For much of this time, Career Mode felt neglected, a secondary feature within an increasingly bloated game package. However, recent iterations have seen a noticeable improvement, likely influenced by Football Manager's growing popularity on consoles and its expanding US market.
So, how does Career Mode hold up this year?
1. LOTS TO DO
Career Mode offers a robust managerial experience. You handle transfers, youth development, and player progression, and these elements all work together effectively. You truly feel like you're building a team, especially this year. EA has significantly enhanced the Academy/Youth features, providing more tools to nurture young talent.
2. YOUTH
I enjoy starting with a lower league team and building solely through my youth academy. EA has made strides in this area, improving player variety and introducing targeted scouting. However, the in-game player models are aesthetically lacking. While I appreciate the "cartoonish" style, there are issues with hair and facial features. For example, I have a player with fantastic ginger dreadlocks, but his face is unnaturally pale. The randomizer for these features needs refinement.
Furthermore, the artists should spend more time observing real people. Their current designs seem to rely heavily on social media trends, lacking genuine artistic observation.
3. THE MENUS STINK
The new mobile-friendly UI is poorly adapted for console use. It's sluggish and unresponsive, hindering gameplay flow. This clunky interface significantly impacts the overall experience.
The social media feed is a superficial and poorly implemented feature. It's repetitive, uninteresting, and visually unappealing. Navigating the menus is unnecessarily difficult, with key features like the calendar and player ratings hidden or removed. These changes are baffling and frustrating.
4. MORE DOESN'T MEAN BETTER
See "3."
5. DIFFICULTY
I find the "Legendary" difficulty level provides a challenging and engaging experience. Lower difficulties feel overly easy and lack substance.
6. TENDING TO THE GARDEN
Player interaction mechanics remain largely unchanged. You still need to conduct interviews and manage player morale, which can become repetitive. A new "content" emotion has been introduced, but its impact is unclear.
QUICK FINAL THOUGHTS
Career Mode is enjoyable overall. However, EA should consider selling the game in a more modular format, allowing players to purchase only the modes they desire. The current menus are bloated and cumbersome. I prefer to play every match manually. The 5-a-side youth games are a fun addition.