Madden NFL 15 News Post

Madden NFL 15 Review (PS4/XB1)

04:43 PM - August 22, 2014 by RaychelSnr

Madden NFL is a series which has always been under the most intense of microscopes in the sports gaming community. It’s almost like Madden is a Kardashian, with its every move being dissected and broken apart on a level that would make any other sports game crumble.

Despite all of this, Madden does continually give a good and solid NFL experience most years, but is still flawed in one way or another. The past several years we have witnessed Madden fixing one set of problems, only to see a new batch arise from those fixes. I have long said football was a difficult sport to program for, and it certainly stands to reason that is the case. However, despite all of this, Madden sells extremely well and has seemed on the cusp of making it to the level of the elites in our genre for a couple of years — but it has ultimately been held back by something.

Madden NFL 15 is no different. On one hand, the game is a blast to play. On the other, it’s an, ahem, "maddening" experience.

Read More - Madden NFL 15 Review (PS4/XB1)

Game: Madden NFL 15Reader Score: 6.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / PS4 / Xbox 360 / Xbox OneVotes for game: 42 - View All

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Member Comments

# 81 mantiis @ 08/23/14 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Smif


	Good review score but the reviewer did not mention other glaring flaws in the game. Like the lack of foot-planting and abundance of sliding in this game? The horrid Qb animations and animations overall are bad & many have been in the game almost a decade, the robotic movement due to super compressed animations, a game dominated by pre-determined repeat canned animations where an 180 db can level a 260 lb TE without even being phased. Am I the only one bothered by these flaws in the game? Seems like people have become so use to it that they have learned to just accept it. Football is a hard game to program for? Soccer and American football have a lot in common including 22 players on the field, yet FIFA is years ahead of Madden in technology. Madden does continually give a good and solid NFL experience most years? Are you serious!? I think most of OS will agree looking back that Madden last gen was a complete waste, with only the last couple of releases being decent. Overall I agree with the score, as Madden shoudnt get above a 7.5 when compared to other games but this game is a lonnnnnng way from being amongst the best in our genre.

Agreed. But, you forgot to mention the zero aware OLmen that just stand there as you get blitzed or my favorite controller smashing- watching an OLman just stand there instead of opening a route for your RB. The virtual players in Madden simply do not possess the same level of football intelligence as say, a 2K football game's players do. Having selfish 10 year opportunity to get it right, and falling on their face is sad for EA.

# 82 apsve @ 08/23/14 07:22 PM

Unfortunately the stats and progression issues are killers for me. I was really looking forward to picking up Madden this year for the first time in a while, but until these are address it's a big nope for me.

# 83 Chairman7w @ 08/23/14 11:40 PM

From all indications, this is much better than last years' version. But last year got an 8 rating.

I don't understand the lack of consistency here.

# 84 WarlordZMaster @ 08/24/14 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mantiis


	Thank You! First honest review I have read. I have gained an increase of respect for this place. Yet, as far as the game- it does appear like much of a difference from the last couple years- with the exception of a few tweaks and some new looks. I'll be holding on to my $60.00, but may pick it up when it substantially drops in price.

You will be missing out, this is the Madden to buy if you have a next gen console.

# 85 JoshC1977 @ 08/24/14 08:13 AM

More importantly....does the CPU TAK slider impact the kicking power like last year? Do we have to go through the whole song and dance to get sliders and auto-subs to load properly in CFM?

M25 for next-gen was such a bear last year because the sliders didn't do what they were supposed to do. On old-gen, they did, and that made modifying the gameplay experience far less frustrating. .

If the sliders are in a decent state and if they fix the sim stats issue (first review I have read that mentioned that - thank you much for that), then this might actually pull me away from NCAA 14 for a while...

# 86 ConnSKINS26 @ 08/24/14 11:34 AM

Sorry. I don't care how much the gameplay is improved, if a sports game ships with a broken franchise mode, they can't score this highly. Absolutely can't.

# 87 Jerros @ 08/24/14 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarlordZMaster


	This review is too low. This is by far the best game of NFL Football available outside of the real game. Finally, eclipsing my all time fav NFL2K5. I had lost all interest in Madden over the years, only getting M25 with EA Access. M25 is a good game of ball, but M15 is a leap forward. Graphics, presentation, emotion are all amazing. Gameplay is tight and competitive. Lots of modes, heck the player improvement drills are fun. I will be spending much of my gaming time over the next few months with M15. See you in MUT fellas!

