Madden NFL 18 Retail Impressions

[pagkerguy8]

Quote: Originally Posted by ggsimmonds

I was on the fence on getting the game, but ultimately decided to purchase it, and I already regret it. Madden never has a particularly long shelf life for me, I typically lose interest in November or so due to the game's issues, but here it is mid September and I am fed up. The issues I have may be patchable, but I get the impression that the developer's have no desire to make the changes I would like to see. Sim style gameplay is not sim, it is arcade. Every game turns into a shootout. I play with the Ravens and in my games both teams end up averaging around 7.2 yards per play. The highest last year was 6.7, and only 4 teams eclipsed 6 yards per play. Again, this is with the Ravens offense and defense, on top of the fact that I tend to play a conservative style of play. Most of my games have at least one defensive touchdown. It is a minor miracle if both teams do not give up one 50+ yard TD pass. I'm fed up with using sliders to fix these issues. I lower pass accuracy to get deep accuracy under control and QBs still hit the deep ball but instead are 5 yards off on slants and drags. Gameplay has regressed this year, and with the state of franchise there is nothing that saves this game.

100% agree on the sliders,i about want to break the controller when i go to throw a 7 yard slant pass with aaron rodgers and the pass is 15 yards past the wr

[tarheelguy4736]

Quote: Originally Posted by ggsimmonds

I was on the fence on getting the game, but ultimately decided to purchase it, and I already regret it. Madden never has a particularly long shelf life for me, I typically lose interest in November or so due to the game's issues, but here it is mid September and I am fed up. The issues I have may be patchable, but I get the impression that the developer's have no desire to make the changes I would like to see. Sim style gameplay is not sim, it is arcade. Every game turns into a shootout. I play with the Ravens and in my games both teams end up averaging around 7.2 yards per play. The highest last year was 6.7, and only 4 teams eclipsed 6 yards per play. Again, this is with the Ravens offense and defense, on top of the fact that I tend to play a conservative style of play. Most of my games have at least one defensive touchdown. It is a minor miracle if both teams do not give up one 50+ yard TD pass. I'm fed up with using sliders to fix these issues. I lower pass accuracy to get deep accuracy under control and QBs still hit the deep ball but instead are 5 yards off on slants and drags. Gameplay has regressed this year, and with the state of franchise there is nothing that saves this game.

I bought this game the day it came out and have only played a handful of games since then, which is sad. In years past, I would already be deep in a franchise but now you basically have to wait so that things can get patched and corrected. I also dont play any of the Ultimate Team stuff or compete against anyone online, so all that is irrelevant to me.

I also believe with Madden being the only football game around, kind of diminishes the urgency to make it the game everyone wants it to be. We have nothing to compare it to or anything it has to compete with. NCAA Football was really the only thing it could be compared to, so if one team was doing something right then people wanted the other team to take notice for next years game. It was basically a back and forth between the two about which game was better each year. Now that NCAA is gone, we no longer have that and I honestly feel like Madden has lost its appeal (in my own personal eyes).

Maybe I will get back in to it, but for now I am just not excited by the game as in years past. It just looks and feels the same as '17 with no big improvements.

[tarheelguy4736]

Spoiler

Quote: Originally Posted by tarheelguy4736

I bought this game the day it came out and have only played a handful of games since then, which is sad. In years past, I would already be deep in a franchise but now you basically have to wait so that things can get patched and corrected. I also dont play any of the Ultimate Team stuff or compete against anyone online, so all that is irrelevant to me. I also believe with Madden being the only football game around, kind of diminishes the urgency to make it the game everyone wants it to be. We have nothing to compare it to or anything it has to compete with. NCAA Football was really the only thing it could be compared to, so if one team was doing something right then people wanted the other team to take notice for next years game. It was basically a back and forth between the two about which game was better each year. Now that NCAA is gone, we no longer have that and I honestly feel like Madden has lost its appeal (in my own personal eyes). Maybe I will get back in to it, but for now I am just not excited by the game as in years past. It just looks and feels the same as '17 with no big improvements.

