Thoughts on Longshot Story Mode?

[redsox4evur]

Re: Thoughts on Longshot Story Mode?

I purposely spoiled it for myself because I don't plan on buying game and when I rent game I will only play it for a month. Overall I like the story, and I wonder if the story will continue from draft in the next game.

But if I do it when I get the game(not sure when), I will try to do something completely different so I can get a different outcome

It's more than likely that the story will continue next year and it will pick up wherever it ends this year.


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[DeuceDouglas]

Re: Thoughts on Longshot Story Mode?

I played through it just to see if there was anything that might be useful to CFM and wasn't really a fan. I didn't expect to be but it had a really hard time holding my attention and I didn't like how for a lot of the decisions you made it seemed like it wanted you to react before you saw or heard what you were reacting to. It also seemed like a lot of the time the way I thought I was reacting didn't really match up with what played out.

Outside of the scouting report thing on the pause screen I didn't feel like there was anything in it that would be valuable or that I'd want to see in CFM though.

Overall though it was well put together, it just wasn't very fun and had a hard time holding my interest. Not for me but I could see how a lot of people could enjoy it.

[extremeskins04]

Re: Thoughts on Longshot Story Mode?

I played through it just to see if there was anything that might be useful to CFM and wasn't really a fan. I didn't expect to be but it had a really hard time holding my attention and I didn't like how for a lot of the decisions you made it seemed like it wanted you to react before you saw or heard what you were reacting to. It also seemed like a lot of the time the way I thought I was reacting didn't really match up with what played out.

Outside of the scouting report thing on the pause screen I didn't feel like there was anything in it that would be valuable or that I'd want to see in CFM though.

Overall though it was well put together, it just wasn't very fun and had a hard time holding my interest. Not for me but I could see how a lot of people could enjoy it.

Yea Deuce, the Scouting Report would be probably the only thing that would be great for future CFM.

[prey2god]

Re: Thoughts on Longshot Story Mode?

I have not played it yet but the amount of resource put into this seems unnecessary. I wish they used it to make the cfm shine a lot more.

[TMJOHNS18]

Re: Thoughts on Longshot Story Mode?

Played through it yesterday, took about 5 hours to do so. Story was alright, as others have noted it lacked the depth needed to let you connect with the characters. As far as my thoughts go...

The Good

Introduction to some of the new gameplay features, target passing, 7 on 7, and the Pro Bowl-esque skills challenges, even if the targeting is a bat... hmm. Maybe Pro Bowl activities in the future? Also liked the play calling parts and wanted to like the film sessions... had they presented more of a challenge/learning opportunity.

The OK

The story. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad story. But it's a journey were the characters end up where they started. Wade doesn't really develop, any 'conflict' he experiences is short lived and the linear path really devalues the QTE responses. Also, the emotional/personal problems he has is never really fleshed out. Feels as if that part of his story was greatly reduced, since we barely see/interact with the character that was so important to him.

The ????

Animations. Cutscene animations are off, cross-eyed coach, jittery people, jittery headphones, basically anything not a backdrop seems like it wants to shake. I don't know if they ran out of time or if they thought this was well done, but the player models noticeable jitter on and is distracting. Doesn't help when their feet can be seen at times hovering above the ground (look at the placeholder during the 'field goal').

Coach tape. So much potential, but some of the 'questions' were absurdly easy. I know this mode is for casual NFL fans too, but when a guy warns you that it's going to be tuff, and you just finished a nicely challenging task (play call), to identify positions is just silly.

More time should have been put into identifying offensive personal groups and defensive formations. If they truly wanted to teach people, and show that Wade isn't a complete idiot, they should have added some more sessions and gradually became harder and harder. Make you really work for that Scouting Report.



There's more I could write, but since I did play the mode through I can't see I was dissatisfied, just maybe left feeling like they might have benefited from polishing the mode for another year.

Also, to the user who said they should be releasing additional parts throughout the year, I agree! Would have been nice in episodic form. Not only would it give them more time to polish the complete game, but gets players to come back to the mode. In its current form it feels like a one and done, get it over with now mode.

[illwill10]

Re: Thoughts on Longshot Story Mode?

I played through it just to see if there was anything that might be useful to CFM and wasn't really a fan. I didn't expect to be but it had a really hard time holding my attention and I didn't like how for a lot of the decisions you made it seemed like it wanted you to react before you saw or heard what you were reacting to. It also seemed like a lot of the time the way I thought I was reacting didn't really match up with what played out.

Outside of the scouting report thing on the pause screen I didn't feel like there was anything in it that would be valuable or that I'd want to see in CFM though.

Overall though it was well put together, it just wasn't very fun and had a hard time holding my interest. Not for me but I could see how a lot of people could enjoy it.

Yea Deuce, the Scouting Report would be probably the only thing that would be great for future CFM.

And maybe if they want to add a viewable combine and some QB drills.

But I agree not much from Longshot, that could used in CFM. Unless they want use technology to make a halftime & Pre/Post game show and weekly wrapups

[Maxil]

Re: Thoughts on Longshot Story Mode?

It's more than likely that the story will continue next year and it will pick up wherever it ends this year.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

Pretty much this, I thought I read somewhere awhile back that this was supposed to be a 3 year story arc and it will read our saves from the previous year.

