Madden NFL 16 News Post

Madden NFL 16 Review (PS4/Xbox One)

02:27 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

# 21 ty5oke @ 08/28/15 09:14 PM

I'm going to skip this one since I'm a franchise only kind of guy.

# 22 McG @ 08/28/15 10:29 PM

At this point, we just want our Franchise to come back with a triumphant return. I know they probably wont meet our demands this year, but I wish next year they would just go all in with Franchise mode already. Does anyone else see the lack of space this game takes up for a current-gen game? It's only around 20GB, NBA 2K15 is around 45GB or even a little more. So that begs the question, why aren't EA making "more" of a game? It seems to me that this is one of the main reasons the majority of content in Franchise mode feels so short-sided. I'll use NBA 2K15 again for the example here, does it feel like twice the game compared to Madden? My honest answer has to be yes, and that is without even seeing 2K16 yet, which looks even more in depth.

Now, to be honest I really enjoy the gameplay Madden 16 has to offer. It's the best Madden has been in years. Sure, maybe there are a few to many one-handed catches, but that could be tuned down. On the field, we are all getting sick of the sidelines looking like they are from the PS2/Xbox era, but that comes down to the lack of space/programming used in this game. Also, presentation could be upgraded quite a bit as well. From the commentary, to the lack of the in-game ticker (both have already been mentioned before), to the lack of authentic player accessories, there are a ton of little things here and there that could bring this game to EPIC levels.

Overall, I really enjoyed the review from Chris. He touched on the majority of good and bad issues regarding this game. I am just curious if there will be a "2 months from now" review, considering there should be, hopefully (fingers crossed) some serious patches to come. I know I hope they focus on fixing the many issues plaguing Franchise mode and I also hope they fix a few on the gameplay side as well. Thanks again for the review, and we look forward to more write-ups/videos in the future.

My Madden 16 rating- 7.5-8.0

# 23 Gorilla Glass @ 08/28/15 10:35 PM

The review is decent, but the things that the reviewer dislikes, I actually like.

I can't find many things I dislike, other than the stale commentary.

I'm personally giving it a 9.

# 24 Hooe @ 08/28/15 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingd803


	But we gotta be honest guys. Got to call it like it is. So things will change.

I'm being perfectly honest with you in saying I've never had more fun with a football game than my experience with Madden NFL 16 so far.

That's the thing about opinions; you are entitled to yours, I'm entitled to mine, the reviewer is entitled to his. None of us are "right" because opinions are subjective.

# 25 jpdavis82 @ 08/28/15 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingd803


	Just truly do not understand. The animations in this game are still just so clunky. The ball is still on rails. The QB animations still look bad. Just don't understand how you can say its the best football we've ever played. When All Pro Football animates and still plays so much better. And I'm in no way bashing this game, the devs, or EA as a company. I personally don't believe these issues will be solved until they build a engine from the ground up. But we gotta be honest guys. Got to call it like it is. So things will change.

I know some big fans of that game and they all say overall M16 is the best playing football game to date. Don't overlook what they have done with WR/DB interactions, no game has ever done them the way Madden 16 is and this is just the first year of this feature, it will improve from now on.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

# 26 Sheba2011 @ 08/29/15 03:01 AM

Draft Champions is one of the best modes to ever hit Madden. I have no desire to ever play MUT and DC won't ever get me to change that. What DC is great for is a party mode among friends. A new way to see who is the best Madden player in the group. It is quick, fun, exciting and doesn't require a whole lot of investment.

# 27 tru11 @ 08/29/15 06:57 AM

i must be playing a different game lol.

franchise is broken so much its really a disgrace.
confidence can boost ratings pass 99 ingame even affecting back ups.
regression kicks in from the start of a season for pretty much every team that looses.

results in an league is that teams that win have 90+ ratings real quick while the loosing teams have players drop even worse then last year.

then you have draft classes where rookies did not get rescaled like the base roster, resulting in rookie QBs having better DA then rodgers for instance.
loads of rookie WRs have 90+ speed ratings.

you can apparently only reset games that haven't been played yet. ( try figuring this 1 out).

auto sub does not seem to work.

after a game the game seems to freeze instead of going to the league menu but at least the music keeps playing.

players are disappearing from FA.
players involved in a trade seem to disappear as well if the trade gets declined.
tried trading for zack brown since he was on the trading block but the offer got declined and he is now nowhere to be found....

there are probably even more issues and god knows when we will get a patch and we have to pray that patch actually fixes most issues without cause others to arise..

unless you are a MUT or ranked player this game is not for you.

its maybe worthy of a 7.5 if you play anything other then franchise.
if you play franchise its 5 tops and im being generous.

