A week or so before the July 16 play-early-if-you-give-EA-more-money release date of College Football 25, I was overheard at a friend’s wedding in Texas discussing plans to purchase a new console to play this game. Even though I believed the eagerly anticipated return of an NCAA game would be well-received, I was unaware at the time that it would become a system seller. Over the past few weeks, as I have been playing College Football 25, I have been thinking a lot about that guy and how thrilled he seemed. I wonder if he is bought in yet and whether he is having fun. Because I have had a mixed experience as a lifelong fan of football video games. The action and presentation on the field are usually excellent, but a lot of the content off the field is tedious due to a lack of tutorials, a terrible user interface, barebones modes, and numerous other annoyances. So, it is similar to Madden 24. The more that shifts…
Let us begin with the highlights: In terms of appearance and feel, College Football 25 is lightyears ahead of what developer EA Orlando has been producing with Madden. Everything looks better than in Madden—you can see the perspiration on certain players, the lighting is superb, the animations during play are more intricate and fluid, and everything simply jumps visually. There is also just so much more to appreciate, including the individual team introductions before each game and the mascots’ celebratory dances when their school scores a touchdown. Even cheerleader performances include special turnover celebrations, school-specific cheers, and live camera feeds showing the audience responding in real-time to events. Although their appearance is not quite as impressive as that of the players, it nevertheless makes a big difference in the stadium’s atmosphere.
Incorporate numerous player celebrations, lively crowds that grow larger when you win and change their attire according to the season, numerous commentary teams, and all the bowl games you could desire, College Football 25 effectively captures the grandeur and customs that distinguish college football and give this game a distinctive feel. I think EA Orlando did a fantastic job here, and maybe in the coming years, Madden will be able to benefit from some of this increased attention to small but crucial details.
College Football 25 feels so much faster and more fluid, which I also adore. Players also feel as though they are moving more deftly since plays happen faster and there is less lag between them. Real-life athletes frequently discuss the need to adjust to the quicker tempo of NFL games when they move from college to the league; in this case, however, it is the opposite: Unlike Madden, this game has a sense of dynamic movement.
In addition, there are numerous lovely small details throughout. I like how the main menu is decorated with images of the team’s stadium, mascot, and other cool team-specific items like ticket stubs when you select your favorite team (which you do by choosing their helmet, not just a name from a list). I also like how the loading screens and on-field play art appear to have been drawn by hand. There is personality in College Football 25. Oh, plus there is no menu slowness, unlike in Madden 24. It is the minor details.
Verdict
I can not help but think of the guy I overheard purchasing a $500 console merely to play College Football 25. Though the NCAA may have a broader appeal, it seems like anyone who is not familiar with EA’s football games is likely to have a miserable experience. I wonder if he, as someone who does not play many video games, is having fun. College Football 25 is the game you are searching for if you know and love college football and just want to drop into Dynasty, build up your favorite school, and play some football that looks good and handles well. But you are going to be let down if your program of choice offers an amazing off-field experience. We often tell ourselves that in sports (and sports games) to console ourselves when we are disappointed, so perhaps EA will address the UI problems, including a decent lesson, and expand the modes a little more in the upcoming version. “Next year, we will get ’em.” However, future promises are uncertain, and purchasing College Football 25 does not entail purchasing them. Although the on-field action is done quite well in this game, it is not a good one either. There is a nice foundation here, just as with any good-but-not-great football club; you just hope it can eventually realize its full potential. I take it we will receive ’em next year?
