Madden NFL 16 News Post

Madden NFL 16 Review (PS4/Xbox One)

03:27 PM - August 28, 2015 by RaychelSnr

Madden NFL 16 is a game where I have faced mixed emotions playing it. On one hand, the gameplay has arrived in every way now, and can be put amongst any other game in our genre in terms of great-playing sports games.

On the other hand, funky design decisions and truly bad bugs really hamper the experience in the game’s main mode: Franchise.

That always brings a tension in reviewing a game. It's brilliant but left wondering why some decisions were simply made.

With all of that said, Madden NFL 16 is the best football game you’ve ever played, and the experience is generally becoming one that can be described as great.

Read More - Madden NFL 16 Review (PS4/Xbox One)

Game: Madden NFL 16Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / PS4 / Xbox 360 / Xbox OneVotes for game: 24 - View All

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Member Comments

# 1 BenGerman @ 08/28/15 03:34 PM

Well written, Chris. This is easily the best Madden in a long time. Hopefully next year they focus on the game modes and continue to build on the solid gameplay.

# 2 Armor and Sword @ 08/28/15 03:37 PM

A very fair and thoughtful review. I gave it a 7 because of all the CFM bugs as well as the Defensive Camera (what I hope is a bug that can be patched) design decision (it was perfect last year and now I get dizzy with it sometimes what the heck happened?) it shipped with.

Once those CFM bugs are patched here shortly I feel this is solid 8.5 overall.

On the field it is a solid 9 for me. CFM still needs more presentation elements added, and in game we need a score ticker (not a dumb drive goals ticker) like the NCAA football series. Dynasty mode on NCAA 14 is probably the most robust football franchise mode ever. Madden is getting there.

The future is bright and let's enjoy M16 on the field where is shines brightly.

And Draft Champions is highly addictive and has so much potential to be expanded upon with a bigger player pool and the ability to play head to head with friends and even set up tournaments!

I can easily say M16 and NCAA 14 are my two favorite football titles ever (and a special shout out to Tecmo Super Bowl).

# 3 Hooe @ 08/28/15 03:40 PM

I think this review jives with my opinion that the on-field experience is going to hold up the Madden NFL game this year. I'm not as offended by Dynamic Drive Goals as the reviewer is, but I do admit that I'm generally ignoring them, making the feature essentially a nonfactor for me.

Hoping for more substantial additions to Franchise going forward. For now, the football gameplay is plenty good enough for me to want to continue forward in the decent experience that Franchise offers now.

# 4 Armor and Sword @ 08/28/15 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CM Hooe


	I think this review jives with my opinion that the on-field experience is going to hold up the Madden NFL game this year. I'm not as offended by Dynamic Drive Goals as the reviewer is, but I do admit that I'm generally ignoring them, making the feature essentially a nonfactor for me. Hoping for more substantial additions to Franchise going forward. For now, the football gameplay is plenty good enough for me to want to continue forward in the decent experience that Franchise offers now.

I share the same sentiment. Put that ticker resource into next years game with scores around the league while we play CFM.

But I make believe it does not exist.

# 5 jb12780 @ 08/28/15 03:42 PM

Great review. Once CFM gets fixed this game will be very addicting and hard to put down.

Sent from my LG-LS980 using Tapatalk

# 6 Hooe @ 08/28/15 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armor and Sword


	I share the same sentiment. Put that ticker resource into next years game with scores around the league while we play CFM. But I make believe it does not exist.

I actually really like the goals ticker. As long as the game revolves around XP for player progression, I want to know how close I am to XP reward thresholds. To that end, the goal ticker is extremely useful for me.

It's specifically the Dynamic Drives Goal feature is what I'm ignoring - "throw a passing TD this drive", "get a QB sack this drive", etc.

I definitely would like to see out-of-town scores added to that ticker, however, to add to the immersion of the game.

# 7 mva5580 @ 08/28/15 04:05 PM

You say franchise is the "main" mode of the game and I would wager ea sports doesn't think that way anymore.

# 8 Armor and Sword @ 08/28/15 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mva5580


	You say franchise is the "main" mode of the game and I would wager ea sports doesn't think that way anymore.

I can almost assure you their data shows CFM being widely used and played.

MUT and CFM are the core modes.

# 9 jkra0512 @ 08/28/15 04:10 PM

Well then, looks like a buy to me! I always wait for my buddy's opinion, because he's a Maddenite through and through and the OS Review, and both were very favorable this year!

# 10 ultralow36 @ 08/28/15 04:16 PM

great game dont know about the score since i put no stock in it........

