Madden NFL 25 Impressions (PS4)

[Anaxamander]

Quote: Originally Posted by rudyjuly2

I don't think that's an EA function. I believe both the PS4 and XBox 1 have that feature for any game in your system.

No man, the PS4 suspend/resume isn't working yet. This in-game save is all EA. You can even turn your system all the way off during the middle of a game and it will let you continue where you left off.

I posted a thread about it yesterday.

Quote:

But the system needs to be still on. I heard that you can put the game in standby for Xbox one but ps4 can't and should be able to in a future updte

It's true that the PS4 is getting suspend and resume and that the X1 will have it out of the gate, but Madden has a built-in save feature... and you don't even have to hit save. Just turn off your system at any point in your game (standby or all the way off) and it will let you resume when you start it back. Like someone else said, it even works for practice mode and skills trainer. (I haven't tried it with other modes though.)

Again, shameless link to my thread praising the feature.

[MDgolf]

Thanks boys for the info. Appreciate it!

[Only1LT]

After playing with the game over the weekend, I don't want to say that my mind is made up one way or the other, but I will give my impressions thus far.

On True Step:

As someone who has been harping on Madden getting realistic movement in the game for as long as I can remember (much longer than I've been on OS) I appreciate that they are finally taking steps to address this, even though it's extremely limited at this point. Having said that, I think that there is something very off about what they've come up with.

I've long said that the only way possible to simulate momentum, gravity, speed changes, etc, in a video game, is to force the user to lose control in situations where the effects of those forces I mentioned, are being simulated. However, the loss of control in Madden's True Step implementation, feels quite wrong and arbitrary. It feels very difficult to even make subtle changes in direction or speed without feeling like you came to a complete stop, or close to it.

As a for instance, the loco in APF 2K, is one of the best loco implementations in a sports game, IMO. If you were running at top speed in one direction, and then changed direction drastically, you would lose control, and there would be a animation that denoted changing direction, changing speed, losing balance, being affected by gravity and momentum, etc. However, there was a coding balance between what you saw on screen and what you did with the sticks. It was a very analog solution. Going from all the way left to all the way right abruptly, would result in one type of control loss scenario and animations, but going all the way left to right slow and easy, or not going too far left or right from dead center, would yield very different results, outcomes, and animations. In Madden, it seems like regardless of how subtle you try to be when changing direction, the end result is always the same abrupt result that you would get from an extreme change in direction or speed.

So, the issue isn't that there is a penalty for direction changes. That's a very good thing. What I think needs major work, is that there aren't any nuances to their direction change penalty. It controls very digitally, and I think that's a problem.

I can elaborate further if anyone wants me to, but I'll move on in this post for the sake of brevity.

Ball Trajectory/ Velocity:

Quickly on this. Not 100, and it bears further testing on my part, but it seems like there have been changes made in this area, at least from an early glance.

Balls lobbed on swings, and passes with arc in general, seem to travel a lot faster than they used to. I don't have CG Madden 25, so maybe it's the same there as well. It seems like the ball travels a bit faster in general, but especially so on passes that you did not drill. The arc also seems better in terms of getting it over defenders. likewise, I'm not seeing anywhere near the number of underthrows on go routes as I have become accustomed to in a Madden game.

Bears more testing, but this is initial analysis.

Presentation:

Though not drastically changed, there are improvements. Replay angles are much better. Post game cut scenes are done better. Shots of the sidelines are done from more broadcast type angles. Even touchdown celebrations can look good, AT TIMES. Other times they are still unsightly and the cutscene nature of them makes things like teleporting players comical. If nothing else though, while it is well past time for them to move on from cutscenes and do real time, at least the cutscenes are from real angles now. at least some of them.

Nothing spectacular here, but not as big an eyesore. An improvement is an improvement.

Graphics:

Definitely better than CG, but not anywhere near the level that I think we deserve. In particular, Madden has probably the worst lighting system implementation I've ever seen in any game period. The game looks drastically different when playing outdoors on a bright sunny day, as opposed to any lesser light situation (dome, rainy, night, practice mode, etc). The stark difference is laughable. The game loses so much detail, color gradations, shadowing, textures, highlights, etc, that the game takes on such a flat and 2D look that it's just unconscionable.

The game can look really good on rare occasions when there is a close up, but overall, it is only a slight improvement on CG, and I, for one, am EXTREMELY disappointed in the game in this area.

Player Models:

Won't spend to much time on this. They are quite bad and need to be changed like yesterday.

Animations:

Despite them touting how the power of the new systems would increase the "fidelity" of animations, I have to say, they still look quite jerky and not all that smooth. It is improved in this area, but not to anywhere near the point I thought they would be. It's one thing to have poorly captured animations, which Madden certainly does, but if those poorly captured animations were rendered to be completely smooth and buttery, it would still help immensely. The fact that they are both poorly captured and render choppily, makes it that much more of an affront to the eyes.

Improvements have been made in this area though as well. Running animation look better. The more upright running posture is greatly welcomed. There appears to be several different gaits depending on size or position, I don't know, but not everyone runs the same. True Step looks really good at times, though it can get really twitchy and jerky for a split second when you make some kind of change, be it direction, or speed, or using a special move.

Overall, it's better and I hope that by next year EVERY player is on the True Step bandwagon.

