Pro is the new All Pro

[timhere1970]

Re: Pro is the new All Pro

This thread must have read my mind as I have experienced a very similar issue. In the past I would always play on Pro level, but this year my offense is overmatched and I cannot complete a single deep pass. However, when I switch it down to Rookie the offense is how I like it, but my defense is too overpowering and the CPU offense is stagnant almost always going 3 and out. I have adjusted the sliders in many instances to 0 or 100 depending on relevancy, but makes literally zero difference.

Yesterday it got to the point where I would play offense on Rookie and then go into settings and change to Pro on defense. Pretty annoying after awhile.

I have gone to playing offense only on pro. The cpu offense does much better when you let it supersim. Creates a good variety of games for me. Sometimes I dominate, sometimes they dominate because my defense can't stop them without me controlling them. Most of the time I end up with 10 point or under games as it should be.

[sadler]

Re: Pro is the new All Pro

I've been playing on All Pro difficulty level since the PS1 days, with sliders adjusted in various ways to make the game both fun and the right level of a challenge. But in recent years, the developers have been skewing the difficulty more and more to make playing offense at that level more frustrating, largely by making the CPU defense agressive to a cartoonish degree.

And so I've finally come to terms with the fact that at least as far as playing on offense vs the CPU's defense, Pro is the new All Pro. After playing about ten games and adjusting my sliders, lowing the difficulty setting gives me a very similar game to what I'm used to. It feels like cheating to need to do this and take the step back, but it is what it is. I'll continue to adjust my sliders as necessary, but I don't think I'll be bumping it back up.

Now unfortunately on defense, this makes the game too easy in some ways. The CPU QBs have been throwing a bunch of stupid interceptions right to my defenders, and I'm trying to get a good balance of fairness in that regard. The CPU can still pass and run at a fair rate against me. Its just the turnovers that are out of whack.

Anyone else feeling the same?

You sound almost exactly like me but I’m not seeing the dumb interceptions.

I’ve played on All Pro for years but this year when I fired the game up I was shocked at the interceptions and how poor the game played.

After reading various threads I dropped to Pro (default sliders) and wow it’s the best Madden I’ve played for years. Game is so balanced for me.

Here’s a few things I’ve learnt and maybe explain why you are still seeing dumb AI and I’m not.

I’ve played 3 games as Bengals:

Game 1 Steelers at Bengals. AI threw 1 pick - Under pressure, easy pick, expected. I threw no picks. Won 31-24.

Game 2 Bengals at Cowboys. One pick for AI and me, both under pressure throws by each QB. Expected picks. Lost 31-17.

Game 3 Bengals at Jets. 3 picks for the Jets QB but all were poor throws, plus expected with his poor rating. I threw 1 with a bad read. Won 35-17.

What I’m loving is that for the first time in years I can throw any throw and not worry about a pick. For the last 5 years on All Pro I’ve been throwing safe crossing routes to avoid picks. This year on Pro I can throw anything and the AI will more than likely batt the ball down or break it up on a bad throw. Now that’s something certain players are not seeing. It’s like we are all playing different games based on our settings. Here’s what I believe you need to do:

Pro on default sliders (messing with sliders can send you down a rabbit hole)
Heat seeker/ball hawk/steer assis etc all OFF (I believe these are causing the picks and perfect DBs)
Quarter length 9/10 mins NO Accel clock (there is a thread on this calming the AI down)
Classic passing.

That’s what I have set and I’ve had 5 AI picks in 3 games and I’ve thrown 2 and I’m being far less safe that previous years on All Pro.

The only easy thing is kicking and running so I’ve implemented 2 house rules:

On kicks use no left stick to aim. Simply use the bottom line for aim. So stop the bar early to aim right and late to aim left. Saw a post on this a few days ago and it’s a brilliant solution. I’ve missed a FG with McPherson on Pro which would never happen if I could aim. I’m still 5 for 6 and 11 for 11 on EP but it adds some difficulty. It felt great making a 58 yard FG using some error to aim!

