Madden NFL 16 Community Impressions

[bkrich83]

Quote: Originally Posted by NDAlum

I typically do venture out into online randoms just one time a year. Well tonight was that night. Same old story lol. Guy has Tomlinson and all he does is take the snap and bounce the run outside. Goes into wildcat and runs the option with Tomlinson as "QB". He tried to throw but was like 1-5 with an INT. I didn't finish the game as I had enough of playing that type of game. Just not for me.

Yup it's a waste of time, and I am not wasting what little game time I have these days on that type of experience.

[N51_rob]

So after spending the last few days with Madden 16 I think I have enough time in to post my impressions. I'll be honest I had no intention of getting the game this year. But my darling wife got it for me as a gift because of all the extra stuff I have been doing around the house after our daughter was born. I wasn't sure how I wanted to construct this so I guess I will get the negative things out of the way. But before I do that I want to say that on the field this is the best madden I've played in a very long time, but it is not without flaws and the fact that some are legacy issues makes me sad.

Negatives
Animations: There are some issues with the animations in Madden 16. Things happen that I see and my eyes don't believe happened. One is with the QBs passing the ball. The animations have made some throws look just 100% unbelievable. Not sure what causes this, but a QB will be looking left, step into a throw to the left and the ball will shoot out of his hands to the right, something similar happens with some guys are on the run. It doesn't happen all the time but when it does it is painfully obvious.

Some of this "wonkyness" seeps into catches with some receivers making spectacular catches while never realistically finding the ball before they make the catch, and again it just looks "off". I see some block shed animation things as well, and what would appear to be suction blocking (like I said legacy issues still there). Not to mention there are still some instances where "superman tackle" still lives.

Also see a animation issue where sometime I will take a snap from pistol or shotgun and the QB will finish his drop and as I hit the button they start to run so the throw is off the back foot. Very odd.

Spoiler

CPU & 4 Verts: Flatly its a huge problem if you play the game solo. In 2nd, 3rd and 4th and long situation it would be in your best interest to call a play to defend it as (in talking with others who have looked into it. It is heavily weighted to be called by the CPU) it is even money it will be called in some variation. Which is problematic because that is eerily familiar to playing randoms online.

The Aggressive Catch: Lots has been said about it, to the point the Rex and EA have said they plan to tune it. Great!!! My problem is less with the feature and more with how its implemented. EA was so close with this. It was the chance for "signature animations" for example we've all seen WRs other than ODB make the ODB catch. I feel like this should not happen. Lots of WRs can make acrobatic catches, but only ODB made the "ODB catch" to see that catch proc with other (equally and lesser talented) WRs is frustrating. I know why EA has it in there (little timmy, thanks CM_Hooe) doesn't mean I like it or agree.

Lack of football awareness: I see it all the time. I have a CB playing a short zone and he starts to get deeper than his zone because there is no one near him. Rather than use situational awareness and look for the next deepest threat in his area he just runs back to assigned area with no awareness for what is happening around him. Similarly, I've seen plays where defender with no threats in their area stand flat-footed while for example the QB is escaping the pocket and scrambling for yards. These defenders don't react to the QB until he crosses the line of scrimmage. If you've played anyone who scrambles with the QB online you see why this is a problem.

It's not just that. I've seen a playaction play where my TE and RB where kept in to block and the DE beats my tackle, the TE stands there running in place not looking anywhere as the DE runs right past him to the QB. Same for pulling blockers at times. None of this is really new, I would add it to the list of "legacy" issues. Its just upsetting to see that some of these haven't been cleaned up.

Spoiler

Equipment: Sigh I don't even like to be one of those guys, but the fact that ODB is dancing around at the start of the game wearing Reebok Gloves from 2012 highlights this issues to me. Equipment needs to be updated and improved. Madden is falling behind other sports games. Could you imagine if NBA live was still using 2012 shoes, Fifa still using 2012 cleats. Even MLB The Show stepped their equipment game up. It is time for Madden to do the same this is year 3 on current gen consoles. Period.

State of CFM: I'm a CFM guy and to hear Kolbe say that its probably a good idea to wait hurts. The last few years CFM is the reason I plop down my $60. I already didn't like what I was hearing about scouting. This for me is a deal breaker. They have addressed it and said fixes are incoming so I don't need to beat them over the head about it.

I think that is it. Now onto the things that I like about Madden 16, much rather end on a positive note.

Positives
Playbooks: Despite the loss of the legacy playbooks. There are some really well constructed playbooks in madden 16. The Titans playbook for one really flows well and has run and pass plays that work well if you know how to set things up. In addition to that some of the new route combinations that I've seen are really well done and can take advantage of bad defenders or bad play (see my negative about situational awareness).

