Here’s where EA FC 25 feels like a breath of fresh air. Remember Volta? Well, Rush is that but more fun and tactical. Think about a 5v5 turf football match with an interesting offside rule, a blue card that gives a 1-minute suspension, and an AI-controlled keeper. Rush works when up to 4 players form a team together with the fifth one being the AI-controlled keeper, which the captain of the team can call forward if need be.
Rush is available in Ultimate Team, Clubs, and Career, but the best place to enjoy it is in Clubs with your own pro player. After making a player you like, you can create up to 5 presets with your desired positions. There’s a massive skill tree which can be unlocked as you level up by playing against other players. The skill tree is massive enough to force you to play one dedicated playstyle to the letter. I created a striker, a CDM, and an attacking midfielder. The CDM position suits me well, and so far, my friends and I have managed to climb the Division 2 rank together. Games get increasingly intense as you keep winning to play against better players around the world. This mode forces teamwork. So, squad balance is crucial in higher divisions. If you've got a squad full of midfielders, winning the ball is like trying to catch a greased chicken. And if you create a short and speedy player, like most people do, you'll have to give up some of your aggression and jumping skills for that extra speed. But here's the thing, finding that perfect balance between four players and having four friends to game with is what makes this mode the most enjoyable football experience I've had in years.