Madden 25

[Lancer]

Played Packers at Bears me being Bears - first impressions.

New announcing crews i really like. There are 2 new ones but I got Mike Tirico and liked it very much. Made it sound like a NFL broadcast.

Presentation is the best for a madden game but it's pretty much CFB presentation (which is great) in Madden. Finally they have a regular season post game highlight reel.

Game plays slow but I like it. Much slower than last years madden and much slower than CFB25. 5 min qtrs really felt more like 10 min while in CFB they feel like 5 min. The physics are also a little different. The player models seem more thin that before but I like that as it seems like theyre more nimble. It sort of plays more like CFB but then again it doesn't. Seems like the hit stick has been toned down and I like that as it seems more fair.

Gameplay reminded me more of CFB than past maddens. I got picked twice with Williams and had 2 big TD plays. Like when the CPU CB pressed me, I hot routed for my WR to go dash to the Endzone and It was an easy pass for an easy 70 yard TD. i had not done that in madden in the past but it happens a lot in CFB. And like CFB, if you throw into coverage you will get picked. Defense was pretty fair. Some drives i just could not stop Love on 3rd down. he scrambled to get some 3rd downs like real life. And he made some clutch passes for TDs. I liked what I saw from my limited time.

So it's good - it's not like other maddens where you know it's crap out of the box.. Probably need more games to play to give a good impression. But I played my CFB dynasty right after and oh man, it was like going from a drama movie (madden) to an action movie (CFB). Just so much more playing in CFB! Like you need to hit the sticks and buttons more often in cfb than madden.

I think for M25 I'll good with the 10 hour trials for now. It'll go on sale in a month so maybe will pick it up then. But I am very happy with CFB and running my dynasty.

[MizzouRah]

Press coverage has been broken in EA football games for several years. Just call verts when they press you and it's an easy TD, CFB has the exact same issue.

Both games are fun at times, but I still miss the Maddens of the past and NCAA 14.

The Show is my favorite sports game and once again I've played every game of a full 162 game season and each game I'm always seeing something new and unexpected. Wish I could say that about EA football.

[Wilk5280]

For better or worse, and I haven't decided yet, this is definitely the biggest change year-over-year Madden has seen in a very long time.

[sportdan30]

I haven't played a whole lot of Madden the past few years. Didn't even use up the entire 10 hour trials. But, maybe because I'm playing it on the pc, the game just feels enjoyable to play. Maybe my opinion will change, but staying away from the number of negative post at OS is something I'll try to do. I never expect Madden to be a football simulator. I just want a fun football video game to play.

[MizzouRah]

It's growing on me, but I'm too into my Ball State CFM dynasty for now. Playing with Mizzou was too stressful

With Ball State, I'm getting crushed on Heisman default and that's expected with that team, at least for now.

[Danimal]

It's amazing to me that CFB can play a competent game on the field and Madden is utter garbage in this regard. There is zero defense in Madden , DB's run into each other, don't attack the ball and take poor pursuit angles The AI QB is ludicrous in accuracy, you can set the slide to 0 and they will still complete 70+% of their passes because you DB AI guys won't cover anyone and if they do cover them and put a hit on them the WR never drop the ball.

What crazy is this is the best the game has ever looked in terms or tackling, animations and mannerisms. It's like they spent all the time making the game look good and just didn't do anything with tightening gameplay. The fact they released a bucket load list of things they are working on today on official launch day tells me they knew this game wasn't ready but released it anyway because the sheep will be sheep (myself included)

I'll stick to CFb until this thing has at least 2 or 3 patches.

[Lancer]

ouch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8fTksKjoU8

to be fair - this youtuber has turned into an EA hater. He gave CFB 8/10 but now is backtracking because people saying he sold out to EA. Guy has no journalist integrity but I guess youtuber's aren't held to that same standard.

-

started franchise w/ the bears - game 1 at home vs titans - game was so boring to play. I like running the ball but it seems in this game that's broken. Caleb Williams got 3 rushing TDs for me and any 3rd and long I would just scramble him to a first down no problems.

