Madden NFL 25 Demo Available Now, Post Your Impressions (360, PS3)

[BrianU]

Quote: Originally Posted by rudyjuly2

I've had fun with the demo but I don't like the sliders. They got rid of all the defensive block shedding/pass rush sliders and the horribly weak sliders from M13 still seem to be present. The run blocking slider doesn't do much. If you take SF you can just ram the ball down the Ravens throat, even with user run block at 0. It's a 100 point scale! Why can't they make those sliders more powerful? Unfortunately not a single Game Changer gives a crap about the sliders and it doesn't appear EA cares much either. They aren't tuned properly. I really wish EA Tiburon would take this area more seriously. Instead of dropping a bunch of sliders I would like to see more added. I just hope in the retail version it's better but it's a 99% certainty that it won't be. Last year on All-Madden I could put user run block at 0, cpu break block at 100 and still average 6 yards a carry. Give us the tools to fix this properly. I am now concerned that once we adjust to this game it will be too easy.

I threw in the towel last year with Madden 13 but I learned at the end that to make the USER vs CPU challenging it takes more than just sliders. You really have to limit yourself with house rules. I refuse to use the touch passing (where you lead the receivers inside/outside/low) that becomes too easy even on All-Madden with sliders. Jarrod has the hardest sliders but it doesnt feel like playing football it feels too much like a videogame just button mashing not using strategy as it should be.

To bring the strategy aspect back to the game I only use 1 player the entire play on defense (no switch), and on offense I limit my playcalling to not repeat a single play more than once ever 3 drives. I also limit my audibles and never hot route. It's really sad you have to put all the limits on yourself to make the game any fun. But i'm not sure why people are saying the AI is better this year, I just played with roadman's sliders on All-Pro and picking my own defensive plays and using no switch the CPU Ravens had 10 yards at half time..

[rudyjuly2]

Quote: Originally Posted by BrianU

I threw in the towel last year with Madden 13 but I learned at the end that to make the USER vs CPU challenging it takes more than just sliders. You really have to limit yourself with house rules. I refuse to use the touch passing (where you lead the receivers inside/outside/low) that becomes too easy even on All-Madden with sliders. Jarrod has the hardest sliders but it doesnt feel like playing football it feels too much like a videogame just button mashing not using strategy as it should be. To bring the strategy aspect back to the game I only use 1 player the entire play on defense (no switch), and on offense I limit my playcalling to not repeat a single play more than once ever 3 drives. I also limit my audibles and never hot route. It's really sad you have to put all the limits on yourself to make the game any fun. But i'm not sure why people are saying the AI is better this year, I just played with roadman's sliders on All-Pro and picking my own defensive plays and using no switch the CPU Ravens had 10 yards at half time..

So true. Last year I had to stop hot routing and not use certain formations to keep it a challenge. Way too many house rules were required. I was hoping this year would be better.

[roadman]

Quote: Originally Posted by BrianU

To bring the strategy aspect back to the game I only use 1 player the entire play on defense (no switch), and on offense I limit my playcalling to not repeat a single play more than once ever 3 drives. I also limit my audibles and never hot route. It's really sad you have to put all the limits on yourself to make the game any fun. But i'm not sure why people are saying the AI is better this year, I just played with roadman's sliders on All-Pro and picking my own defensive plays and using no switch the CPU Ravens had 10 yards at half time..

Here's why I'm saying the AI is somewhat better than last year. You know this as well as I do because you were one of the first ones to notice the CPU is calling runs on 80% of the time on first downs.

This year, I notice the Packers pass like they normally do, the Seahawks use the pistol and other offenses, etc.......

So, the CPU AI play calling seems to be improved. The CPU late game playcalling/time management seems to be a mixed bag, but a bit better than last year.

Also, I feel one half is a small sample size.

[tanchl]

As much as you can get from a demo, I got enough to be concerned.

I see as much skating as I did in previous gen games, flat terrible frame rate.

I guess it is permanent that we will never see true penalty representation. Bare-bones collection of penalties, and the ones that are included are never called. I had 1 penalty call yesterday in all the games I played and it was an offsides on me (accidentally hit the stick). The game needs defensive holding and illegal contact and a slew of others. Why can't all the penalties be included? I had Percy Harvin driven out of bounds and then tackled, yet no penalty. This would be the perfect way to implement personal fouls( I guess the politically correct thing to do is not have a penalty in a game that is the result of unnecessary violence; EA can't promote violence in a brutally violent game).

