• 1. The Ability/Free Will to Convert Any Player to Any Position Without Much Repercussion
• 2. Ability to Try Finesse/Trivela Shots with Good Players
• 3. Formation Settings Without Waiting for Opponents in Offline Matches
• 4. Fast Attackers Outrunning Slow Defenders
• 5. Too Many Bugs: A Decline in Quality?
• Conclusion

As EA Sports FC 25 continues to evolve, fans have begun to notice that certain features from past FIFA games have been left behind. While the franchise has undoubtedly made strides in gameplay mechanics and visuals, there are several "forgotten gems" that players feel should make a return to enhance the overall experience. Here are five key aspects that EA Sports FC 25 could benefit from revisiting.

1. The Ability/Free Will to Convert Any Player to Any Position Without Much Repercussion

One of the defining features of older FIFA games was the flexibility players had when it came to squad management. You could take a central midfielder, throw them on the wing, or even place a full-back in central defense without seeing a drastic drop in their effectiveness. The game didn't impose heavy restrictions on player positioning, and it allowed fans to experiment and create unique tactical setups. Whether it was pushing a central attacking midfielder into the striker role or transforming a winger into a makeshift full-back, the freedom to experiment made online matches more dynamic.

However, in recent years, this freedom has been severely limited. EA Sports FC 25 introduces rigid positional restrictions, which means you can no longer experiment with the same fluidity. The game now penalizes players with position-related stat drops and lowered performance, which has made it more difficult to try out creative tactics. For many, this loss of freedom feels restrictive in a game that is supposed to be about fun and creativity. Allowing players to convert any player to any position—without significant penalties—would bring back a much-needed sense of freedom and personalization. 

2. Ability to Try Finesse/Trivela Shots with Good Players

In the past, FIFA games gave players a sense of unpredictability when it came to scoring goals. Good players could pull off spectacular finesse or trivela shots, even if their playstyle didn’t officially have the associated "specialty." It wasn’t about relying on a special trait or animation, but rather about creativity and technique. Finesse shots, in particular, became a fan favorite because of their ability to curl into the top corner from almost any angle. The thrill of trying to score a goal that defied the odds—whether with a world-class striker or a mid-tier player—was a massive part of the appeal.

However, in EA Sports FC 25, this feels less fluid. While certain players do have "Playstyle Plus" traits for finesse or trivela shots, the ability to attempt these techniques with other players has been notably restricted. If a player doesn’t possess the right traits, it becomes almost impossible to successfully pull off these techniques, which stifles creativity. The joy of attempting impossible shots, regardless of a player’s skill set, was a core element of past FIFA titles. Reintroducing this element would help re-capture the excitement of the unpredictable nature of football, allowing for moments of brilliance from any player on the field.

3. Formation Settings Without Waiting for Opponents in Offline Matches

One of the more baffling changes in recent FIFA games is the requirement to wait for your opponent to set up their formation during offline exhibition matches. In previous FIFA versions, players were free to adjust their lineups, tactics, and formations at their own pace before kicking off a match. This feature allowed for smoother gameplay and avoided unnecessary delays. The ability to quickly make adjustments—whether you're experimenting with a new tactic or tweaking your team for the upcoming match—was part of the fun.

In EA Sports FC 25, however, you’re forced to wait for your opponent to finish setting up before you can finalize your own lineup. This adds an unnecessary layer of frustration, especially when you’re playing with friends or testing new strategies. Why should players lose valuable preparation time just because the system forces them into a waiting game? Reverting to the old system where players could freely set up their formations without delays would streamline the experience and make it much more enjoyable for everyone involved.

4. Fast Attackers Outrunning Slow Defenders

Speed has always been an important factor in FIFA games, but there’s been a noticeable shift in how the game handles pace in recent installments. In past FIFA versions, a quick attacker with a pace rating of 90+ could easily outrun a slower defender, even if the defender had slightly better positioning or skills. This made sense because pace was a crucial element in football, and the game replicated that well. The speed difference was something that added to the excitement of counter-attacks and one-on-one situations.

Unfortunately, in EA Sports FC 25, the situation has become frustratingly unrealistic. A defender with a pace rating of 75 is frequently able to catch up to an attacker with a pace of 98, often leading to unnatural outcomes in one-on-one situations. The game seems to favor defensive positioning over raw pace, and this often results in frustrating moments where a clearly faster player is caught despite having a significant pace advantage. This imbalance makes it feel as though the game is prioritizing defensive mechanics over the fundamentals of attacking play. Bringing back the power of pace, where a faster attacker can genuinely outpace a slower defender, would restore the balance and realism that many players feel is missing.

5. Too Many Bugs: A Decline in Quality?

It’s no secret that players have been vocal about the bugs and technical issues plaguing EA Sports FC 25. From random crashes to gameplay glitches, the game has been criticized for feeling less polished than its predecessors. FIFA games, especially in the last few years, have set a high bar for quality, with consistent updates and relatively bug-free gameplay. But with EA Sports FC 25, many have started to wonder whether the same level of care and attention to detail is being applied.

Issues like unresponsive controls, invisible players, and broken physics systems make it feel as though EA Sports is prioritizing quick releases over quality assurance. The smooth and seamless experience that fans have come to expect from FIFA games has been replaced with moments of frustration. This sudden drop in quality has led many to question whether the same developers who worked on FIFA 23 and earlier titles are still behind the wheel. More attention to detail and a focus on fixing the bugs that have been causing problems since launch would go a long way in restoring faith in the series. Fans are hoping EA Sports will take the time to fix these issues rather than rushing to push out new content that doesn’t address the core gameplay problems.

Conclusion

As EA Sports FC 25 continues to evolve, it's clear that some of the best aspects of previous FIFA games have been sidelined. Features like positional flexibility, creative freedom with finesse shots, easy access to formation settings, the power of pace, and a bug-free experience were once the cornerstones of what made FIFA games feel special. By bringing these elements back, EA Sports FC 25 could recapture the magic of previous titles and offer a more enjoyable, dynamic, and creative football experience. Fans have spoken, and it’s time for EA to listen.

We will share more updates on FC 25 in separate articles. If you found this information helpful or would like to learn more, please explore the other articles on our site.

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