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Madden NFL 25 Next-Gen First Impressions

 

With the launch of the Playstation 4 now behind us, we have officially entered into the next generation of gaming. While some felt it was too early to do so, most have been ready for some time, and now it’s time to find out if the developers were ready also. The launch line-ups for both Sony’s Playstation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One seem impressive on paper, but will that translate into must-have titles for each system? – we are about to find out.

We wanted to take a quick look at Madden 25 for the Playstation 4, and see if all the talk from EA Sports/Tiburon will translate into a better product on the field. Here are some quick impressions from our limited time with Madden 25 on the PS4 so far.

What we like

Offensive and defensive line interaction – You can see the improvements almost instantly when you fire up the game, as pockets form for your QB, defensive lines apply true pressure, and ratings seems to matter.

True Step technology – The running game does feel better on the PS4, as you can feel each step as it’s being taken. It would have been nice to see your AI counterparts also have access to this technology, but this is true step in the right direction(pun intended)

Secondary play – It would have been hard not to improve the play of the secondary from Madden 25 on the PS3 and Xbox 360, and thankfully it has improved. While there are still some instances of missed coverage and odd pursuit angles, the overall play is solid.

Impact movement – While it may be small, users can actually feel the impacts in the trenches and during tackles with true helmet movement. It is quick and subtle, but noticeable – and a welcomed addition.

What we didn’t like

Animations – This is nothing new to the Madden franchise, but awkward movements and animations still plagues the series. We know they are working on these types of issues, but for now they are still issues.

Player models – While some look good, others look comical at times. EA really needs to work on the player models for upcoming titles, and hopefully they will.

Lack of penalties – Once again we know they addressed this, but is a football game a true representation of the sport when penalties are almost non-existent? 

Living Worlds - While the crowds are better and so are the sidelines to a small degree, the "living world" in Madden 25 on the PS4 feels similar to the dead world on the PS3 and Xbox 360. 

 

That is quick look at what we are seeing so far in the new release of Madden 25 on the PS4, and will have a more detailed look on Monday, and final review on Wednesday this upcoming week.


Madden NFL 25 Videos
Member Comments
# 21 bluengold34_OS @ 11/16/13 05:00 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by bucky60
Don't want a bridge in Brooklyn. Just respect to be shown toward fellow OSers, instead of just pulling out the bogus AGENDA card.
I agree, and this needs to be shown both ways. People shouldn't be made to feel they are wrong because someone else see's something in a game they do not. Ryan Moody may very well feel that the AI is still too easy, but there are a lot of OS guys who are not seeing this - at least consistently

In the end they are just opinions, and no one has the right to shove theirs down another persons throat - These are just video games we are talking about - not the best reason to treat someone the way I have seen people being treated on this site way too often lately
 
# 22 bigsmallwood @ 11/16/13 05:03 PM
There is some sort of in game save. I stopped playing a game with the Broncos last night...removed the disc and all....just loaded it back up and it asked if I wanted to continue my previous game! Gotta love it! #PS4

Game is best played on Zoomed camera...VERY solid effort though. This is the best pure football game that EA has released in years....Next Gen version only though. Love the footplanting tech...I wish that Precision modifier was optional....and I like how the crowd reacts so far to what is happening on the field.
 
# 23 roadman @ 11/16/13 05:04 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by bluengold34_OS
I agree, and this needs to be shown both ways. People shouldn't be made to feel they are wrong because someone else see's something in a game they do not. Ryan Moody may very well feel that the AI is still too easy, but there are a lot of OS guy who are not seeing this -

In the end they are just opinions, and no one has the right to shove theirs down another persons throat -
I've viewed a few of his videos and it's not about the AI being too easy, it's about the AI making boneheaded errors.

Now, there was a twitter conversation going back and forth today between several people and Clint Oldenburg. Clint was good enough, in my opinion, to take the constructive criticism and responded to one of the claims and agreed about the QB making a unbelievable throw.

Just wanted to clarify easy AI vs boneheaded AI. Nothing more, nothing less.
 
# 24 4thQtrStre5S @ 11/16/13 05:05 PM
I have yet to see anything from Ryan Moody critiquing M25 Next Gen, and I have asked if anyone could present the article or video, but to no avail, shall I assume there is nothing but an interview with former NFL player Johnny Rutledge by this Moody phantom?