Complete idiotic fundamental AI. The CPU does not follow typical protocol when possessing the ball at the end of the game. Why would the CPU be running the ball with the lead, with under two minutes in the game? It has always done this and appears will keep on doing it.

Why is Mike McCarthy calling plays with no headset on? Is the NFL introducing the new invisible headset this year? Come on, that is Bush.

Why does Mike McCarthy have his billboard sized play sheet but in the next cut scene he doesn't have it? It's funny seeing him call plays with this monstrosity over his mouth, but like above, he doesn't have a headset on. Sloppy!

Nothing spectacular with the playbooks. I imagine there some new plays in there somewhere but its still all the same. Still no formation shifting, still no way to bring your H back, wing, Slot, back and forth in motion.

The QB mesh with the RB is still so Sega Genesis. Play action is brutally awkward and not pleasing to watch. Maybe this can be done right on the PS5.

Why can't EA create more than two extras. The same dudes are the coaches, referees, trainers, etc. We are in the PS1 days here it seems. Budget restraints I guess, downsizing is in!

The same ol' same ol'. This year's game will be polished a little, but it is still the same game that has so disappointed me year after year. IMO, the game is just not fun to look at and is awkward to play.

Very disappointing, but who cares, EA will still make their millions.

[BrianU]

Quote: Originally Posted by roadman

Here's why I'm saying the AI is somewhat better than last year. You know this as well as I do because you were one of the first ones to notice the CPU is calling runs on 80% of the time on first downs. This year, I notice the Packers pass like they normally do, the Seahawks use the pistol and other offenses, etc....... So, the CPU AI play calling seems to be improved. The CPU late game playcalling/time management seems to be a mixed bag, but a bit better than last year. Also, I feel one half is a small sample size.

I agree with all you said, but the execution of the plays themselves still aren't too great. Dumb CPU QB/RB decision making still a big turnoff for me. I haven't played too many games I don't mean to dismiss Madden 25 I do see improvements as far as the plays they choose and I am excited for the CCM additions. I am just hesitant since CCM gameplay was so broken last year. I think the demo gameplay is equivilent to 'Play Now' games so it could be totally generic playcalling in CCM like last year we don't know yet I am cautious and somewhat skeptical given the track record of the madden team.

[Sturzinator]

The demo has some strong points, but what happens when you start a game in CCM on the retail version?

Madden 13 CCM had wildly different game play than those in "play now". Play now games were good and CCM games were horrid. Additionally, important franchise elements such as fatigue/auto subs broken, scheduling abnormalities, ridiculous sim stats, and poor CPU AI completely washed out any positives that would otherwise keep you immersed in CCM. This is the very real concern going forward.

Better to keep your expectations in check and don't be the least bit surprised if M25 suffers the same fate at the hands of EA.

[Only1LT]

Quote: Originally Posted by PVarck31

This is just a general statement and not directed at anyone in particular. Its ok to love the game. Its also ok to hate it. What's not ok is for the people who hate it to bash the people who like it. Just because someone likes the game doesn't mean they are a fanboy. That's a dirty work at OS. Calling someone that can get you a ticket out of here. We all know the game has legacy issues. If you though Madden 25 would have all those issues fixed then I don't know what to tell you. Everyone has different tastes. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean someone else can't. Some people just play it and have fun. Other obsess over its issues. So going forward, any bashing of members who are happy with the game will not be tolerated. And just to be fair, the opposite holds true as well.

Good post and I gave you a thumbs up, but your last two lines, as written, construe a meaning that I'm pretty sure you didn't intend.

When you say, "And just to be fair, the opposite holds true as well", that makes it sound like you think it is ok to bash people who don't like the game, but just to not seem like you are partial, you say that you don't condone it.

Would have been better if you just said any bashing of members who are happy or unhappy with the game wouldn't be tolerated.

Again, I don't think you intended this or believe that at all, but as a formal journalism major, I can say with 100% certainty, that if you know the English language, the inference that I spoke of, can easily be made.

[evilc08]

I have passed on this game since my last mistake with Madden 10. I still tried the demos each year and rented it one to see if it was better. I love the NFL and have been playing since before the original Madden(Front Page Sports and a few others had my attention for years). So missing out has hurt, but the game was no fun.

The demo still shows the same flaws from years back, but I might give the game a shot this year. It was fun to play and can see it being entertaining if it's just a part time thing.

With all the other games out(coming out also around that time), I won't be playing Madden 25 as much as I did in the past. Mainly I will keep an eye out and grab it at $40 when I see it.