Madden NFL 15 is now available in stores. Be sure to read our review if you haven't gotten the game. If you have, leave your own impressions of your first play sessions in the comments below!
After more time online, I have changed my stance on my initial impressions but their are still issues. What makes me proud is that you have to play football and strategically play like we see on sunday. But the no huddle and lack of manual contain option is sad, other than that this is great stuff and hopefully the issues we are seeing will be addressed with a patch instead of next yr.
I believe EA has used and abused their opportunity to have "hopefully next yr" vibe going for them even though this iteration is what we were waiting for since forever. They said it couldnt be done and they did it, now lets keep getting it right EA, kudos zo far.
Wish they would fix bubble screens. None of them work. Other then that great madden gameplay wish. My first time ever losing a game playing all madden.
This years version of Madden is pretty tight. The game all-around feels really fresh and new. I really like the new 'simple' play calling feature. The graphics and presentation look and feel really good. The defensive controls are much welcomed feature this year. The camera toggle in game is a really nice feature. I usually stick with the zoom camera, but having options for other cameras during the game is awesome. On the other hand, I'm not sold on the new kicking meter. All in all, I'm really enjoying this years version of Madden.
They have GOT to fix the bug where the lineman just stand there and let rushers past. This "player sense 2.0" means absolutely nothing with this bug. I call protections so I have time and it doesn't matter at all because my guys just stand there and let rushers through. Tiburon PLEASE address this.
Also seems like my defenders don't react like the AI's defenders. AI is lightning quick while my guys are actually reading and reacting and not in a good way.
Also pressure means nothing for the AI QB's. Guys are getting hammered and STILL throwing darts.
After more time online, I have changed my stance on my initial impressions but their are still issues. What makes me proud is that you have to play football and strategically play like we see on sunday. But the no huddle and lack of manual contain option is sad, other than that this is great stuff and hopefully the issues we are seeing will be addressed with a patch instead of next yr.
I believe EA has used and abused their opportunity to have "hopefully next yr" vibe going for them even though this iteration is what we were waiting for since forever. They said it couldnt be done and they did it, now lets keep getting it right EA, kudos zo far.
You mean manual QB contain?? If so you can call that manually.
If I'm understanding you correctly.
They have GOT to fix the bug where the lineman just stand there and let rushers past. This "player sense 2.0" means absolutely nothing with this bug. I call protections so I have time and it doesn't matter at all because my guys just stand there and let rushers through. Tiburon PLEASE address this.
Also seems like my defenders don't react like the AI's defenders. AI is lightning quick while my guys are actually reading and reacting and not in a good way.
Also pressure means nothing for the AI QB's. Guys are getting hammered and STILL throwing darts.
Had that one happen too. A DB rolled right by my tackle who just was kinda...there.
Well Skyboxer saved Madden 15 for me. He suggested lowering pass reaction down to 45. I was thinking the entire time, nothing is wrong with the passing, it is the running and screens. Who knew pass reaction slider controls run reaction by defenders as well ? I was able to do outside runs and leave defenders in the dust. Able to do counters and stretch plays without being tackled for a loss.
The CPU running was MUCH improved too. Now only if somebody can find the fix for too many sacks.
Well Skyboxer saved Madden 15 for me. He suggested lowering pass reaction down to 45. I was thinking the entire time, nothing is wrong with the passing, it is the running and screens. Who knew pass reaction slider controls run reaction by defenders as well ? I was able to do outside runs and leave defenders in the dust. Able to do counters and stretch plays without being tackled for a loss.
The CPU running was MUCH improved too. Now only if somebody can find the fix for too many sacks.
Yep too many sacks (and simmed stats) are what I want most.
I just kept trying differensettings to see what really did what and once I lowered reaction it helped a lot.
I don't think we'll ever really know what the sliders do especially to areas other than what they seemingly are designed for.
Now if I can get the D cam to not pan away from at times... I just posted that in glitch thread. Doesn't happen a lot but sucks when it does..
Going to try using generic playbooks for the CPU like I have before just to see how they play out. Seeing a lot of running and just general 50-50 splits with a lot of CPU teams just running on first and second down and only throwing on third and longs and an occasional first down. Wish we could get custom playbooks in CFM for the CPU so we could mess with the gameplans and what not and get more realistic playstyles out of the CPU.
After spending a decent amount of time with the game I will say, the player models do look good. Problem is, when the game moves the bad last gen animations are even more noticable. Overall, the game looks really nice. But, so many issues still plague the game. It's really hard to sustain immersion when things go haywire. Seems they still have a ways to go.
I think Madden took a significant step in the right direction by making slight changes to the controls (especially defensively).
All things considered, the game plays really well. I'm sure there are bugs out there, but I'm not interested in researching them. The game is fun and that's what is most important to me.
I think Madden took a significant step in the right direction by making slight changes to the controls (especially defensively).
All things considered, the game plays really well. I'm sure there are bugs out there, but I'm not interested in researching them. The game is fun and that's what is most important to me.
It looks beautiful on my PS4 as well.
