I think speed has an enormous impact on gameplay

[Anaxamander]

I notice that a lot of sliders have either slow or normal as an option, but I'm starting to suspect there's a huge difference between the way the game plays on the various speed levels.

What I'm seeing is that it seems harder to run the ball on slow speeds. Try it for yourself. Start a play now game and call the same running plays on slow, normal, and fast. On slow on outside runs, I'm seeing defenders meet me right at the line or behind. On normal and fast, I'm breaking to the outside, much, much easier.

On the other side of the ball, it seems like the CPU is also running much better on normal and fast.

Of course, there's also threshold to consider, which I left at 50 for testing purposes.

[joet6683]

Re: I think speed has an enormous impact on gameplay

i noticed this as well (at least in madden 25.) when i had it last fall i always played on slow. but when i downloaded a few weeks ago with ea access and messed around with a player career with walter payton I was having a hard time running the ball. I decided to change to normal speed and it was MUCH easier to run.

[The JareBear]

Re: I think speed has an enormous impact on gameplay

I agree one hundred percent

I would rush 20 times for 40 yards regularly on slow, on normal I typically go about 30 rushes for 115 yards between my two backs. Same sliders

CPU offense in general seems better on normal than slow

There is definitely an impact

[Tyrant8RDFL]

Re: I think speed has an enormous impact on gameplay

I notice that a lot of sliders have either slow or normal as an option, but I'm starting to suspect there's a huge difference between the way the game plays on the various speed levels.

What I'm seeing is that it seems harder to run the ball on slow speeds. Try it for yourself. Start a play now game and call the same running plays on slow, normal, and fast. On slow on outside runs, I'm seeing defenders meet me right at the line or behind. On normal and fast, I'm breaking to the outside, much, much easier.

On the other side of the ball, it seems like the CPU is also running much better on normal and fast.

Of course, there's also threshold to consider, which I left at 50 for testing purposes.

Your right, and to add to your theory I noticed on slower speeds the QB reacts slow to run when you decide to run with him, but on fast its a much smoother transition.

I play on fast. I feel everything moves much better and smoother. It's also not much faster than normal, but a good enough difference.

[Anaxamander]

Re: I think speed has an enormous impact on gameplay

Glad to see others noticing this.

I actually prefer the way the game animates on slow, but I'm going to play on normal or fast just because the game feels better.

[JoshC1977]

Re: I think speed has an enormous impact on gameplay

Tossing my hat into the ring on this. I have just bumped up my slider set to Normal (from Slow) as I think the CPU plays better. As I said in my slider thread:

I remembered something about Madden 25, the CPU QBs didn't play as well on the slow speed. I summed it up as not only was the animation slow, but the AI behind the scenes was slow too...thus you get QBs standing around like bloody idiots like they can't process the ever-changing conditions on the field quickly enough. I don't mind sacks, I DO mind when the sacks come from completely unrealistic QB play.

I'm NOT saying that bumping the game up to normal will make all things in the world right with the sack issue; I do think it can help.

[therizing02]

Re: I think speed has an enormous impact on gameplay

Was always a SLOW speed player. Played M25 on Very Fast and M15 on Fast. The defensive pursuit is much better and the animations for the most part look better. It made a HUGE difference in how M25 played. I don't notice it as much on M15 but it's there. I think most are hesitant to make the switch, but after about a quarter the entire thing slows down.

I highly recommend it. It was a big time game changer for me in NCAA 14 and Madden 25. It really helps with all of those rubbery rag doll types of animations.

[GoodyBucs]

Re: I think speed has an enormous impact on gameplay

After ALWAYS playing on slow I gave this a shot. My observations:

The Cpu QB is much wiser. He throws the ball away instead of getting sacked

Kickoff and punt returns are more difficult

I got picked of four times- maybe an adjustment period to quicker speed

I got spanked 27-3. Cpu was much more difficult to deal with on both sides of the ball.

General observation- star WR seem to be underutilized by cpu. He is content hitting outlet receivers. Could be that I generally play some type of 'cover' shell.

[therizing02]

Re: I think speed has an enormous impact on gameplay

General observation- star WR seem to be underutilized by cpu. He is content hitting outlet receivers. Could be that I generally play some type of 'cover' shell.

CPU QB AI is an issue on every level and the root of many problems with the CPU offense. It's why they don't target the top receivers, take too many sacks, rarely throw the ball down field, and regularly throw underneath routes on 3rd and long.

[JoshC1977]

Re: I think speed has an enormous impact on gameplay

CPU QB AI is an issue on every level and the root of many problems with the CPU offense. It's why they don't target the top receivers, take too many sacks, rarely throw the ball down field, and regularly throw underneath routes on 3rd and long.