Battle in the Trenches:

Let me start by saying that pressure is very real in this game. The D Line comes hard. You will not get that speed rush animation on every single play, nor should you. A DE isn't going to speed rush on every snap. They would be pretty easy to defend if they did, unless they are just freakishly fast. It isn't all crimson and clover though.

One thing that I think needs changing is the variety in this area. I haven't played a ton by any stretch, but from what little I did, it seems that the DEs do things in tandem too much. They both speed rush or they both bull rush, or they both take inside moves, etc. I think this is why you don't see the pocket formed all the time. Not saying that a perfect pocket should be formed all the time, but seems to be a lack of Football strategy in this area.

Not enough Football concepts are being involved with how the D Line attacks. I know that the Giants are very fond of leaving huge lanes open when they rush, especially against Vick or other likewise fleet footed QBs (miss you Osi ) but this DE in tandem programming seems to lack a good amount of fundamentals.

In general the line play is definitely better, but there is too much "in unison" programming across the board in Madden, and there always has been. Need to move past this already.

Overall:

I don't hate this game. It's actually quite decent. It's got a long way to go, and it's pretty lackluster in many areas that went untouched, but it is better than any Madden that I have ever played. Not sure how much that says.

I think that quite a few people on here would enjoy the game, but I'd stop short of recommending it. Full disclosure, I took advantage of the Amazon buy 2 get 1 free deal. I was always going to get Battlefield 4, COD: Ghosts, Kill Zone, and Assassins Creed 4, so I needed to pick two free games. I chose NBA 2K, and Madden. Came down to Madden and Need 4 Speed and I haven't been too impressed with Need 4 Speed since Underground 2, so... Having said that, I don't harbor near the ill will towards Madden as I would have if I had paid for it. I don't know that it is worth $60 even though it has improved in certain areas.

The choice is a tough one. I think that Madden 25 NG is a pretty good game, but I'm not sure it's worth spending $60 on for those that are on the fence. I think many of you would like it, but I wouldn't want it in my conscience if you didn't.

Improvements aside, they need to do MUCH, MUCH better next year.

[N51_rob]

Quote: Originally Posted by Anaxamander

No man, the PS4 suspend/resume isn't working yet. This in-game save is all EA. You can even turn your system all the way off during the middle of a game and it will let you continue where you left off.

I was coming in to correct some erroneous statements. You are right. I have yet to leave my PS4 in stand-by mode. I always shut it down completely. Hell I even played three other games, and when I went back into madden my previous play now game was saved and waiting for me to continue. Really cool, and under represented feature by EA.

Which again baffles the mind why they would have such a restrictive embargo on the game.

[tessl]

Best football game by far, true step is a solid addition and graphics are a major improvement. Line play is also improved.

Far too many interceptions in coach mode. I'm searching for ultra safe pass plays.

[EmmdotFrisk]

Quote: Originally Posted by bucky60

According to Emmdot from EA, I'm not eligible. I'm not much of a play now person. I always do franchise in all sports games. I only had the first HC for the PC. Didn't have a console back then. And LOVED IT. I would love to have a HC or an in depth text game to be married to madden. Off field depth in madden (lack of) is one thing I really dislike. I would like to see an incredibly in depth franchise mode, owner/gm mode with a realistic progression system. I don't think I'll ever get my dream game, but if Madden can get closer to The Show and NBA2K I'll be happy. I'm pretty sure I'll get M15, but I'll do the usual and get as many OS member reviews as I can (who have the game and that I trust) before making a decision. But based on what the impressions threads are saying for this M25, I'm more optimistic.

The $10 upgrade was for Xbox One only, however there are some PS4 offers out there. Here is the link: http://www.easports.com/madden-nfl/n...en-offers-sony

[bucky60]

Quote: Originally Posted by EmmdotFrisk

The $10 upgrade was for Xbox One only, however there are some PS4 offers out there. Here is the link: http://www.easports.com/madden-nfl/n...en-offers-sony

Thanks Emmdot. But I have the CG digital download, so nothing to trade in really. You had told me that there was no $10 upgrade offer for CG digital download. As a consumer, I've very disappointed in that. But it is what it is. I appreciate you providing that info.

[spacedog]

Quote: Originally Posted by ucftechguru

If you look at many of these posts from people who LOVE the game, it's the same people ranting about how good it is. I suspect this is a payoff by blogging companies/EA to get good reviews. I've played a ton of Madden 25 on PS3 and some on PS4 and it's basically the same game. Very little improvement in the PS4 version. If you want the same game, fine. If you wanted an upgrade, where is it at? The fans in the stands still look cheesy and fake. The field/grass still look vanilla. I was expected some upgrade. The only upgrade I can see or feel is a slight, very slight upgrade in gameplay and upgraded close-ups after plays. I have two large TVs next to each other and played both at the same time and they look almost the same. I'd pass on this if you already have the PS3 version.

I think the people enjoying it are legitimately enjoying the game, not paid off or anything lol It's not like they're a bunch of new accounts signing up recently that are posting these impressions. The kinds of changes to the gameplay were very possibly significant to the core experience, bringing many fans to finally really appreciate Madden's steps in the right directions in terms of gameplay. I don't know off of hands on experience with this yet because I'm looking to get it for the X1, but I wouldn't assume the people supporting it are artificially inflating the impressions. Besides, if people were approached to offer artificially positive impressions, you'd think that not every one of them would say yes, and those that refused would make a pretty huge thread on OS about it. lol