# 28 tru11 @ 08/29/15 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrX


	With the AI problems (blockers still run right past their assignments or simply fail to even attempt to follow through on them), it's laughable to give the game an 8. Irresponsible even. Player assignment responsibility is a core of football. I'd think a site dedicated to sports gaming would be more critical of what is in actuality a game-killing issue, unless a person knows absolute zero about football and doesn't recognize it as a problem... which unfortunately describes the majority of Madden fans. What a joke.

yeah i saw 1 of those and it was hilarious to say the least.

wagner who is probably 1 of the best pass blocking RT in the game decided to run up the field for 8 yards to attempt a pass block only to back peddle after the DE had a free run and thus sack on the QB lol

but everyone can attempt 1 handed catches now though so it must be okay.

# 29 roadman @ 08/29/15 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tru11


	i must be playing a different game lol. franchise is broken so much its really a disgrace. confidence can boost ratings pass 99 ingame even affecting back ups. regression kicks in from the start of a season for pretty much every team that looses. results in an league is that teams that win have 90+ ratings real quick while the loosing teams have players drop even worse then last year. then you have draft classes where rookies did not get rescaled like the base roster, resulting in rookie QBs having better DA then rodgers for instance. loads of rookie WRs have 90+ speed ratings. you can apparently only reset games that haven't been played yet. ( try figuring this 1 out). auto sub does not seem to work. after a game the game seems to freeze instead of going to the league menu but at least the music keeps playing. players are disappearing from FA. players involved in a trade seem to disappear as well if the trade gets declined. tried trading for zack brown since he was on the trading block but the offer got declined and he is now nowhere to be found.... there are probably even more issues and god knows when we will get a patch and we have to pray that patch actually fixes most issues without cause others to arise.. unless you are a MUT or ranked player this game is not for you. its maybe worthy of a 7.5 if you play anything other then franchise. if you play franchise its 5 tops and im being generous.

Eh, you don't have to be a MUT player or ranked player to enjoy the game for right now. This is just like any other year for me, I'm testing sliders for my taste in CFM, while waiting for the CFM patch to be uploaded.

Most of those issues you listed the community is aware of and the developers are in the process of putting out a patch.

7.5 for me right now, goes up to 8.5 with a patch for CFM.

# 30 rywill24 @ 08/29/15 09:05 AM

THEY NEED TO FLIP THE COWBOYS AND PATRIOTS LOGOS AROUND. They are upside down. A bit annoying and not that hard to fix. Been like that for years.

# 31 Junior Moe @ 08/29/15 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McG


	At this point, we just want our Franchise to come back with a triumphant return. I know they probably wont meet our demands this year, but I wish next year they would just go all in with Franchise mode already. Does anyone else see the lack of space this game takes up for a current-gen game? It's only around 20GB, NBA 2K15 is around 45GB or even a little more. So that begs the question, why aren't EA making "more" of a game? It seems to me that this is one of the main reasons the majority of content in Franchise mode feels so short-sided. I'll use NBA 2K15 again for the example here, does it feel like twice the game compared to Madden? My honest answer has to be yes, and that is without even seeing 2K16 yet, which looks even more in depth. Now, to be honest I really enjoy the gameplay Madden 16 has to offer. It's the best Madden has been in years. Sure, maybe there are a few to many one-handed catches, but that could be tuned down. On the field, we are all getting sick of the sidelines looking like they are from the PS2/Xbox era, but that comes down to the lack of space/programming used in this game. Also, presentation could be upgraded quite a bit as well. From the commentary, to the lack of the in-game ticker (both have already been mentioned before), to the lack of authentic player accessories, there are a ton of little things here and there that could bring this game to EPIC levels. Overall, I really enjoyed the review from Chris. He touched on the majority of good and bad issues regarding this game. I am just curious if there will be a "2 months from now" review, considering there should be, hopefully (fingers crossed) some serious patches to come. I know I hope they focus on fixing the many issues plaguing Franchise mode and I also hope they fix a few on the gameplay side as well. Thanks again for the review, and we look forward to more write-ups/videos in the future. My Madden 16 rating- 7.5-8.0

These are my sentiment exactly and how I would score Madden 16. I'd give it between a 7.5 and an 8. The on field gameplay is there, IMO. Time to get more "signature styles" in there now. That's about 60% of it in my view. I have been having a blast using Armors sliders. But everything else just feels so hollow. Being a franchise guy, CFM just does nothing for me. That's even without the bugs. Play now games get boring with no context.
I tried Draft Champions and it's sorta, meh. Love the skills trainer, though. They have the on field gameplay right now. I don't care that it took us this long to get here, I'm just happy we are here. They have delivered on that part for me. It's really time to dig deeper and flesh out the other modes and get the "little things" (signature styles, dynamic sidelines, commentary, presentation) on point. Then I'd put it up there with The Show and NBA 2K. I do feel like we're a year or two away from Madden being something special, that is IF they flesh the rest of the game out the same way they have with gameplay.

