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!
First off, I'm not the type of person to say these things lightly, I've been around a long time and basically seen it all when it comes to sports games, that said, This is the greatest football game ever made.....on the field. Better than the early Gameday's, better than those late PS2 Madden's, and yes better than NFL 2K5. IMO there's no denying it, even if you want to.
Off the field, I haven't dove in deep enough to give a definitive answer. Of course sim stats need fixing, and from what folks are saying the progression system concerns me, but other than that I really can't comment yet. Gameplay though? Best ever.
Agreed 110%, I've played pretty much every Madden whether I owned it or not, along with the 2K's, Gamedays, Tecmo Bowl's, SportsTalk Football, everything. And this feels, at least so far, as the best of them yet.
My only real concern is EA's penchant for wanting to reinvent the wheel with every release. When the game's bad, as it has been lately, then by all means, this was necessary. But the foundation is good, everything that's right with the game now needs to remain in the game next year. It may not provide the splashy back of the box headlines they need, but damn it, they've finally righted the ship after a mostly sub-par generation (PS3/360). Now isn't the time to play around, the only consecutive releases from my memory that didn't totally destroy what came before was Madden 2004-2005 & '10-11. Let's hope for the best...
How can I use the official roster update for connected franchise? Am I missing something? I've tried both options of importing roster and using default roster and both are the same (not the updated roster)
I'm wondering the exact same thing. I can't seem to start a CFM with any updated rosters.
Overall, I'd say Madden is finally playable for the first time since the PS2 versions, but still a ways to go before being accepted as a true sim.
I have to base my impressions off of All-Pro since all I play is ranked online. On All-Pro the passing game is too easy and it just feels unrealistic how you can consistently thread the needle into double coverage with average QBs like Flacco. Also, I'm starting to notice that curl routes might be the new money plays in Madden. I just played against someone who gained all of his yards off of curls and screens, despite me calling for my corners to play underneath. This coverage adjustment literally made 0 difference as he was still able to consistently hit curls play after play. Switching to zone, opens up an array of other weaknesses. In zone there are always going to be windows, but those windows in Madden are so easy to exploit it makes zone coverage worse than it should be.
I know most of these issues mentioned above are solved on All Madden, but huge let down that we're forced into All Pro only for ranked.
I like how the running game is actually a challenge this year, it doesn't feel like you can cheese it up anymore. The downside is that the way run plays and block assignments develop are still extremely flawed. Run game on 2k felt a little more natural and less predetermined.
Still some big flaws in terms of realism, but some core aspects of sim football are finally in place making the game enjoyable.
Pros:
Graphics and player models
Longer quarter length for ranked play (not sure when that changed, but last I played Madden ranked games were too short)
Player weight and momentum
Being set in the pocket matters now along with improved control over your passes
Stats seem fairly reasonable, aside from completion percentages
Less cheese
Great presentation and commentary (feels realistic)
Feels like X's and O's matter now, but definitely still a lot of room to grow in that regard
Cons:
Game doesn't feel physical and intense. Significant lack of big hits
Trying to make precise movements can get somewhat clunky
Coverage adjustments don't have the impact that they should
I don't notice much of a difference between different style of running backs
Run game is definitely hugely improved, but still doesn't develop as realistically as 2k
Too easy to pound the ball in on goaline
No PI
Sometimes defenders won't react to the ball at all despite manual input and being in position to do so
Solid 7.5/10 (again, would definitely score a little higher if All Madden was default)
I agree with the lack of intensity on defense. It's like they took the hit stick away.
Before even playing a game, I went into community files and got skyboxer's cpu and player sliders, switched up to All-Pro, 15 minute quarters and slow speed. Then I fired up a game between the Dolphins (me) and Steelers, because I figured they'd be fairly evenly matched. Wrong, wrong, I ended up winning 64-0. 600+ yards for the Dolphins, with an 80% completion rate and 350 passing yards plus another 250 on the ground plus 11 sacks on defense. Steelers completed exactly half their passes and ended up with only 85 yards total. No turnovers in the game and no penalties until I jacked everything up to 90 for the second half and saw exactly one facemask penalty.
My initial impression is that the game looks amazing and seems like it could be extremely fun after we get some good sliders worked up.
