Madden NFL 16 Community Impressions

[NYJin2011tm]

My first game CPU had 2 false starts on hard counts.

[jfsolo]

Quote: Originally Posted by Trojan Man

I just had an awesome 13-10 defensive slugfest on AP default 12 minute quarters. Something I'm seeing consistently in my games is the difference the QB position makes. I was using HOU, and there were just certain throws that were absolutely off the table for me using him. Gone are the days where you could basically make every throw with every QB. I love that. If I played a whole season with a team like that, I could see 6-10 or worse being my record, which is just how it should be. I had to really work the safe passes and my offense lost all hope of creating explosive plays as a result. Also, I think the sacks are just right. My high for a game is 4, which I've gotten twice, but I've also had a 1 sack game and two 3 sack games. I'm very happy with the way the pass blocking and pass rushing are tuned.

I pretty much agree with all of this. I play with Nick Foles and his 63 deep pass accuracy, so throws down the field are a monumental struggle for me.

Playing 15 minute quarters and getting 125-130 plays a game, the numbers usually in up normalizing by the time the game is over. Completing %'s, sacks and hurries, YPC for backs, etc., all end up falling into ranges that one would see in a real game.

How the animation sequences play out with the battle in the trenches are too binary for sure, but the sacks, hurries, occur at a realistic % in my games, even by CPU rushers for both teams. When I'm controlling a dlineman, it looks prettier because of how I attack the QB, but the effectiveness end up being about the same.

Quote: Originally Posted by NYJin2011tm

My first game CPU had 2 false starts on hard counts.

Yeah, I played a game today where the CPU had 4 false starts.

[casey_horton]

Madden Madden Madden...you get me every time. Year after year I pray to the heavens that maybe, just maybe I will see some kind of semblance of what I would say is an enjoyable game. For some reason I go in with higher expectations than the year prior but I am met with the same results. Perhaps I am too strict on what I am expecting, but when it is the only NFL licensed game I feel like I should be getting my money's worth. Granted there was a time where I loved the Madden series, and I really mean that. But as I reached into my shallow pockets for another $64.19 to be exact, I find that maybe I'm falling into Einstein's definition of insanity - doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. Now before I completely give my thoughts, I feel that it is necessary to outline the good in this game...yes I believe there is good in all things (insert cheesy chime). But really I can't rip the game from all angles, of course there are positives!

Positives
Graphics - Unbelievable job, I mean Madden and just EASports in general is bringing it this year in the graphics department and they nailed it again. Face scans are MUCH more accurate for each player and I'm happy that they've added closer cameras in the cutscenes to show the great work they've done.

WR/DB Interactions - Glad they have added new animations for a department that has been lacking for a long time. For such an integral part of football, the passing game has needed fresh animations and interactions for this facet of the game. Spectacular catches maybe happen a little too frequently but its sick to see that one handed grab as you sky over the defense. Also seeing your DB not give up on a play and actually be able to start a little tip drill, it just tickles the fancy.

Man I wish I could come up with more positives but I just think at this point I'm taking my frustrations out on my keyboard. When I came home and fired up this game, the Superbowl moment hits you, and I'm not going to lie, the player chatter and intense moments that they provided in that opening sequence, I became engaged in that game. That sense of being involved with the trash talk, players yelling at the refs, that's the intensity I want to feel in the game. Now if they could ever get that over in the actual game...but I digress, the real reason I am writing this is because of the same old same old.

I'm not an All-Madden guy (sorry I bow down to all you superior players), but I do play on All-Pro. And for whatever reason this is to me, I run into the same problem...on offense there is the linebackers with 20 ft arms, repeated drops from my higher rated WRs, and man coverage on my wideouts so close you'd think the CPU's DB's had stickum on their jerseys.

On Defense - Apparently my coverage was written with 0 artificial intelligence because they are always so far behind every WR. I just don't understand when I call a zone, why these players are parked 10 yards from the closest wideout when it is clear that is the player to attack or keep close in coverage. Ok ok, maybe I'm being nitpicky, but if I don't control a defensive lineman there just appears to be no pressure. If I don't control a DB Dez Bryant is running down the field 30 yards wide open. I'm just asking for a little bit of help from the other 10 players on the field. Many a times I play QBs have just outrageous completion percentages. Long drives are always manufactured by the offense with all these passes coming across the middle. Maybe I'm alone but a lot of times I just feel like I could pick a play, not move my defender, and the play will just play itself out. Even if I control somebody, I don't feel as though I can make an impact.