# 32 kadzier @ 08/29/15 10:22 AM

Quote:


	Now that I think about it, apparently Pete Carroll had dynamic drive goals on last season in the Super Bowl.

excellent line, and exactly indicative of why I think these dynamic drive goals were a horrible addition, as currently implemented.

# 33 phenom2311 @ 08/29/15 10:32 AM

Not even close to the best football I've ever played as suggested by the reviewer. I suppose if you are diehard fan of the series, then this one is the best. This game has way too many inexcusable pitfalls and omissions for it to be the best.

# 34 TreyIM2 @ 08/29/15 11:46 AM

So far, focusing on offline game play only (I'm not an onliner), I give that 8.5 - 9. I love the way it plays and of course it's not perfect such as sometimes blockers either completely being oblivious to their assignments or realizing their assignments late then trying to' correct themselves' and what seems to be too many one handed catches, altho not horribly excessive, etc.

And I do really like some of the new presentation additions such as the stat bubbles and the new on field and wire cams. Funny how the visual of Simms and Nance were removed. Seems like a classic EA move of removing things to add others. Concerns me a bit as a going forward cuz I fully expect presentation to get huge treatment in the next Madden since game play is so well done this time and will only need tightening.

I haven't touched CFM yet because I usually wait for the starting regular season roster, anyway, plus now gotta wait for the patch. I always dug CFM and don't go to overboard with the particulars of it as many others may.

That said, I can see my score remaining in the 8.5-9 range, leaning more towards a hard 8.75.

# 35 TypicalPhenom @ 08/29/15 01:06 PM

So, can you not turn the drive goals off? If you ignore them, as others have mentioned, do you not progress? Do your players regress?

# 36 SGMRock @ 08/29/15 01:41 PM

I feel like the dynamic drive goals would be cool if they were more generic and also followed the flow of the game. Like your first drive on office could be something like put points on the board early for some momentum and give you a boost if you manage to get a FG or TD no matter how you score. if they game is close like you are winning by 1 point or something have the defense goal by to keep the other teams offense off the board no matter how you do it, turnover, force a punt or whatever. Late in the game if you are winning maybe a goal to burn the clock. Stuff like that where it looks at the game situation and the goals match that would be cool.

I totally agree with you that it forces you to play a certain way. Like get a passing TD to this specific player like a running back, but if you run it in with that back you get nothing. Or like me if you have the fatigue up a bit so you get realistic subs sometimes a sub is in and you end up rushing it in for a TD but get nothing because the wrong RB was in the game.

Basically this could have been a cool addition but was so poorly done it makes the whole game seem so much more arcade again. Right now I think they need to fix it by going to something generic like I mentioned above or give you a way to just turn it off. Unfortunately they seem to have tied this into the progression system to much now that if you don't do these stupid goals you get less XP to progress your players.

# 37 ShaiLeGran @ 08/29/15 05:08 PM

What also kind of bothers me, is that games like Driveclub keep adding content after launch (paid or free), but don't bet on Tiburon add an in-game ticker after launch, or better sideline players. No, we have to wait for the new addition for these - minimal - changes.

# 38 briz1046 @ 08/29/15 09:02 PM

In strict accordance with the policy applied to OS posters shouldn't this be posted in the impressions thread ?

# 39 Hooe @ 08/29/15 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by briz1046


	In strict accordance with the policy applied to OS posters shouldn't this be posted in the impressions thread ?

Any content which gets posted by the web site staff to the Operation Sports front page (yes, it still exists

) automatically gets its own post in the forums.

In addition, the impressions thread is specifically labeled "Community Impressions". The site's official review of the game does not fit within that topic.

# 40 Tomba @ 08/29/15 09:42 PM

Simply put.

Madden 25 felt like we finally got a madden game on PC.

Madden 15 was somewhat of a mix of 25 and something kinda just being built from the ground up

Madden 16 is the best madden there has ever been and it matches NFL 2k5 hands down.

Havent been this happy with a football game since NFL2k5 on ps2.

Madden 17 needs to do TWO things...

Fix their Overcast and weather games(because they lack any authenticity visually...Olive colored lighting?" yeah OK)

and two

SOMEHOW REALLY fix interaction after tackles so that stepping over players doesnt trigger highwire floatness

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