Ratings Matter: For me this is HUGE. Players, play to their ratings and no longer are teams and players interchangeable. If you read a previous post of mine I played vs Andrew Luck twice in a row once as the Cardinals and once as the Seahawks. While Patrick Peterson shut down his side of the field for most of the game, SS Tony Jefferson was getting ate alive by Donte Moncrief, then against Kam Chancellor he was shut out with 2 or three drops. Calling a perfect PA pass and having Djax running basically free deep only to have RGIII miss the throw....Then to play a "real" QB and hit that pass....night and day.

Player movement: It seems like players have "weight" to them it may be as simple as adding steps to some animations make players with high agility "feel" different, this is easy to see in the running game when trying to find holes when the primary hole is shut down.

Passing: On the whole the passing game in Madden 16 is very close to what I've been pining for seems very close to being organic from snap to whistle. Its actually rewarding break down a defense and hit the correct receiver. Progressing through your reads, finding the check down extending a play to hit a receiver on a broken coverage. While there are issues with aggressive catch, it has in its current state opened up the deep ball which has been lacking in madden the last two or three years.

Throw high/low are great additions to the passing game. W/o the ridiculousness of previous passing manipulations tools....You know what I am referring too.....

Penalties: Hi how are you and what the hell took you so long to get to the party. Finally in and working the way they should. I think its been sorely missing from football. You can't have a football game and not have penalties it never made sense. They way they made it a part of the modes that people have been asking for was smart implementation.

Misc:
FINALLY the Redskins have gold nike pants. Thanks Kane...Special Teams is boring, but finally being able to not have every punt bounce into the endzone is nice.....Draft Champions, I was wrong about it. It is a fun mode and a nice distraction.....Online vs Randoms is still the worst experience in the game bar none....Weather needs to be looked at, in its current state its starting to show its age.....Half sacks and assisted tackles!....FUN, I've actually had fun playing this game, and that hasn't always been the case.


Its not there yet, but this is a clear improvement and seems like the direction is finally one that makes sense.

[EJ_Manuel]

Quote: Originally Posted by CM Hooe

The opening coin toss was removed last year as part of the process of streamlining the game's presentation and getting people into the game quicker. Instead you have "kick / receive / with wind / against wind" options tied to your user profile. IIRC, the game still does an actual coin toss sequence at the start of overtime, but I'm not 100% positive.

It was also done because if there was OT then the toss would always be the opposite of what the opening toss was.

[rudyjuly2]

Watch how ridiculously fast and impossible the cpu gets off a FG attempt at the end of the first half. The cpu Colts have NO timeouts either. They get the FG team out there, snap the ball and get the kick off in like 2 seconds.



I was trying to test out the FG accuracy slider at 35 for both to see if it made it harder for me but it just results in the cpu missing kicks. It's still way too easy for me to make FGs. I really wish the sliders were separated in franchise mode.

One thing I've seen a few times in the game is a WR catching the ball and immediately getting hit knocking the ball out. But the game rules it a catch and fumble. With the way the NFL makes you blatantly prove you catch a pass, make a few football moves and call your momma in order to rule it a catch it stands out as a bit odd.

I am having quite a bit of fun with this game. I'd still like to see the DTs become more impactful and have the run game balanced a bit more so the outside runs are a bit easier and inside runs tougher.

[RogueHominid]

After steadily getting better on AP default and creeping above .500 vs. the CPU, I thought I was perhaps reaching the point where I might need to try AM default. Then I fired up a Bears vs. Packers matchup as the Bears and got whipped.

A fun takeaway from the game besides QB differentiation, which many have noted, is the differentiation I saw at the HB position. Lacy did things in the power run game that I had yet to see, having mostly played against teams with finesse-type backs to this point. I loved the variety of tackle animations and fight-for-yards animations. I saw several different ones over the course of the game, rather than the same one or two over and over again. That helped keep things fresh in the looks department.

I also think they nailed Rogers's game. He is definitely the best passer I've played against, and when controlled by the CPU, he does a great job of utilizing his mobility to extend plays within the pocket, and to take yards on the ground when the coverage is good.

[bo_jax2000]

Quote: Originally Posted by Footballforever

What camera are u guys using? Sent from my LG-D800 using Tapatalk

All-22 cam

[nate1986]

The game has been improved a great deal from the past few years this actually feels more then a roster update with a few bells and whistles, I've played one game so far and i am far from a great Madden player and can get blown out or let the game get away from me i lost as the Pats to the Rams 17-10 and normally i get beat on the pass game but it was the rush that did me in this time

The new WR/defense interaction is a great addition to the game and its gonna take some time to get the hang of it, i think even the most seasoned Madden players will have a learning curve in mastering this game the only negative is commentary but most sports game commentary sucks anyway

I give the game a 9.0

[bad_philanthropy]

Wanted to cry when I saw this. For once it looked purposeful, and not a janky AI interaction.