FC 26 first impressions: Could be a footie classic but I’ve questions about player faces

Your Daily Star has had a hands-on with the new title in the long-running EA Sports football series on PS5 and Xbox Series X and our first impressions offer both gameplay answers and player character modelling questions

Footie fans are chomping at the bit to get their hands on the brand new EA Sports FC 26 video game.

And the Daily Stars has had a hands-on with the hit Playstation and Xbox soccer title.

While you’ll have to wait a little longer for a final review score, we thought we’d share some initial thoughts on this autumn’s blockbuster release.

The early takeaway?

It seems to be shaping up to be another classic ‘Fifa’ as you know and love the franchise, with the usual tweaks and improvements in tow.

But I do have some questions.

Player faces look a little ‘off’ to me in the initial play through.

As an Arsenal fan, of course I went for a quick play one-vs-computer match against our hated rivals Spurs.

It all looks slick as hell with the build-up to match day graphics improved to give a Sky Sports-style of pre-game fever to the clash.

Fans look limelight both inside the stands and outside the stadium by pubs and burger carts.

Their excitement is evident and FC 26 does a great job in building that atmosphere into the gameplay.

But, just taking Arsenal here as my example early doors, while Bukayo Saka looks spot-on in design, I didn’t recognise new striker signing Viktor Gyökeres at all.

I think it was his hair; it seemed darker and far less shiny than real life and the character modelling at the face a little bland and generic.

Same goes for Leandro Trossard.

The Belgian in real life has quite a distinct look but here, again, this felt more Fifa 15 than FC26.

Still, Electronic Arts has always been a little flip-floppy with character modelling in is football games and in a weird way this adds to the series’ usual ups and downs any given year.

The main thing of course is how this game plays.

And first impressions suggest a real sea-change this year in gameplay to cater for the two main types of FC players.

Namely those who want a more arcade-style video game’ experience and those who are keen on total simulator immersion.

EA Sports has tried to solve that this year by offering presets for both.

So you can get all nerdy and authentic with positionally accurate teams that do as you’d expect to see on the telly.

Or you can go full-on gaming mode, where it’s all about the speed and fun, with less emphasis on realistic perfection.

Only more hours with this console title will tell how successful this double-dip is.

Rest assured – we’ll blow the final whistle on our review very soon.