EA Sports FC 27 review: Familiar brilliance

EA Sports FC 27 delivers a familiar yet brilliant experience in the form of a refined iteration of their popular sports video game series. The game's release aligns with the European football season, demonstrating a restraint in anticipation for the season and focusing on delivering an up-to-date experience for fans upon launch. FC 27 boasts iterative improvements that are noticeable both on the pitch and in a newly created hub called "The Grounds."

"The Grounds" serves as an open-world hub for online play, borrowing heavily from the city structure found in the NBA 2K series. This hub offers three distinct regions representing football culture in the U.K., France, and Argentina. The Grounds is more grounded and realistic compared to the city featured in NBA 2K, and it pushes aside the often-oppressive neon and hologram motif for streets that feel more true-to-life.

However, the hub also feels more lifeless, with fewer player characters to engage with and more NPC characters taking up space. While it's a small gripe, it makes the The Ground feel less lived in.

The biggest overhaul in FC 27 is the reworked defense, which significantly improves the game. The AI no longer abuses the system to such an extent, rewarding players who are solid tacklers. Tackles are now more forceful, and the interaction between the on-ball player and the defender results in less canned animation and more jostling for possession. This change adds a layer of realism, as players will now jostle for possession more when in direct contact, leading to better ball control and intentional play.

Another notable addition is the AI defense's ability to make mistakes, adding realism to the experience. Poor defensive players may take bad angles on the ball, allowing for longer runs, ill-advised tackles out of position, and fouls worthy of cards. This change leads to fewer rote, manufactured opportunities and more reward on offense from passing the ball, breaking a defense's shape, and capitalizing on errors.

FC 27 places a greater emphasis on player uniqueness, making the game feel more like its real-world counterpart. The game rewards players who put effort into playing like actual players, with changes that make athletes feel more than just a collection of stats. Players can enjoy a definitive difference in gameplay between box threats like Erling Haaland and elite distributors like Kylian Mbappe.

Unlocking the full potential of players like Lamine Yamal involves making significant long, diagonal runs and finding a way to score or set up teammates.

The presentation and commentary in FC 27 remain peerless, with the series standing out among other sports games in terms of attention to detail. Whether it's discussing the importance of local pubs before a match or capturing the heightened emotion of rivalries, the commentary in FC 27 is unmatched.