Abandon that off-parroted line about FC 26 being "the same game as last year". Three years into the post-FIFA era, the EA Sports juggernaut now offers a pair of contrasting experiences, depending on whether you play online or off. For Ultimate Team, the soccer stalwart is prioritising competitiveness. Matches are fast-paced and skill-focussed, with some elements of realism – such as human player fatigue – done away with. In career mode, however, simulation comes to the fore. Fixtures develop at a cerebral pace, your entire team tiring as the final whistle approaches.
We've extensively sampled both gameplay types across a two day hands-on and, as an old-school gamer weaned on Pro Evolution Soccer, came away preferring the sim style for now. EA's focus this year can be summarizsed as a little bit Blink 182: all the small things. FC 26's delicately implemented tweaks really come to the fore through that slowed-down, offline format.
