College Football 25 Review in Progress: A Mixed Bag of Dynamic Matches and Stellar Visuals

The excitement surrounding the release of College Football 25 has been palpable, reaching a fever pitch in anticipation of the long-awaited return of an NCAA video game. However, as a seasoned Madden player, my experience with College Football 25 has been a mixed bag of dynamic gameplay and stellar visuals overshadowed by barebones modes, a frustrating UI, and numerous design missteps.

Visual and Presentation Excellence

Let's start with the positives. College Football 25’s presentation is nothing short of spectacular. EA Orlando has outdone itself in this department, delivering visuals that are light-years ahead of what we've seen in Madden. The detail is astounding—from individual beads of sweat on players to the exceptional lighting that makes every scene pop. The unique team intros, dancing mascots, cheerleader performances, and real-time crowd reactions all contribute to a vibrant and immersive atmosphere. This level of detail captures the pageantry and tradition that make college football unique, and it’s a joy to behold.

Fluid and Fast-Paced Gameplay

The gameplay itself feels faster and more fluid than Madden, which is a refreshing change. Plays happen quickly with less delay, and player movements are more nimble and responsive. This speed and dynamism make College Football 25 feel distinct and engaging, simulating the fast-paced nature of college football effectively. The added touches, such as selecting your favorite team by choosing their helmet and seeing team-specific elements in the main menu, give the game personality and charm.

Barebones Modes and Frustrating UI

However, the shine of College Football 25 starts to dull when we look beyond the visuals and gameplay. The available modes are disappointingly barebones. You have the standard Play Now feature, Road to the College Football Playoffs for online ranked matches, Road to Glory where you create and guide a player through their college career, Dynasty mode for managing one of the 134 teams, Practice and Mini-Games modes, and College Ultimate Team (CUT). While these modes offer a variety of ways to play, they lack depth and polish.

Road to Glory, for instance, lacks the high school games present in NCAA Football 14. Instead, you create a player, choose their position and star rating, and manage their career through a basic resource management system. The on-field experience is restrictive, with limited play-calling options and no ability to audible. This makes the mode feel more like a chore than a fun, immersive experience.

Ultimate Team and Tutorials

College Ultimate Team (CUT) is another sore point. The Challenges are tedious and designed to encourage spending real money. Worse, all tutorial content is locked within CUT, replacing Madden’s excellent Skills Trainer with frustrating Challenges. This design choice feels like a blatant attempt to push players toward spending money in CUT, which is a disappointing move from EA.

Server Issues and Miscellaneous Frustrations

Server issues have plagued the game since launch, particularly affecting the Dynasty mode. Additionally, the UI is poorly designed, lacking useful features like Madden’s automated hat count and clear stamina indicators. The absence of on-screen notifications for key actions and outdated logos for some schools further diminish the experience.

Final Thoughts

Despite its visual and gameplay strengths, College Football 25 feels rushed and incomplete. The lack of depth in modes, poor UI, and cynical design choices around tutorials and CUT overshadow the game’s potential. It’s clear that while the on-field action is fun, everything surrounding it needs significant improvement.

In conclusion, College Football 25 feels like a talented college quarterback who left for the NFL too soon—full of potential but not quite ready for the big stage. With time and refinement, EA Orlando could turn this promising title into a true standout, but for now, it falls short of expectations.