I also don’t use speed (R2 on ps5) on offence, it stops you running away from defenders and relies simply on ratings. It’s a bit tempting to use it at first but after 3 games I’m used to it. The better RB (Mixon) still gains decent yardage and my WR (Chase) can still separate from defenders because his rating is high. It just stops me running away from defenders with lesser players. I still use speed on defence as the AI will run away from you easily.

That’s my 2 cents on Pro. I’m loving it and it’s perfect for me.

[Darkwolf90]

Re: Pro is the new All Pro

Just out of curiosity are yall using the new passing mechanics or the old? Because I've been playing on AP with 15min Quarters and accelerated clock to 15 and using the location passing and had no issue moving the ball and scoring on offense. As for defense I think it depends on how good you defense actually is and partially how the playbook works.

On offense I still get the same challenge as I have in previous games. Though I do sometimes find it a bit easier to move the ball, especially against Zone Coverage where I can place the ball away from defenders. Running the ball is still pretty hard too if you don't have at least decent blockers. I managed to score twice with the Lions in a preseason game in the first quarter by simply placing the ball away from defenders when passing.

On defense as I stated above the playbook and what your scheme is designed for is where the team's strengths lay. At least for me. So far if I have a subpar secondary and no pass rush I'm torched through the air. But if I have one or the other I can somewhat stop the opposing offense but still give up the occasional big play. And if my defense is set up to stop the pass, I tend to get torched by the run more often. Honestly defending the run is much easier and can be done even if you don't have a good defense to counter it where as it's much harder to counter a good passing attack. So I would focus on building up the pass rush and getting some good DBs rather than blaming the difficulty of the game.

I mean for me what I have seen mirrors thr NFL pretty well. If your team can't stop the pass, you're going to get torched just like an NFL defense would. As for on offense, I've been able to do well on AP and have only thrown 2 or 3 interceptions in 5 full games. I'd say give yourself time to adjust to the new systems and improvements made to coverage. That's just my 2 cents on the matter.

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[sadler]

Re: Pro is the new All Pro

Use classic passing.

[Momoney168]

Pro is the new All Pro

I feel like there’s a tremendous issue with difficulty levels in Madden and there always has been. I don’t feel like EA’s AI gets smarter as the difficulty rises. Rather, it just gets cheesier. I think messing with sliders tends to start down a rabbit hole and affects animation quality as well. I’ve really been struggling to find a balance between All-Pro and All-Madden this year.

All-Pro feels the most true to life and ratings based, but the CPU is just too dumb to move the ball against me. All-Madden feels the tightest and has better CPU playcalling, but it feels like ratings don’t matter at all and your own pass coverage, blocking, and tackling are intentionally dumbed down for the CPU’s benefit.

It ruins the fun for me nearly every year at some point until some kinks get worked out.


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Agreed. I just want AM CPU AI and aggressiveness but AP actual gameplay. On this seasons AM the ratings don’t matter at all.


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[Bondsfan]

Re: Pro is the new All Pro

Blows my mind that in 2023 they haven't figured out how to have separate offensive and defensive difficulty levels. NCAA had this over a decade ago.

[timhere1970]

Re: Pro is the new All Pro

My belief over the last couple of years is that pro is what simulation mode is tuned to. That is what largest audience plays. All pro and especially all Madden are to make a video game harder to win. I know some people are just really good at video games and have great eye hand coordination which makes pro too easy so looking for a challenge means they have to play at a harder level. The problem is that too make it harder the cpu has to do unrealistic things. This leads to the rabbit hole of sliders to make it more realistic which is largely impossible. The truth is that the game can not be made realistic and hard when the human can see the whole field and has great knowledge in making reads combined with great hand eye coordination. A camera angle from the QB head level and a requirement to swivel the head for vision would be one thing that would help make it challenging.

[TarHeelPhenom]

Re: Pro is the new All Pro

This thread is exactly why I like MLBtheShows dynamic difficulty and different settings for pitching and hitting. 4 options isn’t enough for the millions of players.

Either that or they could do like they did in NCAA 14 and give you the option to choose level separately for offense and defense. I'm in the same both with you guys(46 years old) and my reflexes aren't the same. That's why Coach/Spectator Mode fits perfectly. Heck even FOTF where I'm only controlling my QB fits.

