Madden 17 (Xbox One) Review
All sports games suffer from the fact that they are often yearly releases that see improvements arrive via evolution rather than evolution. After all, if a franchise is successful it is difficult for a developer to make dramatic changes to a formula that is clearly working despite the outcry that may come from fans. Madden suffers from this problem more than most simply because it is so long running – with Madden 17 being the 28th instalment in the NFL series.
Each of the last few entries in the Madden series has concentrated in improving a particular section of the gameplay. In particular, the last two years have seen the developers drastically alter the passing mechanic and how the player can defend. Madden 17 has taken a slightly different approach, though, with the studio deciding to take a more overall approach to the overhaul. However, the one aspect has received a lot of attention as the running game has been made that bit more exciting, removing the need to have to constantly rely on passing your way up the field.
This contrasts well with the new way that teams feel differentiated rather than simple variations of the same. Some manipulation of the AI of players and the balance of the offense and defense means that teams with great offensive lines can focus on run plays, while those without might have to put more emphasis on their passing skills to get the ball downfield. All of this has combined to make the gameplay more realistic and varied than ever before.
What puts many people off NFL in general is that it can seem to be an incredibly complex game. The huge number of different plays, the massive variety in positions, and the three separate teams can seem daunting to anyone who is unfamiliar with the sport. Fortunately, the developers behind the game seem to realize this and do plenty to make the experience as accommodating as possible. The very first moment of the game is an introductory match that sees you put in control of the final few moments. This can then be followed up with an extensive skills trainer section, which covers everything from the basics to the minutiae of attacking and defending. The drills do a perfect job of bringing rusty players up to speed and educating those who are completely new to the franchise.
There’s also one other important addition that makes Madden 17 that little bit more accessible. It’s a new way of playing in the career mode that is called Play the Moment. This effectively allows you to choose to play only the most vital parts of a match rather than the entire four quarters – something that is especially useful for newcomers who might not feel entirely comfortable controlling every single aspect. Play the Moments in this respect acts as a warm up for the main game, giving players the opportunity to get to grips with the important gameplay mechanics.
This new feature is also really useful for veterans in that it greatly reduces the time spent playing the franchise mode. Being able to pick and choose what plays you want to take direct control of means that flying through a season can be done in a fraction of the time that it would usually take. While it won’t be something for the purists, this quicker style of play greatly reduced the frustration and burnout that can become associated with the franchise mode. The flexibility of being able to jump into the action at any time means that the AI can’t screw you over too much either.
The other modes outside of franchise that have been included in this year’s edition will be familiar to fans who have been playing Madden for some time. Principally, the rest of the title can be split between Draft Champions and Ultimate Team. Draft Champions essentially sees you given the opportunity to build the best team possible out of a limited selection that are randomly offered. Meanwhile, Ultimate Team is EA’s way of making some extra money from microtransactions as players spend money to open packs and get a chance of getting a superstar as they try to build their dream team.
The overall presentation is very much a refinement of what has come before. The user interface is incredibly friendly and the various menus look as good as they did in Madden 16. What has improved though is the loading speed and exactly how fast the game runs when not actually in a match. Equally, the animations of the players and coaches has been made more fluid and authentic, so that collisions and movement don’t suffer from the same bugs and issues that were sometimes a problem in its predecessors.
Considering that the Madden series hasn’t really been in need of any major restructuring for a number of years now, this latest instalment is something of a culmination of all the work done by the developer in recent times. This has led to a game that has reached heights that the franchise hasn’t seen since around 2005. The changes might not be enough to convince those who don’t love the sport to pick it up and give it a try but it will definitely be well received by fans.
This review is based on a review copy of the game that was provided by the publisher. Madden 17 is now available worldwide on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.