# 11 adayinthelife @ 08/28/15 04:30 PM

Likely the best football game I've played. Personal highlights in this series for me were 2005, 10, 15 and now this.

I have no idea if it will sway folks that really don't like the series, but if you've ever been a fan at any point in the series' history, I don't see how this game wouldn't put a smile on your face.

# 12 JKSportsGamer1984 @ 08/28/15 04:48 PM

Lmao @ the Pete Carroll reference! Good review. I completely agree about the Drive Goals. Seems like a wasted opportunity to use the ticker for.....Oh I don't know.....UPDATES FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE? Come on EA! Presentation is so far behind where it should be by now. The guy you brought in from NFL films is a nice start but we need much more than that (highlights from games around the league, a weekly wrap up show, etc..) It's also time to completely go away from cut scenes & use Real-Time presentation at all times. These are things that I thought were a no brainer for Next Gen. This is holding the game back from greatness. Gameplay is finally solid & moving in the right direction (although still sloppy at times with RB's arms still bending behind their back with the ball stuck in their hand, defenders still looking like rag dolls on gang tackles, etc..) It's time to go all out on everything else with the game going forward (Sidelines, Presentation, Franchise, Superstar/My player mode, etc..)

All in all Madden 16 is a solid effort. It needs a few patches because there are a lot of bugs & gameplay fixes needed.

# 13 DBMcGee3 @ 08/28/15 04:55 PM

I'm hearing such mixed reviews thus far. It's always hard to tell when people have legitimate gripes, or just sour grapes from losing a few games, but I've heard lots of people complaining about the CPU pulling vintage cheese when losing late. Any truth to that?

I'm eager to get my rental on and give it a go myself.

# 14 roadman @ 08/28/15 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBMcGee3


	I'm hearing such mixed reviews thus far. It's always hard to tell when people have legitimate gripes, or just sour grapes from losing a few games, but I've heard lots of people complaining about the CPU pulling vintage cheese when losing late. Any truth to that? I'm eager to get my rental on and give it a go myself.

Probably because they are losing playing Maddenball instead of football.

# 15 Sphinx @ 08/28/15 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMChrisS


	Madden NFL 16 is a game where I have faced mixed emotions playing it. On one hand, the gameplay has arrived in every way now, and can be put amongst any other game in our genre in terms of great-playing sports games. On the other hand, funky design decisions and truly bad bugs really hamper the experience in the game’s main mode: Franchise. That always brings a tension in reviewing a game. It's brilliant but left wondering why some decisions were simply made. With all of that said, Madden NFL 16 is the best football game you’ve ever played, and the experience is generally becoming one that can be described as great. Read More - Madden NFL 16 Review (PS4/Xbox One)

I couldn't agree more with this review. Well written!

# 16 Dazraz @ 08/28/15 07:07 PM

Sluggish Menus, Carbon copy Madden 15 presentation, On Field Individusl Performaces that are NOT Reflective of their Ratings....how do these not get a mention? 8??? 7 at best.

# 17 redsox4evur @ 08/28/15 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dazraz


	Sluggish Menus, Carbon copy Madden 15 presentation, On Field Individusl Performaces that are NOT Reflective of their Ratings....how do these not get a mention? 8.5??? 7 at best.

The menus are sluggish for me. Can't say anything about it being a carbon copy of 15 because I never played 15. And the performances could be related to the issue brought up by completing drive goals.

# 18 asu666 @ 08/28/15 08:29 PM

For a game that evolves from year-to-year, the number and significance of bugs is unacceptable. They caused me to skip a purchase, because I buy what is on the disc.

# 19 ShaiLeGran @ 08/28/15 08:41 PM

About the ticker bringing out-of-town scores, let me quote a tweet reply from Clint Oldenburg, answering my question why they are not in there: "nothing is impossible, just not anything we've had time to do yet". Maybe it is patchable? If not, then it will be next season I guess.

Just adding a ticker with other scores would have upt the immersion quite a bit.

# 20 The Real Ma$$ive @ 08/28/15 09:05 PM

Yeah add that Franchise ticker showing scores and updates, and a Tony Bruno radio show with interviews, and recaps!?

Man!!! Would be the best Madden ever, and fix that update in the franchise that always makes changing jersey's a highlighted news article, that's taking up chances for real nice stories, and tweets.

If Madden 17 does this... Wow

And they should steal that feature from Madden 92 I think it was where they showed you the last 2 min's of another game at the end of your game. These things added with the superb game they put out this year, would make the franchise mode one of the best ever.

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