Last I heard there were 3 endings for this year and they were still looking for more, not sure if someone has found any or not, but that would make sense since there are 3 save slots.

[XtremeDunkz]

Re: Thoughts on Longshot Story Mode?

I played through chapter 2 and I have to say I am no longer interested. It is basically just an expensive way to teach people the ins and outs of football. The story is secondary to the learning tools they tried to implement.

[Datninja619]

Re: Thoughts on Longshot Story Mode?

Alright, just ran through the story mode tonight.

All in all, I appreciate the mode for what it is... A STORY mode.
Yeah it was a lot of cutscenes, but it was refreshing to just sit back and watch, In my opinion. I honestly forgot i was actually playing Madden.

As for the mini games. I felt like all were a different and new addition to the games. Reminded me of the pro Bowl skill challenge. Unorthodox challenges, yes. But throws an elite QB should make.

One of my gripes, like others was the "jedi" tricks to move the ball. Obviously unrealistic and shouldn't be brought back.

The story also reminded me of the NFL network shows with Mooch and Irvin where they train and pick the brains of NFL Prospects. When I think of NFL bust or players that got injured like Marcus Lattimore in college, I could imagine them on a show like this trying to prove themselves again.

And I'll just say it... I look forward to next years!

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[TMJOHNS18]

Re: Thoughts on Longshot Story Mode?

One more thing to add, if they removed the 'story' elements from Longshot they would have a very nice prelude to player CFMs. Remove the early/late/undrafted quick choices and have ur Longshot performance dictate this.

The concept of the Longshot show is great, it would really add needed depth to player CFMs. Each Madden brings a new season, a new group of challenges, maybe a new coach/mentor too.

Take Wade out, let players create a player and use a Cruise-ish character as their 'partner' through the mode. QB and WR, LB and S, HB and.… FB? Choose pairings and let your choices/performance dictate the draft results.

A lot of what is in Longshot now could remain, simply remove the 'emotional' parts and the 'doesnt matter what you do because ur destination is set' parts. If you bomb day 1 and miss the cut…you're undrafted. If you make it through and ace the final you're a 1st rounder.

Do this and you have a fun new feature that is replayable. As of now… you have a three part series that MIGHT be completed for the sake of completion since it's 15 hrs of story is stretched over 3 years.

[Datninja619]

Re: Thoughts on Longshot Story Mode?

One more thing to add, if they removed the 'story' elements from Longshot they would have a very nice prelude to player CFMs. Remove the early/late/undrafted quick choices and have ur Longshot performance dictate this.

The concept of the Longshot show is great, it would really add needed depth to player CFMs. Each Madden brings a new season, a new group of challenges, maybe a new coach/mentor too.

Take Wade out, let players create a player and use a Cruise-ish character as their 'partner' through the mode. QB and WR, LB and S, HB and.… FB? Choose pairings and let your choices/performance dictate the draft results.

A lot of what is in Longshot now could remain, simply remove the 'emotional' parts and the 'doesnt matter what you do because ur destination is set' parts. If you bomb day 1 and miss the cut…you're undrafted. If you make it through and ace the final you're a 1st rounder.

Do this and you have a fun new feature that is replayable. As of now… you have a three part series that MIGHT be completed for the sake of completion since it's 15 hrs of story is stretched over 3 years.

What I see you explaining sounds like Superstar mode back in the day. Which I miss dearly.

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[NeptunePirate]

Re: Thoughts on Longshot Story Mode?

I finished Longshot last night and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I may be a tiny bit biased because I have lived in Texas my whole life, so I liked how the main character was from the same state.

The story had very good pacing and it was believable. You didn't play some top college prospect that is set to be drafted number one overall. I thought the redemption style story was put together very well. There were only a few parts where it felt like something was missing or cut out.

I enjoyed it for what it was and can't wait to see what they do next year with it. A lot of people look down on the story modes in the sports games that have been popping up over the last several years, but I think they're fun alternative modes. It's something to help bring in new players and give current ones an extra mode to play.

[untrugby]

Re: Thoughts on Longshot Story Mode?

The story was great but the mini games were weak and the choices ultimately didnt matter much. It has great potential, but its far from where it needs to be.

[pjburrage]

Re: Thoughts on Longshot Story Mode?

Finished my first playthrough of Longshot last night (may go back and try a 'perfect' answer run). Enjoyed it for what it was. When I first heard the pitch for The Journey in FIFA17 I was very sceptical - but was impressed when I played it (despite it's rather ridiculous flaw fairly early on), this seems much more thoughtout - by putting it in that pre-draft timeline.

Pros:
1. The story was okay, didn't seem forced too much. It took what worked in FIFA's Journey last year and applied them to the NFL Draft process
2. The visuals were great, this mode really highlights the changes following the move to Frostbite.
3. It's length, just felt right, sort of Hollywood Movie or HBO one-off Drama length.

Cons:
1. The mini games. O boy did I suck at the targeted passing stuff. A good introduction into that option, but not one I wish to revisit.
2. There's one choice you have to make late in the process that kind of feels redundant given the first scene. Just didn't seem to make sense.

A good base to work on - suspect the story will continue on next year Madden's (like The Journey in FIFA18) - with your decisions following through with you.

I would love it if a Boxing/Golf/Tennis (i.e. a single player sport) could get a game with this sort of thing in it, as they lead themselves to the concept a bit better than a team sport.