[tcnumba10]

Re: Pro is the new All Pro

I’m playing with the sliders on Pro to try to mimic real NFL stats with 11min quarters. So looking it up, it seems teams average:

1 thrown INTs per game
QB completion is around 65%
3 team sacks per game
4 rushing yards per carry for RBs

I’ve been playing nonstop everyday since I got the game and IMO on Pro, the CPU will depend more on ratings but on All-Pro, the CPU will “try harder” to win if that makes sense.

Therefore if you want to have a more relaxed approach in playing, PRO is the best difficulty with User sliders lowered in order to balance the user’s intelligence and skill set.

If you want your palms to be sweaty and games to be more close and intense with tougher CPU defence (higher INTs), then All-Pro is right for you.

Right now I’m working on sliders to mimic the average statistics above. Testing on Pro first but if I’m not satisfied, I might adjust on All-Pro.

[Momoney168]

Re: Pro is the new All Pro

Blows my mind that in 2023 they haven't figured out how to have separate offensive and defensive difficulty levels. NCAA had this over a decade ago.

I’d like to see separate AI difficulty. I want AP game play but the aggressiveness of AM AI.


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[ODogg]

Re: Pro is the new All Pro

I was going to agree until I found the sliders called REALISM for XSX and practiced more. Now I am able to win on All-Pro a decent amount of time.

EDIT: If you're throwing a lot of INTs then look at if you are hitting the BULLET option too much, that's where most of my INTs were coming from, when I was hitting a BULLET pass when a touch pass or lob ball was needed.

[Dagan]

Re: Pro is the new All Pro

I was going to agree until I found the sliders called REALISM for XSX and practiced more. Now I am able to win on All-Pro a decent amount of time.

EDIT: If you're throwing a lot of INTs then look at if you are hitting the BULLET option too much, that's where most of my INTs were coming from, when I was hitting a BULLET pass when a touch pass or lob ball was needed.

I hear you, but it's reverse psychology or something on their part, haha. The whole reason I decide to throw a bullet pass is because I'm aware that said DB is a star or is closing in on my WR. That should absolutely not be when the CPU light speed warps over and picks me off. Now, if they tip my bullet pass and another DB picks me off, so be it. I'm cool with that. Overall, it does sound like intentions for sliders and mechanics got reversed in coding.

[ODogg]

Re: Pro is the new All Pro

I hear you, but it's reverse psychology or something on their part, haha. The whole reason I decide to throw a bullet pass is because I'm aware that said DB is a star or is closing in on my WR. That should absolutely not be when the CPU light speed warps over and picks me off. Now, if they tip my bullet pass and another DB picks me off, so be it. I'm cool with that. Overall, it does sound like intentions for sliders and mechanics got reversed in coding.

Right, well just to clarify as to my particular issue a bit more. When most of us get excited, well me anyways, you tend to jam the button. So many of my interceptions were because I would be throwing to say the tight end and he's wide open but I bullet the ball and it's picked off.

Had I just put a bit of touch on it then it would be an easy completion for 15-20 yards and maybe more with RAC.

So I hear you, but that's not really what I meant. What I meant was, that for me and I suspect many others, we are throwing interceptions because we are jamming the button down in our excitement and this results in the throw being easily intercepted.

Maybe it's just me but I am sharing because I suspect others may be having this issue and once I figured it out my interceptions went WAY WAY DOWN.

[Unlucky 13]

Re: Pro is the new All Pro

I’d like to see separate AI difficulty. I want AP game play but the aggressiveness of AM AI.


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I want All Pro game play but the agressiveness of Pro AI.

[Broncos86]

Re: Pro is the new All Pro

I was going to agree until I found the sliders called REALISM for XSX and practiced more. Now I am able to win on All-Pro a decent amount of time.

EDIT: If you're throwing a lot of INTs then look at if you are hitting the BULLET option too much, that's where most of my INTs were coming from, when I was hitting a BULLET pass when a touch pass or lob ball was needed.

Were these sliders you DLed through community files? I see "REALISTIC23" but not "REALISM."