Which Madden is considered the best overall game of this gen?

[ODogg]

Re: Which Madden is considered the best overall game of this gen?

For me, M17. But that came after a two year break and I could fully appreciate having a fresh football game. Looks like I need to take another two years off.


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Nah, Madden 20 is incredible, come on in, the waters fine!!

[GisherJohn24]

Re: Which Madden iFor me thes considered the best overall game of this gen?

For me, the Frostbite engine has ruined the game a bit, I really don't think it works for football, ask the people who used to love Battlefield what Frostbite did do that game, it's a glitchy mess. I hate to compare, but it's the same engine, and Frostbite historically is buggy and glitchy. When 16 was on the IGNITE engine, I don't remember these issues, with glitches, end game brain dead A.I., animations and collision detection and physics going backwards. Madden 16 is the best for me. 17 a close second.

[Nunyerbiz]

Re: Which Madden is considered the best overall game of this gen?

I voted M16 in the poll, which I based purely on gameplay enjoyment and not presentation or franchise or anything else. Slight tweaks on All-Pro could give you solid competition in CPU vs HUM franchise if you stayed away from cheese... mobile QBs could give you nightmares.. it was just the best combination of respectable fun/challenge levels with the least amount of on-field frustrations.

My son got M17 as a gift and the new Franchise stuff intrigued me at first... but I remember being underwhelmed by the CPU AI, which seemed to take a noticeable regression on offense compared to M16. By that point I was probably a bit burned out from playing M16 well into the following summer, so I never really gave M17 much of a shot.

My memories of M18 is it being no better than M17 at first blush... and then a ton of patches... and then spending hours and hours reading and contributing to slider threads from Josh and Armor and the gang. Eventually got a good amount of CFM enjoyment from it... the March or April after it friggin released. So very very frustrating at first but finally blossomed into something decent.

I bought a 12 month Origin, partially to support Madden19 returning to PC and partially to play the last two games in Mass Effect. Probably got more time from the ME and BF games. Nothing struck me as terribly wrong with M19, by the time I got around to playing it, the game seemed better then M18 did before all the patches... But I only lasted about three seasons of a CFM before I shelved it when something shiny distracted my gaming attention.

M20 looks promising... but have only touched it twice for a grand total of four games. Initial impressions is that it's quicker and snappier then the prior Frostbite games... pass trajectories are improved. But the CPU AI doesn't seem to be terribly improved, even buggier than M18/19 in areas. So the jury will remain out for another patch or two.

EDIT: Don't think I ever owned M15... and I eventually bought M25 used as a compliment to NCAA14, but never really did anything with it and just kept on playing NCAA14.

[Fredette]

Re: Which Madden is considered the best overall game of this gen?

For me it was the worst generation of american football gaming compared to golden age PS2 era (NFL 2K5)...I can't pick up a favorite (PS4 Era, laughable)

it's ridiculous how Madden declined since 10 years. NFL 2K5 (presentation, franchise depth, immersion, gameplay) or APF 2K8 (gameplay/animations/tackles/AI) is still better in Franchise Mode, presentation, Tackles, Physics, AI as newset generation madden football...Madden only graphics improved and other not so important things, and sure gameplay, but it's still glitchy, unrealistic & often silly to watch...It seems no one of the kids want a realistic, immersive , challenging and complex NFL Videogame experience nowadays and they don't know how good madden was in PS2 era....

[gr18]

Re: Which Madden is considered the best overall game of this gen?

I voted M16 in the poll, which I based purely on gameplay enjoyment and not presentation or franchise or anything else. Slight tweaks on All-Pro could give you solid competition in CPU vs HUM franchise if you stayed away from cheese... mobile QBs could give you nightmares.. it was just the best combination of respectable fun/challenge levels with the least amount of on-field frustrations.

My son got M17 as a gift and the new Franchise stuff intrigued me at first... but I remember being underwhelmed by the CPU AI, which seemed to take a noticeable regression on offense compared to M16. By that point I was probably a bit burned out from playing M16 well into the following summer, so I never really gave M17 much of a shot.

My memories of M18 is it being no better than M17 at first blush... and then a ton of patches... and then spending hours and hours reading and contributing to slider threads from Josh and Armor and the gang. Eventually got a good amount of CFM enjoyment from it... the March or April after it friggin released. So very very frustrating at first but finally blossomed into something decent.

I bought a 12 month Origin, partially to support Madden19 returning to PC and partially to play the last two games in Mass Effect. Probably got more time from the ME and BF games. Nothing struck me as terribly wrong with M19, by the time I got around to playing it, the game seemed better then M18 did before all the patches... But I only lasted about three seasons of a CFM before I shelved it when something shiny distracted my gaming attention.

M20 looks promising... but have only touched it twice for a grand total of four games. Initial impressions is that it's quicker and snappier then the prior Frostbite games... pass trajectories are improved. But the CPU AI doesn't seem to be terribly improved, even buggier than M18/19 in areas. So the jury will remain out for another patch or two.

EDIT: Don't think I ever owned M15... and I eventually bought M25 used as a compliment to NCAA14, but never really did anything with it and just kept on playing NCAA14.