Played against the Vikings. AP only had 84 yards rushing, with the bulk of it coming in the 4th. Johnny Football can run his little butt off and break tackles like a power back. Throwing deep with Johnny however was a no go. Joe Hadden was a beast, however he dropped 8 interceptions that hit him square in the hands.
I do like that CPU punters coffin kick now. They were pinning me at the 3 and 5 yard line a lot. I must say I also love the level of dirt uniforms have this year, even in clear weather. Players get filthy and I love it.
I still hate the limited weather options though. How hard is it to program light, medium and heavy for rain and snow options ? I do notice at times CPU ball carriers will run out of bounds even when they shouldn't. It is usually because they will try a spin or juke along the sidelines. Instead of doing it towards the inside of the field, they will do it towards the outside and end up juking or spinning out of bounds.
I had an instance where a defender pushed my ball carrier all the way to the bench. No flag.... I mean he literally kept pushing him until both of them crashed into the bench. I thought for sure that would draw a flag, but nope.
Hell the only flag I saw so far was false start....
I agree with the lack of intensity on defense. It's like they took the hit stick away.
They went from one extreme to the other. Hopefully they find the right balance next year in bringing big, but still realistic hits into the game. Also, important that big hits only happen from players capable of delivering them.
Loving the new madden defense lock camera. Rushing the passer has never been more fun. I struggled a bit on offense but soon got comfortable. So far great game
Really hope they can patch the QB styles back into the game. Really kills the immersion with playing with different QB's. Really hate some of the throwing animations. The passing does feel good at times, but definitely need slider adjustments for more inaccuracy. Also need qb's to get throw the ball away more instead of taking sacks.
The game does have solid moments though, and I like the direction it's going. I think the post play cameras actually look better on current gen at times, but next gen definitely has a new pop that was needed. Love the graphics and details. Definitely have had some cool moments in my limited play times on PS4.
Really glad to see I'm not the only one who noticed that there are no signature motions working right now. It's minor compared to other bugs but you're right, for those who really appreciate the attention to detail it really kills the immersion.
Honestly, this game played on "Slow" is pure joy. Great gameplay, really excited by this Madden (I would never think to say that, and was not so impressed by videos..).
Everything is more fun, run play, pass play, defense... even kicking.
Don't know what I'll say in 1 month, but now I enjoy the moment
I don't know if this was in Madden last year but I when I was playing against the Bucs and they got to Henne. It looked like his arm was going forward but it was ruled a fumble. So they go ahead and review it and it gets over turned and we got the ball back.
still not digging the whole create 32 character deal for ccm. sucks having to go through and create each one. should have created a simple one button chooses all deal like the show. only complaint, EA NAILED IT this year!!
Has anyone had any issues with it running kind of choppy? The frames are skipping on me fairly often in the game I'm playing now. The first game I played it wasn't that bad. With the exception of that, my initial impressions of this are quite positive.
Are you digital ps4? I'm having some slight issues and it's worrying me that my ps4 is on the fritz since most people say it's smooth for them
Very, very disappointed yet again. Will the franchise mode will never get better? Why are the Chiefs releasing Deathony Thomas, the Seahawks releasing Paul Richardson, the Giants releasing and then vanishing Andre Williams before the preseason is even over. This stuff should not be happening. I haven't even made it to the regular season yet and I'm already aggravated.
I wish this presentation could get patched though. If anything. It stresses me out trying to read the stats. Some overlays only stay up 1.5 seconds. What's the point of having them? It makes me feel rushed and takes me out of the moment. Instead of feeling like I'm watching a game I feel like I'm in a tornado of camera cuts and overlays popping up. The transitions in some cases are great in most cases, it goes from one thing to the next too quickly.
Please make the overlays come up and stay up long enough to get enjoyment out of them. Ea did such a great job putting this stuff in, why don't they let us see it?
Are you digital ps4? I'm having some slight issues and it's worrying me that my ps4 is on the fritz since most people say it's smooth for them
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheBleedingRed21
Pappy, mine is now choppy... I have the disk PS4.. it is unplayable like that.. wowww
I have a disc copy. I haven't tried playing again since I posted my earlier message, but I'm hoping that doesn't happen all the time. My last game was pretty bad.