Every year in the weeks immediately preceding the NFL regular season kick-off we get EA Sport’s latest attempt at bringing the National Football League to games consoles, and we feel you should know early on, this year it’s a really good effort.
Madden NFL 15, the 26th iteration of the John Madden football series, is a game close to the hearts of anyone who is fond of American Football and video games. For this reviewer, Madden is a must-buy game every year. Having been my introduction to the sport circa 2001, I’ve been fascinated by learning the “X’s and O’s” of a game which has such a complex learning curve, and now am at a point where I regularly take enjoyment at beating Americans at their own game in the incredibly competitive realm of online gaming.
Visuals:
This review is based on the Xbox One and Playstation 4 version of Madden 15, and the first thing you will notice on entering your first game is just how excellent the presentation is. Over the top dramatic swooshing intros of stadiums are complimented by stats after stats after stats in a way that has become synonymous with American sports. Real NFL broadcasters Jim Nantz and Phil Simms have been digitally recreated and offer their pre-game opinions with spooky realism before we take to the field, and this is where you really begin to see just how good this game looks.
http://youtu.be/beHuu3MKMmo
The player models are exceptional, they look like real NFL players and behave as such due to further development of the EA Sports Ignite engine which results in animations that are incredibly true to life. Madden 15 is the type of game that really makes you feel like you are playing on the next generation of consoles, and games played at night or at dusk really show the fantastic graphics at their best.
Gameplay:
Aside from the brilliant aesthetics, Madden 15 has a number of key changes to the gameplay that make it more playable than ever. Most of these are on defence, which is finally an enjoyable experience.
If you couldn’t tell from the presence of the infamous Richard Sherman on the cover, defence was a main focus in the development of Madden 15. Zone defence in particular is now much improved, as players who patrol an area of the field react much more true to their NFL counterparts, which sees risky passes punished more often than not. Here is an example from an Ultimate Team game I played where my linebacker reacted quickly to the pass and took the pick for 6.
http://youtu.be/7kEn3HGrpoE
The biggest change on defence comes in the “battle of the trenches” at the defensive line. In previous years, it was essentially a ‘top trumps’ stats battle to determine who won out in the tussle between an offensive lineman and a defensive lineman, but Madden 15 has included a mini-game of sorts where by responding to button prompts in good time, you can greatly increase your chances of beating your man and getting to the QB. It’s really fun, and REALLY satisfying when you make the sack. Here is an example from the skills trainer tutorial.
http://youtu.be/9P36-6XY-AY
On offence, the biggest improvement is in the momentum with which the players move. A common complaint in last years’ game was the ease at which players could change direction and make cuts, but now the momentum is far more realistic, making for a more difficult yet ultimately more realistic running game. A good example can be seen in this video of skill trainer drills:
http://youtu.be/e9xsZ7taOEo
A nice inclusion is the ability to view what advantages your wide receivers have over the defender who is covering them, before the snap. Things such as speed and height comparisons are available with a simple flick of the right stick, and can help give you an idea over who has the best chance of getting open.
Play-calling has also seen an overhaul. Now while choosing a play you are presented with a number of options. Those of us who know what formation we want to use in what situation have all the options available in a team’s particular NFL playbook, but those who want a simpler method of play-calling are also catered for, as Madden will offer situational suggestions and even an indication of the most popular plays in the “community” of online players.
The bottom line regarding gameplay in Madden 15, is that whether you are a veteran of the game or a newcomer, Madden is seriously fun.
Game Modes:
Connected Careers is still the name for Madden’s main franchise mode, whereby you either create your own player, coach, or owner, or follow the career of a real NFL personality through numerous seasons of NFL football.
This again shows Madden’s versatility when dealing with players of differing experience, if you are only interested in being the star quarterback, or running back, then player career is for you as you focus only on your job in the team and improving yourself as a player.Coach career is the classic mode where you control the team on both offense and defence, as well as make key personnel decisions like signing free agents. Finally, owner mode is for those wish to control every aspect of an NFL team, down to the price of popcorn and beer in the stadium. Incredible depth has gone in to giving you control of marketing the team, salaries, personnel, and of course, playing the games. You can even re-locate an NFL franchise to Dublin if you wish! Here is a quick look at the attention to detail in concessions and marketing:
http://youtu.be/f7Yl5RPFN4Y
Ultimate Team is back again, and now the layout has been simplified to offer a more user friendly way to pick your line-up. It is worth noting that unless you are willing to spend cash on opening packs, you will be waiting a long time before you have the best players in your team, but if you are serious about the game mode it is as much fun as ever.
The Gauntlet is a new game mode, which is part of the Skills Trainer section designed to help new players grasp the concepts of playing Madden. This is something that I initially didn’t think would be worth discussing, but after spending a few hours on the brink of smashing my controller in frustration (in a good way, kind of) I honestly think it might be the most fun inclusion in Madden 15. A series of increasingly difficult training challenges with “Boss levels” every five levels makes for a truly brilliant way to learn the basics of the game and test your skill in some ridiculous scenarios. Check out two of the better boss levels here, they really are great craic!
http://youtu.be/2zk7aWq09Kc
The Verdict:
This is the best Madden game for years. Almost every aspect of the game is an improvement on last year’s offering, in particular the visuals and defensive gameplay. There is enough depth in the game modes to keep you coming back to Madden 15 for the full NFL season, and if that isn’t something you envisage yourself achieving, then at least it is a brilliant stop-gap until FIFA 15 hits the shelves later this month.
Madden NFL 15 on Xbox One and Playstation 4 gets a rating of 9/10
Cam is delighted with that score.