While I'm glad to see you are having fun with the game for what it is, I have to disagree completely with the assessment that Madden is the most sim game to date. For one, since when did you watch games on Sundays where Olinemen get tossed around like feather weights. Those guys train and get paid to do a job just like the defense. Another thing, there is ZERO technique in the pass rush and QBs drifting back in the pocket for 10 extra yards is a fundamental no no. Olinemen stand starring down field once a defender basically runs over them. The animations are horrid. QBs don't use proper mechanics or footwork. Every team uses the same exact blocking system which uses poor logic giving the illusion that the defense is making great plays. DBs are still seen standing flatfooted in zone coverage. Weather still means nothing, penalties nonexistent. That's what you think you see on Sundays?? And the saddest thing of all is the fact that APF still does a lot of these things better. Soooo, I have to completely disagree. From the what I played these things are still broken. Oh and I forgot to mention the gang tackling which is not tackling at all. Players just run into each other, then go limp and seemingly unconscious after contact. Thats NOT what I see in real football man. But again, if its great to you then that's all that matters. Just agreeing to disagree.

# 88 bigball12 @ 08/24/14 05:08 PM

The review is well written and informative.

Although not mentioning the removal of team play, seems like an oversight.

# 89 timsmooth503pa @ 08/24/14 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerros


	While I'm glad to see you are having fun with the game for what it is, I have to disagree completely with the assessment that Madden is the most sim game to date. For one, since when did you watch games on Sundays where Olinemen get tossed around like feather weights. Those guys train and get paid to do a job just like the defense. Another thing, there is ZERO technique in the pass rush and QBs drifting back in the pocket for 10 extra yards is a fundamental no no. Olinemen stand starring down field once a defender basically runs over them. The animations are horrid. QBs don't use proper mechanics or footwork. Every team uses the same exact blocking system which uses poor logic giving the illusion that the defense is making great plays. DBs are still seen standing flatfooted in zone coverage. Weather still means nothing, penalties nonexistent. That's what you think you see on Sundays?? And the saddest thing of all is the fact that APF still does a lot of these things better. Soooo, I have to completely disagree. From the what I played these things are still broken. Oh and I forgot to mention the gang tackling which is not tackling at all. Players just run into each other, then go limp and seemingly unconscious after contact. Thats NOT what I see in real football man. But again, if its great to you then that's all that matters. Just agreeing to disagree.

have you played m15 yet because its way better that your assessment

# 90 Jdreher123 @ 08/24/14 05:34 PM

Last year, all I played was mut. Now connected franchise is all I'm gonna play. I cannot wait to buy this game

# 91 bkrich83 @ 08/24/14 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerros


	again, if its great to you then that's all that matters. Just agreeing to disagree.

That clearly wasn't your intent.

# 92 Hockeynut99 @ 08/24/14 06:40 PM

I read the review but I am still trying to figure out where the lower score came from. Was it really the announcing in the game?

# 93 ConnSKINS26 @ 08/24/14 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hockeynut99


	I read the review but I am still trying to figure out where the lower score came from. Was it really the announcing in the game?

Probably the fact that any remotely knowledgeable football fan will be absolutely disgusted with the state of the NFL just one season into the franchise mode.

Score should be lower if this is how the game is shipping, and I'm someone who is very impressed with the actual gameplay and presentation improvements this year, who even thinks we're just a complete animations overhaul away from a truly amazing NFL game.

If they fix the rampant, almost unbelievable CFM issues.

# 94 Hockeynut99 @ 08/24/14 07:31 PM

I guess I am more concerns with graphics and game play.

# 95 Eski33 @ 08/24/14 07:53 PM

It is a fun game hands down. Hard part about reviews is the reviewer may weigh certain aspects heavier than someone else. I don't get caught up in scores. I like to read the details about certain modes I may not try.

I can't wait til Tuesday.

# 96 Hockeynut99 @ 08/24/14 08:08 PM

I think my biggest problem with the score is Madden 25 got a higher score.

# 97 SamoanSteelerFromAus @ 08/24/14 08:18 PM

The legacy issues like the WR/DB interactions are dissapointing to hear. but i love playing defense and that new camera and d line moves are enough for me to purchase this.

# 98 falconfansince81 @ 08/24/14 08:41 PM

REALLY wish there was an option to turn off those atrocious super-zoomed cut scenes and replays going 200mph (why no slo-mo?), or at least have the option to change the camera angle to broadcast or something instead.

Even the 'wire cam' or whatever it is behind the offense like on NBC Sunday Night Football would be great angle to toggle replays between. I just don't understand the turbo zoom replays and cut scenes, it kills presentation and immersion for me.

# 99 Buddywalker @ 08/24/14 09:03 PM

The replays are way to fast. I prefer highlight videos in slow motion.

# 100 Rules @ 08/24/14 10:01 PM

Thanks for the review. For once I am really looking forward to Madden 15 this year.

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