I would like to see if his review makes some good points...
 
# 25 bkrich83 @ 11/16/13 05:06 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by roadman
I've viewed a few of his videos and it's not about the AI being too easy, it's about the AI making boneheaded errors.

Now, there was a twitter conversation going back and forth today between several people and Clint Oldenburg. Clint was good enough, in my opinion, to take the constructive criticism and responded to one of the claims and agreed about the QB making a unbelievable throw.

Just wanted to clarify easy AI vs boneheaded AI. Nothing more, nothing less.
There are obvious legacy issues still in the game. I think that's been stated by anyone who's played with positive or negative impressions.
 
# 26 bluengold34_OS @ 11/16/13 05:08 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by roadman
I've viewed a few of his videos and it's not about the AI being too easy, it's about the AI making boneheaded errors.

Now, there was a twitter conversation going back and forth today between several people and Clint Oldenburg. Clint was good enough, in my opinion, to take the constructive criticism and responded to one of the claims and agreed about the QB making a unbelievable throw.

Just wanted to clarify easy AI vs boneheaded AI. Nothing more, nothing less.
Actually Roadman I have not even seen his review - but I appreciate you pointing that out -
 
# 27 bkrich83 @ 11/16/13 05:10 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by bucky60
So now you decide to attack and disrespect me and my opinion by accusing me of believing in unicorns and fairy tales. I'm seeing a pattern here.
Pattern? Irony.
 
# 28 4thQtrStre5S @ 11/16/13 05:19 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4thQtrStre5S
I have yet to see anything from Ryan Moody critiquing M25 Next Gen, and I have asked if anyone could present the article or video, but to no avail, shall I assume there is nothing but an interview with former NFL player Johnny Rutledge by this Moody phantom?

I would like to see if his review makes some good points...
okay, never mind, I found the video myself, and as I thought I did already counter his critique....There are holes in his review...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwdtx6Dc7k0

1 - Colts 93 is tracking Locker and does as he should, changing his pursuit angle...There was no clear shot on Locker as locker was rolling right and Walden's stunt had him going to the inside (left side from offensive perspective) The stop is the players change of direction. The weird look of the tackle picking up the block is just an example of Madden's poor animations and player models, IMO.

2 - LB Freeman, runs into his man while looking at the QB, he slides around DE Mathis but is met by the blocking RB; all of this is seen in any football game. Once again, Madden's poor animations make it look worse than it should, IMO.

3 - Angerer goes to the opposite side of field because as we saw earlier the RB was heading to that side of the field before picking up the block on LB Freeman - I would call this a zone defense....Could be that Angerer was man up on the RB and the safety was in a deep zone, maybe a Cover 2 under "D?" - also consider that the RB could be on a block & release assignment...Could also be that the RB was going on a flat route and because of the pass rush path, changed his path to block?

4- same player motions/animations - I agree, teh same old stuff and it needs to be changed. Madden has been milking these same terrible animations and player models for too long...

( I am not stating that Ryan Moody is wrong, just proposing other possibilities..)
 
# 29 roadman @ 11/16/13 05:20 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by bluengold34_OS
Actually Roadman I have not even seen his review - but I appreciate you pointing that out -
Yeah, he even calls them legacy issues.



The CB blitz Clint explained the RB darted over when the QB started glancing left. Said it happens in the NFL. Clint did agree with the QB throw.
 
# 30 speels @ 11/16/13 05:37 PM
I've enjoyed the game so far. Only had one play that had me shaking my head. I had the running back setup on the left and another on the right. I hiked the ball and the RB on the right busted towards the sidelines. I threw him the ball, but he was tackled immediately. Now this doesn't seems too shady until I looked at the replay and noticed that the guy that tackled him was the OLB on the opposite side of the field!! I went into slow mo replay and both players took the exact same amount of steps, however the OLB traveled almost half again as far as my RB. I thought that maybe I had a super slow runner, but when I checked the attributes, my RB was an 86 spd and the OLB was 85 speed.

Again, not a game breaker, but it was a pain because my guy was wide open and would have had a great chance of picking up the first down and at least putting me into field goal range!!
 
# 31 bkrich83 @ 11/16/13 05:40 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by roadman
Yeah, he even calls them legacy issues.



