Have EA finally made the ultimate Madden?
It’s been a number of years since I last played a Madden game. I’m not exactly a fan of American Football, I’m more your English Football man…providing it’s only watching, I’m actually terrible at FIFA and PES..but I’m half-decent at Rocket League. Ahem, moving on…
Madden NFL 17 adds new depth to it’s Franchise mode, while making general improvements to gameplay such as innovative ball carrier feedback cues, defender fake out mechanics and a new, authentic defensive AI system. It makes out for an experience that feels vastly improved over the last Madden I played, which was all the way back in 2009. Yes, it really has been that long for me.
The overall controls feel more open to even someone like me, I was able to make touchdowns with ease for the first time in the series. I’ve been able to score before, but after a lot of effort. It finally feels accessible to everyone, but it also has the unpredictability of the sport that is nice to see. I have no idea about the strategy of the game, I usually just wing it and hope…which has some mixed results, but it definitely feels vastly improved since my last attempt with the series.
Visually the series has taken a big leap since I last saw it. The framerate is solid and load times aren’t that bad either, the commentary is impressive but the soundtrack is a letdown, even long-time fans of Madden aren’t happy with it. Soundtrack woes aside, the presentation is pretty strong overall.
The Verdict
Madden NFL 17 has improved it’s core gameplay, making it more accessible to the average gamer. It’s fine-tuned the experience both in terms of gameplay and visuals, while leaving room for improvement in next year’s game.