Deeper than the field
Okay if you haven't figured out I'm a huge NFL 2K fan and always will be. But I believe 2K in general especially from the NBA franchise is something that all sports games should aspire to be. It's the cream of the crop in terms of depth and getting more from the game. It's the experience of the player morale, having players interact with you after games bringing their concerns and bringing down chemistry. Ticket prices, jersey sales, media interaction, I mean I feel like they've nailed every part I've ever wanted. But what Madden fails to deliver in year after year is the depth of its franchise mode. I play a game, do some funky repetitive training drills, level up my players, and advance a week (does this sound familiar Skyrim fans?). I'm not knocking Skyrim but come on, Madden is getting away from realism and creating this arcade/RPG effect which is something that is just awful. The weekly goals combined with the goals on the drive, add to the clutter that is just unnecessary. Every time a drive starts, they are telling me if I get 40 yards I get XP, and when I do I begin to see +1 XP above my characters (players). I didn't realize I was playing World of Warcraft...

Listen I love football and obviously with it being the only option for my NFL fix what other choice do I have...keep the fantasy games and my sports games separate, is that too harsh of a comment? I just hope that this series expands just from the fantasy aspect and fix the legacy issues that it has always had...or maybe I should just download some new sliders...

[WISports]

Just got the game tonight. Popped it in, and after playing just one quarter (offline) I can say that is easily the most fun I've had playing Madden to date. And I'm 40, so I've played a LOT of Madden in my lifetime.


Also, graphically, it is the best looking sports game to date, IMO. Passing up 2K15.


Bravo, EA.

[dynastynation]

I don't even know why I keep buying this game. This "new" wide receiver and defensive back animations are a joke. You press a button and they warp into whatever animation the game decides. They went completely overboard with the Odell Beckham Jr. one-handed catch. He made a spectacular play in real life, fantastic. Why do I see it re-enacted at least once per game? Just for the fun of it, my friend and I played an online game and we just abused the hell out of the "spectacular catch" animation to see just how successful we could be throwing deep bombs. In single coverage, it was successful about 95% of the time... in double coverage, about 85%.

I even had a corner have two hands hovering around the ball while a receiver caught it with one hand. Why does this receiver not have the awareness to just swat the ball away? Instead, he willingly drops his arms and goes to the ground. I have tried to give this game a chance, but it's just truly awful. Gang tackling is an absolute joke. The guys just run into each other and fall over. Receivers get stuck on linebackers when running across the field and don't ever have the awareness to run around them. Defense stands flat footed 75% of the time. The players (and ball) warping around the field is still a huge issue. See below for an example. This is a fumble recovery in Madden 16... player laying on the ground, face down, with the ball to his right. Then it just magically warps through him to his left forearm and that's how he recovers it... this was a huge play in the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl that cost the other team the game. I truly felt awful for winning that way.

Is this 2015 or 2005? Why do people defend this game? The developers put out trash every single year. Personally, I feel pretty dumb for even thinking that they would possibly deliver a fun and realistic game this year. My opinion is if you are thinking about giving the game a chance... save yourself the $60 and several headaches and stay away. I just wanted a game that I can play out of the box and have it not be a complete clusterf***. The past three years of buying MLB The Show, I've never touched a slider or a setting other than the difficulty... yet with Madden you consistently have to change everything to try and fix broken game mechanics. I refuse to do it anymore. I'm sure I'll be banned for this post, so... bye!

[JayBee74]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gotmadskillzson

For those of you having a hard time running, I strongly suggest you do the Hard Hat Skills trainer. It is imperative this year to actually count the people in the box you trying to run to. Free defenders no longer get tangled up coming through the hole. If it is 4 of them vs your 3 blockers, that free guy coming through and meeting you in the backfield. People really need to get into the habit of flipping the run play at the LOS or simply changing the play to something completely different. Forcing a play is a no no this year.

Good tip. I notice a quick tap of the RS (juke) gives you a direction change and you're actually centered and balanced.

[REALFOOTBALL]

Defensive AI is a bit better but still alot of standing around, linemen on offense for USER still look like they don't know what there doing out there. Run blocking is ok FINALLY, but once again I'm watching linemen just run straight up field without blocking anyone. There's little to no pass rush, in my franchise the CPU qb is averaging almost a full 8 seconds or more, and if someone does get in the quarterback throws a clean pass to a wide open receiver. CPU quarterbacks will get to the line and does not snap the ball (this has happened 3 times in one game. Tackling looks horrible just running into each other is all it is! High low passing doesn't work most of the time, I have thrown almost all my high pass 20 yards out of bounds, low pass are also bad!

[Smallville102001]

So was doing some test CFM sim to just look at things like sim stats and some other thing like how the draft is set up ect. The sim stats look to be pretty good but need to do a few more. Had 7 guys with 4000 or more passing yards. TD and completion % was good to and ever thing else for the most part looks good with things like catches, tackles ect. The only thing I would say looked a little off was CB INT where a little high and the amount of punts for kickers a little high. I forgot to look to see if the amount of guys running for 1000 or more yards looked good or not but in my second sim I had 15 guys with 1000 or more not bad. Also I think the money issue from last year with owner mode may be fixed. Last year in owner mode you would not have a lot of money and like have to let a lot of guys just level or even get rid of guys. In my test sim with the packers I was able to resign some of my players and pick up a few new ones to.