It's because people always want to lower CPU QB Accuracy right out of the gate to get more missed throws. QBA is not just accuracy, but also impacts the kinds of throws they attempt, their pocket awareness, WRs willingness to go up in the air for passes, and even playcalling to a degree). We have seen this with other EA games too; this one isn't much different.

I am playing with CPU QBA at 39 in my slider set (normal speed) and I see better pocket awareness, willingness to go deep, and more varied play calling. With the right pass coverage settings, Completion percentages will stay in-check unless your defense is out-manned. Most slider makers want to automatically drop this to 6 or 8 right away and then wonder why the AI was so crappy....I used to do the same thing.

[therizing02]

Re: I think speed has an enormous impact on gameplay

It's because people always want to lower CPU QB Accuracy right out of the gate to get more missed throws. QBA is not just accuracy, but also impacts the kinds of throws they attempt, their pocket awareness, WRs willingness to go up in the air for passes, and even playcalling to a degree). We have seen this with other EA games too; this one isn't much different.

I am playing with CPU QBA at 39 in my slider set (normal speed) and I see better pocket awareness, willingness to go deep, and more varied play calling. With the right pass coverage settings, Completion percentages will stay in-check unless your defense is out-manned. Most slider makers want to automatically drop this to 6 or 8 right away and then wonder why the AI was so crappy....I used to do the same thing.

I would agree with this for the most part. The QBA Slider has always affected way more than just accuracy. On Madden 25 I had the QBA at 50 on All Madden and for the most part had no problems with the CPU QB. Great variety of throws and realistic completion percentages.

Different ball game this year. The higher the accuracy, the quicker they make decisions. It's a good thing, but unfortunately, they hit the check down way too much. Even on 3rd and more than 7. I've been experimenting with QBA at 10 and Pass Block at 85 on Fast speed and am seeing a few more deep passes, but it's a big problem that needs to be patched.

[JoshC1977]

Re: I think speed has an enormous impact on gameplay

I would agree with this for the most part. The QBA Slider has always affected way more than just accuracy. On Madden 25 I had the QBA at 50 on All Madden and for the most part had no problems with the CPU QB. Great variety of throws and realistic completion percentages.

Different ball game this year. The higher the accuracy, the quicker they make decisions. It's a good thing, but unfortunately, they hit the check down way too much. Even on 3rd and more than 7. I've been experimenting with QBA at 10 and Pass Block at 85 on Fast speed and am seeing a few more deep passes, but it's a big problem that needs to be patched.

I absolutely agree with the PBK slider too. It seems that they are more willing to take shots downfield (almost like they are more confident they will have time in the pocket).

[GoodyBucs]

Re: I think speed has an enormous impact on gameplay

After my second game on normal speed it was again more competitive.

I couldn't get to the QB until the fourth quarter when the o-line was wearing down.

Cpu ran for nearly 100 yards.

On slow the cpu offense lacked aggressiveness. On normal that goes away.

[schnaidt1]

Re: I think speed has an enormous impact on gameplay

i did not have the same results as you guys...

i went ahead and tried normal with my slider set and i sacked aaron rodgers with the vikings 10 times....several because he just held the ball and did nothing with it. there was a few due to blitzs...but i actually sacked the qb more often....i tried adjusting things to compensate but i could not...

the other thing that was a let down was how easy it was to run the ball against the cpu defense.....i put run blocking down to 1 and still ran for over 200 with ap...

rodgers wasnt very inaccurate either. only had 2 errant throws...the rest were picks, hit while throwing... or knock downs.


i knew the user rush game would get a boost....but i just didnt get the decrease in sacks like i was hoping

[booker21]

Re: I think speed has an enormous impact on gameplay

i did not have the same results as you guys...

i went ahead and tried normal with my slider set and i sacked aaron rodgers with the vikings 10 times....several because he just held the ball and did nothing with it. there was a few due to blitzs...but i actually sacked the qb more often....i tried adjusting things to compensate but i could not...

the other thing that was a let down was how easy it was to run the ball against the cpu defense.....i put run blocking down to 1 and still ran for over 200 with ap...

rodgers wasnt very inaccurate either. only had 2 errant throws...the rest were picks, hit while throwing... or knock downs.


i knew the user rush game would get a boost....but i just didnt get the decrease in sacks like i was hoping

To solve the amount of sacks we are getting on the CPU QB, we need a patch. nothing else will fix it.

you can have a few games with few sacks but at the end of the season you will be leading the league in sacks for sure.

QB sometimes takes too long when they don`t see someone open and instead of throw the ball away or try to run they take the sack.