One thing Madden does better than 2K

[AIRJ23]

So I finally got Madden. First time since like ‘99 (was a devout player as a kid). I like the Chargers and Herbert is a future GOAT so that motivated me to dip my toes back into football.

Haven’t played nearly enough to give detailed impressions on gameplay, franchise mode, etc. So this is based purely on initial visual reactions.

Firstly, I think 2K has better graphics. Madden looks really good, maybe better initially, but then you see the muscle definitions and face scans and they look not as realistic or smooth (especially muscles which are off in Madden, not very organic). Some things do look better sometimes, and both games are pretty close. To be fair, Madden has to have a lot more characters in game frames at once.

What Madden beats 2K on by a wide margin is game presentation when it comes to the STADIUM/ARENA. And I understand that’s a fundamental advantage football games have as stadiums play a much bigger role in games, there’s far more visual cues and differentiation between them, day/night/weather/etc. But the ambiance presentation is simply more immersive.

The BIG factor is MADDEN LIGHTS UP THE ENTIRE STADIUM SO YOU CAN SEE THE ENTIRE CROWD! You actually feel like you’re in front of 70,000 people. You can see the stadium top to bottom. In 2K the entire arena is DARK, you can’t even see upper rows. So instead of 20,000 people you feel like you’re paying for an intimate floor level audience.

When you start a game in Madden, they show you the outside of the stadium with views of the city, immersing yourself into where you are, then they sweep a tour of the stadium so you know more of what you are, and even the pre game scenes with the players seem slightly more involved to me. The fans are more detailed in Madden too. I feel like I’m experiencing the location I’m playing in better in Madden.

In next gen 2K, you have no idea you’re in New York, L.A, etc.

I also like 2K’s roster editing formula MUCH better. Madden’s isn’t as intuitive. Or maybe I’m just too used to 2K’s. 2K’s formula is more Apple like: “It just works” while Madden reminds me more of the old Microsoft approach.

Other than that, 2K is a more refined game I think. And things like Madden not having refs on the field is dumb detail to leave out.

[49UNCFan]

That is one of Madden's biggest downfalls graphically for me is stadium lighting.

Also the 6pm and 8pm games in California are dark not too much attention to detail in that area.

The weather effects are also lacking due to no real weather system.

[AIRJ23]

Quote: Originally Posted by 49UNCFan

That is one of Madden's biggest downfalls graphically for me is stadium lighting. Also the 6pm and 8pm games in California are dark not too much attention to detail in that area. The weather effects are also lacking due to no real weather system.

Too bright? I kinda prefer it over 2K’s approach to make the crowd so dark you can’t even see them.

Yeah I noticed the 6PM games are dark.

Madden’s muscle definition reminds me of PS3.

And no legends or historic/all time teams? Terrible.

[jrnlgrn]

Kind of hard to compare a 20000 seat indoor arena with lighting that is mostly over the court to a 60000 seat football stadium with lighting primarily around the edges that illuminates out over the crowd and on to the field.

A basketball/indoor arena typically gets darker the farther back you go. It's just the way they are setup. It's a far more intimate setting as the crowd is literally court side.

2K mirrors a TV presentation almost perfectly. Madden feels like it's mostly going for wanting that feeling of being on the field or something more cinematic. There's a lot of downtime in a football game so there will always be more random scenes of the crowd and stadium. Basketball is go go go and most of the crowd interaction takes place and can be seen in the first 20 or so rows.

Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Operation Sports mobile app

[AIRJ23]

Quote: Originally Posted by jrnlgrn

Kind of hard to compare a 20000 seat indoor arena with lighting that is mostly over the court to a 60000 seat football stadium with lighting primarily around the edges that illuminates out over the crowd and on to the field. A basketball/indoor arena typically gets darker the farther back you go. It's just the way they are setup. It's a far more intimate setting as the crowd is literally court side. 2K mirrors a TV presentation almost perfectly. Madden feels like it's mostly going for wanting that feeling of being on the field or something more cinematic. There's a lot of downtime in a football game so there will always be more random scenes of the crowd and stadium. Basketball is go go go and most of the crowd interaction takes place and can be seen in the first 20 or so rows. Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Operation Sports mobile app

True, but I feel like no basketball game I watch has the crowds completely lights out in the middle and top rows. Earlier 2K’s (like PS3 era) I feel had more accurate feels in that department as you could see the entire arena lit up.

[jrnlgrn]

Quote: Originally Posted by AIRJ23

True, but I feel like no basketball game I watch has the crowds completely lights out in the middle and top rows. Earlier 2K’s (like PS3 era) I feel had more accurate feels in that department as you could see the entire arena lit up.

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I was going off memory earlier but upon a closer look and actually paying attention the crowd does look spot on even up top. Just depends on the angle. It's only really dark depending on the angle which mimics a real camera exposing the brighter areas as one would expect.

Also Madden has the benefit of being able to hide a lot detail since players wear all that equipment so can use that power other places. 2K has to show off some serious detail especially when you add in all the tats and face scans.

More than the crowd the suits of the coaches and the halftime crew annoy me more than anything. The faces can look great then you look at the body and it's like a PS3 game sometimes body proportions all off and what not.

[joe_canons]

Quote: Originally Posted by AIRJ23

So I finally got Madden. First time since like ‘99 (was a devout player as a kid). I like the Chargers and Herbert is a future GOAT so that motivated me to dip my toes back into football. Haven’t played nearly enough to give detailed impressions on gameplay, franchise mode, etc. So this is based purely on initial visual reactions. Firstly, I think 2K has better graphics. Madden looks really good, maybe better initially, but then you see the muscle definitions and face scans and they look not as realistic or smooth (especially muscles which are off in Madden, not very organic). Some things do look better sometimes, and both games are pretty close. To be fair, Madden has to have a lot more characters in game frames at once. What Madden beats 2K on by a wide margin is game presentation when it comes to the STADIUM/ARENA. And I understand that’s a fundamental advantage football games have as stadiums play a much bigger role in games, there’s far more visual cues and differentiation between them, day/night/weather/etc. But the ambiance presentation is simply more immersive. The BIG factor is MADDEN LIGHTS UP THE ENTIRE STADIUM SO YOU CAN SEE THE ENTIRE CROWD! You actually feel like you’re in front of 70,000 people. You can see the stadium top to bottom. In 2K the entire arena is DARK, you can’t even see upper rows. So instead of 20,000 people you feel like you’re paying for an intimate floor level audience. When you start a game in Madden, they show you the outside of the stadium with views of the city, immersing yourself into where you are, then they sweep a tour of the stadium so you know more of what you are, and even the pre game scenes with the players seem slightly more involved to me. The fans are more detailed in Madden too. I feel like I’m experiencing the location I’m playing in better in Madden. In next gen 2K, you have no idea you’re in New York, L.A, etc. I also like 2K’s roster editing formula MUCH better. Madden’s isn’t as intuitive. Or maybe I’m just too used to 2K’s. 2K’s formula is more Apple like: “It just works” while Madden reminds me more of the old Microsoft approach. Other than that, 2K is a more refined game I think. And things like Madden not having refs on the field is dumb detail to leave out.

The crowd lighting is accurate. I complained last year about it being TOO bright and how they needed to dim the lights around the court to match what it’s like in real life.

Look at a Brooklyn Nets game in real life and you’ll see the lightning starts to dim after the 2nd row.

They did a good job in the lighting department. If it’s too dark for you, 2K21 on next gen is the best alternative.


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[amedawg00]

For the love of god, 2k needs to copy madden's online franchise mode. Dont mean to derail the thread, so I'll see myself out lol.