnects and server lag. The source reviewer encountered numerous instances of being removed from or having to abandon matches. One notable bug involved an opponent's goalkeeper floating up the pitch instead of taking a goal kick, an issue that eventually resolved itself but resulted in an unearned corner kick for the reviewer.
New minigames, such as Balloon Ball and Football Tennis, are present but are considered by the source review to be more suited for a 'FIFA Street' style game than FC 27. A significant concern is the progression in 'The Grounds' being tied to coins and XP that can be purchased with real money, reinforcing worries about the series' increasing focus on microtransactions.
Enhanced Tactical System
The expanded Tactics system in FC 27 is highlighted as the game's most significant positive addition. It effectively complements existing playstyles and roles, enhancing strategy, movement, passing, and crossing. This system provides greater control over team behavior across various phases of play, moving beyond basic formations to explain the purpose, strengths, and weaknesses of diverse tactical approaches.
This tactical depth proves particularly useful when constructing strategies around individual player attributes. For instance, a deeper defensive approach was found to be effective for players like Noussair Mazraoui, allowing them to maintain position and disrupt attacks, while a short-passing buildup enabled the use of technical ability within a defensive framework.
The system's flexibility is evident in the ability to switch formations mid-match to exploit opponent weaknesses. The source reviewer described adapting from a 4-2-2-2 to a 4-2-3-1 wide formation to counter different opponent strategies, effectively utilizing players like Bruno Fernandes to dictate play and create attacking opportunities.
The separation of tactical instructions for possession and defensive phases, alongside Player Roles, provides individual players with more specific responsibilities within a formation. This allows for tailoring a player's role to desired contributions; for example, a player like Benjamin Šeško can be assigned an inside forward role for shooting opportunities or a wider role to stretch defenses, and defensively, can be given more responsibility to support flanks.
A key strength of the system is its ability to educate players on the strategy behind soccer formations without being overwhelming. FC 27 effectively explains the efficacy of different shapes, suitable player types, and how to adapt against opponents, making tactics accessible for new players while offering depth for experienced users.
Refined Core Gameplay Mechanics
Revamped passing mechanics emphasize manual controls for grounded and lobbed passes, providing greater precision in ball placement and enabling new curved runs. These dynamic movements accurately reflect real-life football, allowing players to make curved supporting runs around defenders.
Despite these theoretical improvements, the new movements can conflict with FC 27's AI. On higher difficulties, CPU pathing and defensive logic can falter, with defenders failing to challenge for balls or making illogical movements. Passing also suffers from inconsistencies, as balls aimed at open teammates can sometimes be misdirected to covered players.
The source reviewer confirmed passing inconsistencies using the skill trainer, observing that the directional bar frequently snapped towards defenders despite aiming for open space. Revamped defense also exhibited lingering issues, with defensive backs often being exploited by pacey attackers during counterattacks, leading to numerous goals. The review highlights that fundamental features like passing continue to be problematic for the series.
Conversely, improvements to crossing and corner kicks were noted as impressive. Both systems facilitate more convincing positioning battles and offer enhanced player control within the penalty area, leading to a noticeable increase in successful headed goals from corner routines compared to previous iterations.
Ultimate Team and Career Mode Enhancements
Ultimate Team in FC 27 introduces more flexible player upgrades, allowing choices between different progression paths and tailoring PlayStyles and stats. The shift towards smaller promo campaigns and a three-PlayStyle+ limit helps maintain the relevance of special cards. However, despite these positive changes, the overall Ultimate Team gameplay and economy balance remain largely similar, with noticeable issues impacting manual goalkeeping and defending.
Manual goalkeeper movement is less responsive, particularly for crosses and corners, making the position less appealing. While the transition to manual skill-based defending is conceptually sound, defenders can be easily exploited by fast attackers if player switching is mistimed. Although matches now yield more coins and Season Points, this value increase is counteracted by reduced discard values for lower and mid-tier cards, impacting trading strategies.
Career Mode benefits from several significant upgrades, particularly in the transfer market. The process is more engaging, incorporating staged negotiations, installments, performance bonuses, bidding wars, and rival club interference, making player acquisitions more dynamic and challenging.
Player development in FC 27 is more dynamic, with form, fitness, and morale influencing ratings throughout the season. Player Career is enriched by rivalries, origin stories, diverse starting scenarios, and the inclusion of icon players. Unexpected events, such as financial penalties, dressing-room conflicts, and disciplinary issues, add further depth, and press conferences now have more significant consequences for morale and squad relationships.
CPU-controlled clubs now manage finances and recruitment based on their tactical requirements, contributing to a substantially deeper Career Mode. However, despite these improvements, the mode is still hampered by slow menus, recycled animations, and a progression system heavily reliant on a criticized investment mechanic.