The CB blitz Clint explained the RB darted over when the QB started glancing left. Said it happens in the NFL. Clint did agree with the QB throw.
I don't really have a problem with the blitz pickup. That happens every game, irl, or at least it's a close facsimile of what happens in every game.

The QB animation, and I've seen those types a few times in the games I have played, is bad, and has been for some time.
 
# 32 4thQtrStre5S @ 11/16/13 05:43 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by roadman
Yeah, he even calls them legacy issues.



The CB blitz Clint explained the RB darted over when the QB started glancing left. Said it happens in the NFL. Clint did agree with the QB throw.
Those amazing off balance throws do happen, rarely; my concern would be if it was a constant throw in game...As for the pass rusher going towards the blocking RB, you have to address the blocker, else you risk getting blown up and potentially injured..
 
# 33 bkrich83 @ 11/16/13 05:47 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4thQtrStre5S
Those amazing off balance throws do happen, rarely; my concern would be if it was a constant throw in game...As for the pass rusher going towards the blocking RB, you have to address the blocker, else you risk getting blown up and potentially injured..
The good news on those awkward QB throws at least in my limited experience, has been when they make those throws the accuracy is severely impacted. In the past versions of the game, the QB would make a 280 degree turn, and then throw a dart across the field 30 yards downfield on target.


I just played vs. Miami and saw Tannehill make two of those types of throws and they both missed their target by a long way and had nowhere near the juice on them to reach their target.
 
# 34 4thQtrStre5S @ 11/16/13 05:49 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by bkrich83
The good news on those awkward QB throws at least in my limited experience, has been when they make those throws the accuracy is severely impacted. In the past versions of the game, the QB would make a 280 degree turn, and then throw a dart across the field 30 yards downfield on target.


I just played vs. Miami and saw Tannehill make two of those types of throws and they both missed their target by a long way and had nowhere near the juice on them to reach their target.

Knowing the accuracy is greatly reduced, so far, makes me breathe a sigh of relief...Thank for the info.
 
# 35 bkrich83 @ 11/16/13 06:07 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by GiantBlue76
So basically what this translates to as usual with this poster, is, "I want to believe madden is great
Where?

10 char.
 
# 36 4thQtrStre5S @ 11/16/13 06:09 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by GiantBlue76
A comical post here. So basically what this translates to as usual with this poster, is, "I want to believe madden is great, and by you bringing up factual criticisms with video evidence is not giving me the affirmation I need to enjoy it". Like I said, comical and typical.

If you enjoy the game, then who cares what anyone thinks? I know I wouldn't. The issues shown by moody are exactly what people who have issues with madden are sick of. They just want a better game and want them fixed. He made a good video showing they are still there.

Moody gave his opinion and it is debatable...
 
# 37 jyoung @ 11/16/13 06:09 PM
So if you're playing as a human quarterback, the accuracy ratings seem not to matter at all in this game:

Spoiler


I was playing as Denard Robinson, and he has 60-something accuracy for all throwing categories. I misthrew maybe one deep ball that went long and out of bounds. Everything else was on the money.

That was on default all-pro difficulty.
 
# 38 Millennium @ 11/16/13 06:11 PM
Back to impressions, gentlemen and ladies.
 
# 39 bkrich83 @ 11/16/13 06:12 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by jyoung
So if you're playing as a human quarterback, the accuracy ratings seem not to matter at all in this game:

Spoiler


I was playing as Denard Robinson, and he has 60-something accuracy for all throwing categories. I misthrew maybe one deep ball that went out of bounds. Everything else was on the money.

That was on default all-pro difficulty.
How was the ball distributed? Lots of downfield throws?

On default the accuracy seems to be more subtle. Like not getting the ball in front of a reciever so he can continue in stride. Although maybe off there.

I think another problem is imo, the CPU defense plays way too much soft zone coverage. Again, only played 4 games so just throwing stuff out there.
 
# 40 roadman @ 11/16/13 06:13 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by jyoung
So if you're playing as a human quarterback, the accuracy ratings seem not to matter at all in this game:

Spoiler


I was playing as Denard Robinson, and he has 60-something accuracy for all throwing categories. I misthrew maybe one deep ball that went long and out of bounds. Everything else was on the money.

That was on default all-pro difficulty.
Yeah, I know, Clint said they didn't touch the QB's this year. We need to have them play like they do on Sunday.

I had to lower QBA down to 15 or 20 on Madden 25 GC.
 


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