Madden NFL 17: Gearing Up For A Big Season

[MountaineersSon]

Nice article. Always enjoy reading other takes.

I'm really struggling with the decision whether or not I should make this a day one purchase. Madden 16 was the first Madden I had bought new in years and I enjoyed it, especially being part of an online CFM that stayed together through a few seasons.

The gameplay seems about the same to me. I know they've improved the logic and upgraded AI assignments but I'm not really seeing it in the early gameplay videos. In 16 the toss plays destroyed me, I'm still seeing that in these videos. The defensive line play when going after the qb needs re-written. In passing situations defensive line should explode up field. No offensive lineman can be injured during gameplay. Huge downer. I like what I'm seeing from some of the new zone logic, lots of cool animations, still some hiccups though. I still think the players move weird, stiff, unlike any other sports game. Madden is behind the 8 ball in player movement. Same with QB throwing animations, not sure where that animation came from, it's ugly. Signature throwing animations, that's where is at. See MLB the show.

I'm a huge sim player so if I do make 17 a day one purchase it'll be because of the newly improved sim "play the moment" engine. I'll still be able to play a 32 team offline franchise, with play the moment I'll be able to speed up season play and this all includes improved stats realistic to NFL averages to total snaps per game. Pretty cool. Offensive lineman can be injured through simming, that takes the sting away some. It's important to have durable backups in the NFL, none more important than the offensive line.

Commentary, I'll check with it early, probably end up going back to the jams. Gotta have my music when playing video games. Kudos to the team making this big upgrade.

[Cowboy008]

Quote: Originally Posted by DeuceDouglas

The Good: Zones, Ball Physics, new equipment The Wait and See: Commentary, Special Teams The Bad: CFM The Ugly: Pass blocking

100% agree with this.

[Dazraz]

Great article. Agreed on the commentary. EA have made such promises. As for the Franchise Mode Menus being refreshed, I'll just be happy if they were quick to navigate like NBA 2K. Madden NFL 15 is always a chore to get things done due to combination of a poor layout, weird logic & annoying pauses when switching screens.

[Palm Bay Pro]

Quote: Originally Posted by DeuceDouglas

The Bad: CFM

This times a million. It is incomprehensible for me that a feature that was supposed to the main focus got so very little attention. Just adding a few new features and calling it "the deepest franchise mode ever" doesn't mean much to me. So many things were left out.....

-assistant coaches

-draft boards

-expansion teams

Just to name a few. All I have to say is smh Madden smh

[howboutdat]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dazraz

As for the Franchise Mode Menus being refreshed, I'll just be happy if they were quick to navigate like NBA 2K. Madden NFL 15 is always a chore to get things done due to combination of a poor layout, weird logic & annoying pauses when switching screens.

My question is, how many friggin times they gotta "redo menus" to get this stuff right? i mean dang , seems like they spend half their time every year " redoing menus" and it still comes out half clunky and meanwhile spending that time on something that should already be good and not touching things really needed.Yet some here want to say , we are being too negative . Give me a friggin break. Every year, they have to redo menus, meanwhile not adding alot else. Thanks , color me not impressed, sorry . I would be fired from my job already 3 years ago.

Quote: Originally Posted by Palm Bay Pro

This times a million. It is incomprehensible for me that a feature that was supposed to the main focus got so very little attention. Just adding a few new features and calling it "the deepest franchise mode ever" doesn't mean much to me. So many things were left out..... -assistant coaches -draft boards -expansion teams Just to name a few. All I have to say is smh Madden smh

agree 100% - they hyped it up and it came out flat.Now we know the real reason why they waited till last to show it.

Also i wonder what is up with the EA CFM website, as John White has said he isnt ready to talk about it.They have not done any real upgrades to it for years now.We need more functioning to it. Knowing online leagues really need this and the functions it brings for our leagues, as well as it fuels DaddyLeagues , which is also an important part to many online leagues.

[ShaiLeGran]

My problem with Madden is that it feels very shallow, like it aint a complete package. FIFA, NBA2K and The Show do give me this feeling of being the complete package. There are so many things to do in those games, even digging around in the menu's is sort of fun. And lots of unlockables to play for. Madden doesnt have anything like this.

[Benz87]

The most frightening thing i've seen in the gameplay clips thus far is pass blocking. There is more than one instance in gameplay videos of an o-lineman having a 1 on 1 with a d-lineman and simply letting him run by untouched to the QB. I understand these clips are "work in progress", but the development cycle is far enough in that I fear this may be a constant issue with this years title.

[SolidSquid]

Quote: Originally Posted by DeuceDouglas

The Good: Zones, Ball Physics, new equipment The Wait and See: Commentary, Special Teams The Bad: CFM The Ugly: Pass blocking

All the talk of "cfm being a focus for 17" after 16 released had me hopeful, then the cfm blog came and I was like ok where's the rest. They did nothing to make the mode feel more alive. How hard is it to rip the coaching carosouel from NCAA?