Next-Gen Sports Game Mini-Reviews (Madden, FIFA, NBA 2K) - RaychelSnr's Blog

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Next-Gen Sports Game Mini-Reviews (Madden, FIFA, NBA 2K) Stuck

Posted on November 22, 2013 at 03:39 PM.

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It's here. With the XBox One now also in stores, if you were making a next-gen gaming decision you now likely have your console and have played some of your favorite sports games on the new consoles.

My start with the PS4 was delayed due to prior travel commitments, but I've spent the better part of the last 30 hours or so playing Madden, FIFA, and NBA 2K. Here is what I've observed.

NBA 2K14

Here's the deal, NBA 2K14 is quite good on the court and looks amazing. But it's not perfect, not anything close.

The decision to build the game from the ground up has resulted in a few legacy issues reappearing and some interesting design decisions within the two main game modes of MyGM and MyCAREER.

In MyCAREER, the ideas driving the mode are fantastic, the execution is much less so. There have been times I have spent almost an hour in between games moving through non-skippable cut-scenes and tedium. There was a time I was riding the bench where I had to wait for each game to load just to skip through it. The ideas are good and I can't wait for them to be fleshed out more -- but it just seems like the execution was done in a clunky and tedious manner for the average gamer who just wants to take their player and build them.

MyGM has some similar clunky design decisions that mar the overall experience, but NBA 2K14 is a must-own if you are an NBA fan. While I feel it might be a small step backwards on next-gen, NBA 2K14 is still a really good game and the future is very bright.

Madden NFL 25

After the last generational leap, EA had several longtime Madden fans at skeptical as we watched new details of Madden NFL 25 emerge over the last few months.

Fundamentally, Madden NFL 25 on next-gen consoles plays a better game of football than any before it. Moreso than ever, you have to concentrate on real football knowledge to get the right job done. Defense isn't as boring as it has been, with the new animations in the trenches making it fun to jockey for position -- and you get all the features you are used to with Madden at this point.

I think expectations for the game were a little too high for some, but those are also the people who are honestly never going to be happy with Madden. For the rest of us, Madden NFL 25 is a very good football game with a lot to offer.

We can put the ghosts of the past behind us, not only was this launch successful -- in many ways it's possible Madden can now say it belongs with the big boys of our genre, something which was hard to say at times in the prior generation.

FIFA Soccer 14

I'll lead this section off with this bold statement: The best sports game on next-gen consoles is FIFA Soccer 14.

FIFA has long been at the top of our genre, but to me no next-gen sports game plays a fluidly and true to the sport as FIFA Soccer 14 does. Player movement, physics, ball movement all reflect a slightly enhanced but overall much better experience on the pitch.

Also, there's nothing quite like hearing the anticipation build within the crowd as an attack mounts. The eruption when you finally break through and score a goal (or the silence if you are on the road) is one of the finest sports gaming experiences you can ever possibly have.

Add in the fact you can play through games at a relatively rapid pace and you end up with a game which is easily accessible for all, quite fun, and in every way an incredibly well put together package.

What have your experiences with next-gen sports games been like thus far?

Comments

# 1 Cryolemon @ Nov 22

I'm probably get FIFA and NBA 2k14 when I eventually get a PS4. Madden I might download a demo if possible and see based on that.

# 2 H to the Oza @ Nov 22

I agree. NBA 2K has a lot of small gameplay issues that are hard for me to look past. Its a great game and I look forward to diving more into MyPlayer, MyGM, and MyTeam but FIFA truly has the best, most fluid gameplay, and provides the most control over everything that happens on the pitch. Nonetheless, these games have me excited for the future of sports gaming.

# 3 Bryzine21 @ Nov 22

My experience with Madden on the PS4 has been great. My experience with NBA 2k14 on PS4 has been horrible. It really sucks because you have to have a great internet connection to even play it. This is true even for the offline modes. I lost my connection during a couple of quick games offline and my game was lost too. Thank God i had only rented it. I called 2k support and they tried to blame it on the PS4 hardware.But that is ridiculous because in Madden you can totally turn off the PS4 and continue right where you left off. Sorry, but I am really pissed at 2K right now.

# 4 emelki1968 @ Nov 22

I have to disagree. I haven't had a single problem with NBA2k14, and honestly is the game that has impressed me the most. I loved -even though it sometimes can be slow- the new modes. The gameplay to me is great and it is the closest videogame to the real sport. FIFA 14, as an european is a series that I had followed since the 90's and although is a great game the new version has been a little dissapoint for me. I just saw little improvement to the graphics (not as much as NBA 2k14) and nothing else that can be consider as an amazing change.
That is at least my opinion. I don't play Madden, so I can't say anything about it.

# 5 bigdoc85 @ Nov 23

Are you guys on PS4 or XboxOne? The reason I ask is that I just played both FIFA 14 and NBA2k14 on XboxOne and I really want to go back to playing them on PS3 or the Xbox360. I'm just finding the Xbox One controls, the gameplay or whatever less responsive than on previous gen consoles. If anyone else is experiencing the same thing, please let me know because I'm not happy with how these 2 titles feel on XboxOne.

# 6 Hurst31 @ Nov 23

Quote:


	bigdoc85 @ Nov 23 (2 Hours Ago) Are you guys on PS4 or XboxOne? The reason I ask is that I just played both FIFA 14 and NBA2k14 on XboxOne and I really want to go back to playing them on PS3 or the Xbox360. I'm just finding the Xbox One controls, the gameplay or whatever less responsive than on previous gen consoles. If anyone else is experiencing the same thing, please let me know because I'm not happy with how these 2 titles feel on XboxOne.

I'm having a great time with fifa on my ps4 seems alot more fluid to me then on the 360 which is what i had it for previous gen. probably gonna pick up 2k sometime this week coming and hopefully have the same experience, sucks that you aren't having a good time with them..might just have to give yourself sometime to adjust though

# 7 poloelite @ Nov 24

Man I'm in the minority I guess. On the court/field 2K is the only game that seems like it was made for next gen. I literally see ZERO difference in play or graphics when I popped in Madden. I think they put the same game in a new case with a new label honestly. Since 2K gave me a totally different, and better, experience all the way around with next gen, I can forgive some of the hiccups with all new modes. Meanwhile Madden is the same thing I bought on 360 with maybe 5-10 new animations on the defensive line??? To me that's not solid or pushing the ability of my new console, that's some lazy arses mailing it in and grabbing the cash.