Your experiences are very much on par with mine that I had to do a double-take to make sure it wasn't my post.

[Nunyerbiz]

Re: Which Madden is considered the best overall game of this gen?

Your experiences are very much on par with mine that I had to do a double-take to make sure it wasn't my post.

Great minds think alike! Although not really sure what our excuse is...

[RicoLaguna]

Re: Which Madden is considered the best overall game of this gen?

Do we still feel M20 trails behind others?

[gr18]

Re: Which Madden is considered the best overall game of this gen?

Do we still feel M20 trails behind others?

While I think '20 would win in a poll,I dont think we'll see a Madden game tuned better than '16.Gameplay wise I'd still go with that version.I know there is a following for it but the current version is likely considered the best and it usually takes a few years to put a version in perspective.

[XtremeDunkz]

Re: Which Madden is considered the best overall game of this gen?

Madden 18 was the last game to have physics based tackling which was removed in Madden 19, and is still a huge black eye on the game IMO. So my choice is Madden 18.

[picker19]

Re: Which Madden is considered the best overall game of this gen?

While I think '20 would win in a poll,I dont think we'll see a Madden game tuned better than '16.Gameplay wise I'd still go with that version.I know there is a following for it but the current version is likely considered the best and it usually takes a few years to put a version in perspective.

Agree 100% on this. I had another thread on here about M16 recently being my favorite hands down. It's the only one I play. Yes, the CFM and UI are dated and lack of player editing sucks big time, BUT as gr18 says, I believe it's the most well-balanced game that is tuned so well across the board, including penalties and fatigue system, etc. If you're just looking to play a fun game where the CPU still can be a challenge on All Pro (especially if you are the visitor), M16 is the way to go IMO.

[benton32]

Re: Which Madden is considered the best overall game of this gen?

For me it was the worst generation of american football gaming compared to golden age PS2 era (NFL 2K5)...I can't pick up a favorite (PS4 Era, laughable)

it's ridiculous how Madden declined since 10 years. NFL 2K5 (presentation, franchise depth, immersion, gameplay) or APF 2K8 (gameplay/animations/tackles/AI) is still better in Franchise Mode, presentation, Tackles, Physics, AI as newset generation madden football...Madden only graphics improved and other not so important things, and sure gameplay, but it's still glitchy, unrealistic & often silly to watch...It seems no one of the kids want a realistic, immersive , challenging and complex NFL Videogame experience nowadays and they don't know how good madden was in PS2 era....

Cause back then it wasnt all about online. and mut and KO series and online micro transactions, it was just about football, franchise and gameplay were mainly the focus, now they dont care.. as long as the people playing mut and online have their cheese plays work they dont care about how detailed the game play is or franchise mode anymore

[kingsofthevalley]

Re: Which Madden is considered the best overall game of this gen?

Where's 19 and 20? Its 20, hands all the way down. I gauge each version by how long I actually keep my franchise going. 2020 version is the first version I've made it 10 years into franchise since the PS2 versions.

10 years into franchise with not even a THOUGHT of slowing down. Surely will be playing the most current version all the way until the release of 2021 and that hasn't happened for WELL over a decade of releases.

[Mauler97]

Re: Which Madden is considered the best overall game of this gen?

Where's 19 and 20? Its 20, hands all the way down. I gauge each version by how long I actually keep my franchise going. 2020 version is the first version I've made it 10 years into franchise since the PS2 versions.

10 years into franchise with not even a THOUGHT of slowing down. Surely will be playing the most current version all the way until the release of 2021 and that hasn't happened for WELL over a decade of releases.

Agreed, M20 is keeping me going deep into franchises unlike before when I'd get a few years in and start over. The addition of X-Factors and SS abilities has made franchise far more enjoyable because it separates good and great players in gameplay. Also, the salary cap is finally a factor in building and maintaining a championship-caliber team.
Kudos to EA for this but you can still do much more for M21

[gr18]

Re: Which Madden is considered the best overall game of this gen?

Where's 19 and 20? Its 20, hands all the way down. I gauge each version by how long I actually keep my franchise going. 2020 version is the first version I've made it 10 years into franchise since the PS2 versions.

10 years into franchise with not even a THOUGHT of slowing down. Surely will be playing the most current version all the way until the release of 2021 and that hasn't happened for WELL over a decade of releases.

This poll was made a couple years ago it's just that somebody keeps bringing this thread back every now and then.

[kingsofthevalley]

Re: Which Madden is considered the best overall game of this gen?

Agreed, M20 is keeping me going deep into franchises unlike before when I'd get a few years in and start over. The addition of X-Factors and SS abilities has made franchise far more enjoyable because it separates good and great players in gameplay. Also, the salary cap is finally a factor in building and maintaining a championship-caliber team.
Kudos to EA for this but you can still do much more for M21

Oh absolutely, there's a few things here and there they can tweak for 21. For me personally, its mostly minor aesthetic additions at this point.

The robust weight and change of direction/physics has for the most part, fully returned (which was always my main pet peeve), but a bit more work on the physics would be great (just clean it up a lil bit), but its definitely not half bad at this stage.

I think 21 is about to blow the roof off as long as it doesn't regress with the changing of the guard/transition into the next generation of gaming systems.