They got a lot of fix in this game. Knowing EA/Madden, when will that happen, October?

[TCrouch]

I tried it without expecting much. Next thing I knew, I played 35 games in one weekend in a franchise (I played full games for a few, then play the moments, and then did offense only for over a season).

I think because I'm apparently not playing defense and seeing the stuff guys are talking about with defenders, maybe I'm having more fun with it. I haven't played more than a season of Madden in years, and I'm nearing the end of season 2 in a franchise already.

[Danimal]

I tried it without expecting much. Next thing I knew, I played 35 games in one weekend in a franchise (I played full games for a few, then play the moments, and then did offense only for over a season).

I think because I'm apparently not playing defense and seeing the stuff guys are talking about with defenders, maybe I'm having more fun with it. I haven't played more than a season of Madden in years, and I'm nearing the end of season 2 in a franchise already.

What are you scoring when playing offense only? I haven't scored less than 40 points in about a dozen games. Simming D may make it better I guess but not if I can score like that.

I'd never thought I'd say this but I'm playing and enjoying MUT more than anything.

[pk500]

Dan is right: The AI defenders in Madden 25 are dumber than a box of rocks.

I had an RB from the CPU break through a hole last night, and my AI-controlled LB just stood there unblocked, with no movement, as the RB ran past. My aging reflexes were too slow to switch to manual control of that LB. But still, this game should be programmed better.

So far, I haven't seen such blatant foolishness with CFB 25. I like College Football 25 MUCH better this year than Madden. Zero plans to buy Madden -- will wait until it lands in EA Play in February. I plan to buy CFB 25 the first time it goes on sale for less than $40.

[vinny-b]

ouch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8fTksKjoU8

to be fair - this youtuber has turned into an EA hater. He gave CFB 8/10 but now is backtracking because people saying he sold out to EA. Guy has no journalist integrity

to each their own, but I wouldn't dismiss SoftdrinkTV as such. He's definitely the only sports vidgame YTer I trust. And the only retro sports vidgamer worth viewing IMO (granted it's a dissapointingly microscopic small pool). If you know of any better YTers who talk/review sports vidgames, I'm all ears.

But yeah, it's a shame he's apparently recinding that 8/10 CF25 score. I noticed multitudes of hateful comments, in the days following his review. Lot of garbage 🗑. As for SoftdrinkTV's Madden "hate" analysis, I hope he keeps it going unabated, because its warranted. EA and that development team deserve every unkind word and criticism, directed at them.

[pk500]

Madden 25 is further proof that exclusive licenses SUCK. They stifle innovation and significant, needed gameplay overhauls.

[Danimal]

Madden 25 is further proof that exclusive licenses SUCK. They stifle innovation and significant, needed gameplay overhauls.

I mean this is partially correct PK but the bigger downfall of Madden is MUT and Madden Tournaments in my opinion.

[dbdynsty25]

Madden 25 is further proof that exclusive licenses SUCK. They stifle innovation and significant, needed gameplay overhauls.

Tell that to MLB The Show. You can still be innovative and creative with an exclusive.

[Lancer]

Madden 25 is further proof that exclusive licenses SUCK. They stifle innovation and significant, needed gameplay overhauls.

Tell that to MLB The Show. You can still be innovative and creative with an exclusive.

MLB has also stayed stagnant. the graphics look like from ps3 era. they totally screwed up DD this year in the game. There seems to be no push for them to improve the game to the current gen standards.

[Lancer]

Madden should be free to play the weekend the NFL starts. EA's been doing that the last few years now.

[MizzouRah]

MLB has also stayed stagnant. the graphics look like from ps3 era. they totally screwed up DD this year in the game. There seems to be no push for them to improve the game to the current gen standards.

I'll disagree with you here. I think the game looks great, the detail on the ballparks, the dirt kicking up on ground balls, the detail in the uniforms, etc..

