Review

Developed by:EA Tiburon Published by:EA Sports Genre(s):
  • Sports
  • Platform:
  • Handhelds
  • Microsoft
  • PC
  • Sony
  • Cost:$59.99 ESRB Rating:EVERYONE 10+ Players:1-4 (2-4 Online) Release date:August 25, 2015 Reviewed on:XBox One
    9

    Madden NFL 16

    Ladies and gentleman, it’s Madden season – the time when thousands of people across the country call out sick, stay up late, and talk trash online while enjoying some virtual football. While many people are extremely excited for another edition of the football simulation, I am not so enthusiastic. When a game is released on a yearly basis, my expectations are set higher. Not because the year before was so great, but to justify me spending the money on another game based off of the exact same sport. Plus, add the fact that you have no other option when it comes to football, the fans deserve the best. With all that being said…where does Madden NFL 16 rate amongst the others?

    Madden NFL 16 is the latest title from the longstanding franchise. With every season brings new players, new moves, and new modes to add diversity in one of the most popular sports in the country. With Odell Beckham Jr. being this year’s cover athlete, it’s no surprise that Tiburon’s focus would be on the passing game. Unfortunately, this focus resulted in a lot of frustration. There were moments when I was screaming in excitement as if I was watching a real NFL game. It was because my wide receiver had finally caught the ball, in a spectacular display of athleticism, over an aggressive defense.  You see, Tiburon has fined tuned certain gameplay mechanics to give players more control over passes and catches. In return, they also needed to boost the game’s defensive AI to offer balanced play. All of this result in exciting hard fought catches and a lot of dropped passes.

    On some levels it feels like Tiburon took the time to add more ways to catch the ball, yet barely gives you an opportunity to use them. I totally understand if it’s a catch that’s going for looks instead of substance. But when I throw a pass to a tight end, and choose to focus on the ball instead of running, it shouldn’t be so easy for a player to smack the ball out of his hands. I am not asking to catch the ball every time, but it would be nice to actually have my player catch the ball when it’s in between the numbers. The crazy thing though is that I’m still enjoying myself. With the NFL becoming more of a passing league, adding more control to passes and catches adds a depth of realism that hadn’t been there in previous versions.

    One of the things that keep Madden going strong – besides buying exclusive rights to the NFL, killing the competition – is how the developers continue to add more meaningful game modes in a sports title. The return of Madden Ultimate Team gives gamers another chance to build their dream team. Accompanying that mode is the new Draft Champions, where you play games against other drafted squads for rewards. If your team loses, you’ll have to start over from scratch. If they win you’ll get rewards for Ultimate Team. It offers a faster pace than Ultimate Team, with rewards tied to that mode, but with less commitment. Awesome!

    One feature I think every major sports title should have is the ability to play a franchise mode with your friends. Madden does this to perfection consistently year after year and this game is no exception. It’s incredible how EA gives the exact same experience online and offline so that it feels like an actual competitive league. Fighting for free agents, draft picks, retirements, and cap space makes the franchise experience much more enjoyable when you know someone else is also trying to achieve the same goals ahead of you. If only we had a basketball experience that compared to this, my life as a gamer would be absolutely complete.

    Beyond the gameplay and modes comes the presentation. This year is no slouch; the near flawless movements made on every route ran, every tackle of a player, and touch down dance made Madden 16 stand out. Adding to this is the game’s soundtrack. Looking at players through their helmets and hearing that crowd roaring had me afraid to risk it during away games. The crowd effect really is the 12th man when it comes to affecting the game and its momentum, to the point in which your defense can be seen feeding off the energy in the stands. Basically, Madden has again creeped ever-so-slightly towards that “real” NFL experience fans dream about.

    With only a few miscues in the passing game and an odd glitch that caused players to get encroachment penalties randomly when in the hurry up, this year’s addition of Madden is really worth playing. Similar to last year’s game, I’ve had an immense amount of fun playing it and plan to continue playing it religiously. Well, maybe at least until a certain basketball simulator comes out. But until then, I will have my controller’s locked on the gridiron!

    Gameplay:

    8

    If we can find a better balance in the passing game against the defense, it’d be more enjoyable. Despite that, the game is still really fun to play.

    Graphics:

    9

    It’s surreal how detailed these guys are under the helmet.

    Sound:

    9

    The music, commentary, and crowd bring Madden NFL 16 to life!

    Replay Value:

    10

    With so many game options, including an awesome franchise mode, you’ll be playing football for months.

    Final Score:

    9

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