eFootball™ 2024: A Kicking Disappointment
Experience soccer in an underwhelming package that struggles to meet the standards set by its predecessors.
last updated Jul 30, 2024
What we have here is a football game that struggles to find a balance between enjoyable gameplay and unrelenting frustration.
Gameplay: More Like a Game of Patience
eFootball™ 2024 attempts to redefine football gaming, but one gets the impression it forgot to tie its shoelaces on the way to the pitch. Navigating through matches often feels like trudging through quicksand, mainly due to a clunky control scheme that ceaselessly lets you down. You might have dreams of executing graceful passes and glorious shots, but your players appear as if they’ve been struck by a bad case of ALS (Awkward Limb Syndrome). The gameplay seems to oscillate between moments of mildly enjoyable fun and frustrating errors that make you want to throw your controller... or possibly your PC out the window. Let's just say, if you're fond of fast-paced, exciting football, this game may not be your match.
Audio: The Silent Treatment
Audio in eFootball™ 2024 can be summed up in one word: absent. Players might find themselves wondering if someone forgot to turn on the speakers, as the game often feels eerily quiet. While silence can be a powerful tool in the right context, here it seems more like a tragic oversight. It's incredible to think that a sports game set on the dynamic backdrop of lively stadiums and fervent fans could leave you with just the distant howl of your neighbor's lawnmower. Music is sparse and uninspired, and the absence of commentary feels like a missed opportunity to capitalize on moments of tension or excitement—more of a “who cares?” vibe rather than “who scored?!”.
Graphics: Clarity? More Like Clarity Denied
The visuals in eFootball™ 2024 present a mixed bag, reminiscent of a high school art project where you try to fit too many ideas into one canvas. The graphics are serviceable, but they lack the polish one might expect from a current-gen title. Textures can appear muddy, character models are just about passable, and animations can often feel stiff and unrealistic. Performance-wise, those without a top-tier rig might find themselves grappling with frame drops and stutters, particularly during online play where connection issues already loom large. This isn’t the 'football experience of the future' as much as it is a sporadic reminder of the past, missing the beat rather than hitting the pitch. Taking the first kick into this game feels like stepping into a patchy marsh rather than a pristine soccer field.
Economics of Play: Microtransactions Unleashed
While free-to-play is a catchphrase that should be heralded with joy, eFootball™ 2024 tries to turn your joyful smile upside down. The game introduces a plethora of microtransactions that can suck the fun right out of the experience unless you're willing to shell out cash for better players. Not surprisingly, many players have grown weary of this pay-to-win model that feels like a throwback to the days when you could only achieve success through dollars instead of skill. Competing against high-powered teams mined from someone's credit card surplus can make you feel like a toddler trying to race in an adult’s marathon. Additionally, the absence of beloved modes like Master League signals a lack of depth promising something spicy, leaving players with a taste for something bland.
STEAM RATING
Developer & Publisher
KONAMI
Release Date
September 29, 2021
The Final Whistle
Unfortunately, eFootball™ 2024 serves as a painful reminder that sometimes, free isn't truly free. It grapples with salvation in its gameplay and audio experiences, drags itself through mediocrity in visuals, and drowns players in microtransactions. What we have here is a football game that struggles to find a balance between enjoyable gameplay and unrelenting frustration, leaving both new players and diehard fans wondering if they should just hit the pitch with something more polished.