It feels to me more like gameplay dictates animations instead of Madden where it's more animations dictate gameplay, if that makes sense.

[pk500]

Madden 25 is further proof that exclusive licenses SUCK. They stifle innovation and significant, needed gameplay overhauls.

Tell that to MLB The Show. You can still be innovative and creative with an exclusive.

Very good point. The Show is brilliant.

[Wilk5280]

I feel like I've been saying this each and every year, for over 20 years... (the first part anyway)

I primarily play online H2H... I'm talking pretty much almost exclusively. I had well over 300 games online last year with about a 75% win percentage and thought that, for the most part, it played a fairly good game online. There were ways to counter what you're opponent was trying to do once you figured them out and nothing was so insanely overpowered that you couldn't stop it if you knew what to do.

Saying that, I can't figure this year's game out for the life of me, defensively anyway. Defense in this game is absolutely terrible, to the point it's pretty much non-existent. I feel like I have to score every possession or else I'm F'd. I'm getting very few stops and have yet to see a defensive battle.

I know the game, I understand defensive concepts, but nothing seems to work this year. WR's run wide open, and zone coverages are basically swiss cheese.

Off the field, you can't see your win/loss record or any of your stats anywhere (or your opponent's for that matter). It's pretty much like, what's even the point of playing online?

[Danimal]

That's because defense is broken and I can't believe they let the game ship in this manner and even with patch talks aren't addressing it.

I watched as a 92 play recognition, 91 man coverage CB ran towards a WR at the line when the ball was snapped, and then stood there and watched the WR run right by him and didn't pursue until he was 5 yards by him. I've watched guys in zones stand there as a WR catches a ball. Neither concept works and if you can't play zone or man then what can you do? The infuriating part is the CPU teams secondary suffer no such penalties to their coverage.

I've altered the sliders to the extent of silly. QB AI accuracy to 20, their pass coverage and reaction time to 20 and mine up to 65 and it makes little difference. With those sliders Will Levis passed for 289 yards and a 73% completion rate against a very well rated Bears secondary. Don't even get me started on the CPU WR, IO have catch at 0 and they seldom drop anything.

This game is fine if you want an arcade, offensive shoot out but its in the worst shape of any recent Madden from a football standpoint I've ever seen.

[MizzouRah]

Franchise modes are dying a slow death.. soon it will be all CUT, MUT, HUT, etc...

[Lancer]

Franchise modes are dying a slow death.. soon it will be all CUT, MUT, HUT, etc...

the license is back up for renewal. lot of speculation but I bet NFL redoes the deal with EA.

Maybe EA should just make MUT. Let someone else make franchise/sim.

[Wilk5280]

Turning it around and am 8-2 in my last 10 games online (all with Broncos)

I still don’t feel like I have nearly as much control as I did in ‘24, and I really dislike that I can’t see my overall record, stats, opponent’s record, etc.

It’s kind of ridiculous to take that out. Who on earth wouldn’t want access to that in an online mode?

[Lancer]

Turning it around and am 8-2 in my last 10 games online (all with Broncos)

I still don’t feel like I have nearly as much control as I did in ‘24, and I really dislike that I can’t see my overall record, stats, opponent’s record, etc.

It’s kind of ridiculous to take that out. Who on earth wouldn’t want access to that in an online mode?

because they want you to play ultimate team. take features away from the other modes so you are forced to play UT. Its like they're saying Yes you don't have record tracking in H2H but we do have it in Ultimate Team! Why don't you play UT instead so you can track your WIN/LOSS record!'

[Lancer]

They released an update this morning and put ALOT of CFB things in the game. Like revamped passing.

I played for the first time since a week and the game plays totally different now! Feels like CFB more than the M25 that was released.

I played as the Lions and i was able to run the ball and hit the holes. Also, got a pick 6 on defense.

It's almost like they just made the game CFB with Pro Teams. I am really digging it now.

Someone else here confirm if you think the game now plays different.