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Save for a brief period in whichPro Evolution Soccerlooked like it might be starting to gain the upper hand over its bitter rival,EA’sFIFAfranchise(nowEA Sports FC) has had very little competition for the title of best football simulation series since its debut in the mid-nineties. That could all be about to change though with the launch ofUFL: a free-to-play football game in which players assemble their own team.
Developed by Strikerz inc and funded by footballing icon Cristiano Ronaldo,UFLgets an awful lot of things right, but is it the fabledFIFAkiller (orEA FCkiller) that football fans have been waiting for over the past few decades? The following guide will compare the two franchises in a number of key areas to determine whetherUFLis better thanEA FC 25, as well as where the former could look to improve in the months and years following its release.
Gameplay Comparison
The controls forUFLare more or less the same as the ones forEA FC 25, and the graphics are equally impressive. However, there are a few key gameplay differences that really hold the former back. For starters, pass assist can sometimes have a hard time figuring out who the player is trying to pass to, which can often lead to turnovers in possession. Even if players are trying to pass to somebody right next to them and tap the button as gently as possible, the player they’re controlling will often try a ridiculous crossfield pass to a random player instead. Turning with the ball can feel awkward too, and pace and acceleration stats seem to be ignored a lot of the time.
There’s also a weird quirk where players will continue their runs long after possession has changed hands. There’ll be times when players will try to pass the ball out to one of their wingers after regaining possession only to find that he’s miles offside because of a run they asked him to make thirty seconds earlier. This doesn’t happen anywhere near as often as some of the aforementioned issues, but it can be every bit as frustrating when it does. For these reasons and more,EA FC 25’s gameplay is not only more realistic thanUFC’s but also a lot more fun.
Game Modes Comparison
As of the time of writing,UFLonly really has one game mode, which is effectively just a stripped-back version ofEA FC’s Ultimate Team. Players can play standalone local matches if they like, and there’s a basic training mode as well, but those hoping to find things like tournaments and manager modes will be left sorely disappointed, as there’s none of that here. Comparing the two games side by side,UFLoffers a lot less variety thanEA FC 25.
Licensing Comparison
There are only five licensed teams inUFL; these being AS Monaco, FC Porto, PSV Eindhoven, Besiktas, and Shakhtar Donetsk. There are 24 other teams made up of random players, but none of these resemble any real-world football teams when it comes to club names, kits, and stadiums. As mentioned above,UFLplayers will mainly be using the club that they’ve assembled rather than one of these pre-built teams, but for those who like their football games to have an air of authenticity about them,EA FC 25is streets ahead ofUFLwhen it comes to licensing.
Monetization Comparison
Although there are ways to earn small amounts of in-game currency just by playing the game,UFLis about as pay-to-win as they come. Rather than getting new players from packs or buying them from other players,UFLallows players to buy them using Credit Points, which can be purchased using real-world money. Players like Bellingham, Messi, and Ronaldo cost around 180 million CP, which works out to around $28 if players splash out on the most expensive CP pack. This may seem like a lot, but compared tothe Ultimate Team mode inEA FC 25,building a team of the eleven best players in the world would be significantly cheaper inUFL.
The Final Verdict (Is UFL Better Than EA FC 25?)
As things stand,EA FC 25is a better game thanUFL in just about every measurable way. However, the competition is a lot closer than it has any right to be. For a newcomer to the genre,UFLgets a lot of things right, and with a couple of gameplay tweaks and a few more game modes, it could provide some serious competition to theEA FCfranchise. It may already prove to bea better option for free-to-play playersjust by virtue of it actually being free to play, although given that players will probably need to spend money to build themselves a competitive team, those just looking for a solid football game rather than an Ultimate Team-style experience may well be better off witheFootball Pro Evolution Soccer.