Agreed Chase ^^
*This year brought me 'hope' EA is finally next-gen with Madden and headed in the right direction...what a difference a full year cycle makes and it shows...great job fellas.
All kudos aside, this is what are priority fixes:
1) Penalties, penalties, penalties - all I am seeing is Roughing the Passer and nothing else....C'MON, it's part of the game!
2) Fix the sacks
3) Simmed statistics
4) Referees...where are they in the instant replay...where is the chain gang on short yardage situations, where are the YELLOW flags flying all over the place when there is a penalty....oh wait, there is NO yellow flag 'animation' throwing by a referee because I revert to #1. lol
Besides these, this year plays an EXCELLENT video game/sim of football...I have forgotten about 2K5....thank you and let's build on this!
Played a couple of games on default All-Pro. Some notes:
1. Robo-QB is in full force. They just don't miss many throws or anything.
2. Too many sacks. This ties in with Robo-QB. Every play feels like a sack or a completion. Stale.
3. Running the ball. Dunno but I felt NCAA 14 had a better run game with better blocking than this.
4. Defense. I struggle to move the ball. Good that it's finally harder, though at times their recovery speed and general closing speed seem unrealistic in a way.
5. WR's are not as good as CB's. They don't attack the ball making it easy for the ball to be picked.
This game becomes really beautiful with the right set of sliders.
I've just had a really fantastic game againts Colts.
All-pro default sliders. Only accuracy at 8 and WR catching at 45 for both cpu and user
A. Luck %67 (322 yrd) P. Rivers %65 (283 yrd)
And most importantly cpu only took 3 sacks with the Intentional Grounding Penalty at 5. IDK if it was a coincidence. I will keep playing with these settings.
I'm really hesitant to buy M15. Reading all the impressions and issues with sim stats, qbs changing teams yearly, and draft classes with multiple players with the same last names!
I will stick to a more sim version with M25 for now, plus I still have and play NCAA 14, along with my draft classes.
I want to see what EA does for us on M15 before I spend more money and decide to buy.
Played a couple of games on default All-Pro. Some notes:
1. Robo-QB is in full force. They just don't miss many throws or anything.
2. Too many sacks. This ties in with Robo-QB. Every play feels like a sack or a completion. Stale.
3. Running the ball. Dunno but I felt NCAA 14 had a better run game with better blocking than this.
4. Defense. I struggle to move the ball. Good that it's finally harder, though at times their recovery speed and general closing speed seem unrealistic in a way.
5. WR's are not as good as CB's. They don't attack the ball making it easy for the ball to be picked.
Perfect summary of my issues with the game. The game can be really awesome at times, but when these things start to jump out, I just turn it off.
Also played a couple of games on default all - pro, and one online game.
1. Running the football is difficult. In a good way. I think in the last couple of years I'd become a little lazy with the run but this seems more balanced.
2. I don't think CPU QBs are perfect, but on the default sliders I'm seeing very few inaccurate passes. I've picked a few off, so that's good but need to tweak the accuracy slider a little.
3. The graphics are very solid, the lighting and stadium models are very nice indeed.
4. The players actually have some distinguishing features this year which I like.
5. Skills trainer is excellent. I've watched football for nearly 10 years but tactically I'm still on quite a basic level. The football concepts section is a fantastic idea, and the drills are fun.
6. Online seems smooth, and I won my first game which always helps
7. The presentation is definitely an improvement, but still I think it could be more polished. Things like there being no welcome back line after a quarter. If little things were fixed we could have a very good broadcast package.
8. The game is quicker, and I like that. Football is a fast game so we need to feel that pressure in Madden.
9. Defense takes a bit of time to get used to but I do feel this is ten times better than the old system.
10. The play calling screen is very good, and I would think new players will get a lot out of it. Especially finding out why a specific play should be called in that situation.
Overall ill give it a solid 8 after my first day, if franchise is good then I'd definitely give it a 9.
Played a couple of games on default All-Pro. Some notes:
1. Robo-QB is in full force. They just don't miss many throws or anything.
2. Too many sacks. This ties in with Robo-QB. Every play feels like a sack or a completion. Stale.
3. Running the ball. Dunno but I felt NCAA 14 had a better run game with better blocking than this.
4. Defense. I struggle to move the ball. Good that it's finally harder, though at times their recovery speed and general closing speed seem unrealistic in a way.
5. WR's are not as good as CB's. They don't attack the ball making it easy for the ball to be picked.
Nice list and I'm adjusting to 15' as we speak.
Out of your top 5 of concerns #5 is what sometimes irk when a tall receiver with skill just let's a CB out hustle them for most jump balls.
I haven't had any QB go robo on me yet, most games end between 60-70% completion on all pro. Though, there are stretches when a QB gets hot, but it isn't for very long.
When I remember not to constantly hold my sprint button my run game inside the tackles really open up.
Sacks have been hit and miss. I have quarters where I am able to get or hit the QB at every turn and them quarters where I can barely sniff him.
I have played anywhere from 8-10 games, so a small sample size.