To add to my previous post, I will say that the Operation Sports community is outstanding in trying to enhance the game for a better playing experience. From the rosters, to the sliders, to gameplans, to draft tools, the amount of work the community puts in to making the experience of this game great is just outstanding.

Honestly, if it wasn't for this community there probably would be a lot of us not really playing the game because we just don't have the time to figure all this stuff out. So to everyone that puts in the time and effort at enhancing the game for all us... thank you!

[DeuceDouglas]

Quote: Originally Posted by ggsimmonds

I was on the fence on getting the game, but ultimately decided to purchase it, and I already regret it. Madden never has a particularly long shelf life for me, I typically lose interest in November or so due to the game's issues, but here it is mid September and I am fed up. The issues I have may be patchable, but I get the impression that the developer's have no desire to make the changes I would like to see. Sim style gameplay is not sim, it is arcade. Every game turns into a shootout. I play with the Ravens and in my games both teams end up averaging around 7.2 yards per play. The highest last year was 6.7, and only 4 teams eclipsed 6 yards per play. Again, this is with the Ravens offense and defense, on top of the fact that I tend to play a conservative style of play. Most of my games have at least one defensive touchdown. It is a minor miracle if both teams do not give up one 50+ yard TD pass. I'm fed up with using sliders to fix these issues. I lower pass accuracy to get deep accuracy under control and QBs still hit the deep ball but instead are 5 yards off on slants and drags. Gameplay has regressed this year, and with the state of franchise there is nothing that saves this game.

This has pretty much been my exact experience. I think I'm on a run of at least 7 games in a row where there has been a non-offensive score. I started up a game against the Broncos a little bit ago and quit in the first quarter. First it was this:



Okay it happens, whatever. Then they get the ball back and this happens:



They kick the FG and then I return the ensuing kickoff for a TD. They get the ball back and I sack them on back-to-back plays to start the next drive and I turned it off. I'm over trying to make it work for now. Maybe later down the road but as it stands right now I don't feel like I'm playing football. The only semblance of defense is sacks and turnovers. It doesn't feel like the patch did anything to make players smarter or even better in coverage. I played a game yesterday where Marcus Peters got beat twice by Luke Kuechly playing TE in man coverage. Every game is high scoring and has a ton of huge plays. It's the exact same issues that led to me putting down 17 so quickly and this year has the added problem of QB AI. I really would like to start a CFM but when I sit down to play an hour and a half game I don't want to have to deal with that stuff in pretty much every game. Hopefully the next patch will touch on some things and I can get back into it but I'm about to take a couple weeks off because it's not enjoyable at the moment.

[Other Guy]

Quote: Originally Posted by DeuceDouglas

This has pretty much been my exact experience. I think I'm on a run of at least 7 games in a row where there has been a non-offensive score. I started up a game against the Broncos a little bit ago and quit in the first quarter. First it was this: Okay it happens, whatever. Then they get the ball back and this happens: They kick the FG and then I return the ensuing kickoff for a TD. They get the ball back and I sack them on back-to-back plays to start the next drive and I turned it off. I'm over trying to make it work for now. Maybe later down the road but as it stands right now I don't feel like I'm playing football. The only semblance of defense is sacks and turnovers. It doesn't feel like the patch did anything to make players smarter or even better in coverage. I played a game yesterday where Marcus Peters got beat twice by Luke Kuechly playing TE in man coverage. Every game is high scoring and has a ton of huge plays. It's the exact same issues that led to me putting down 17 so quickly and this year has the added problem of QB AI. I really would like to start a CFM but when I sit down to play an hour and a half game I don't want to have to deal with that stuff in pretty much every game. Hopefully the next patch will touch on some things and I can get back into it but I'm about to take a couple weeks off because it's not enjoyable at the moment.

Same thing is happening to me and, it's getting really frustrating. I have played 3 games in my CFM, and there has been a non-offensive TD in EVERY game. One problem I've always had with Madden is that the yards to points ratio is always way off, and this is generally what causes it. Way too often do teams score 30+ points while only gaining around 300 yards or less. Median values in the real NFL are typically around 23 points and 350 yards per game.

[ggsimmonds]

Quote: Originally Posted by DeuceDouglas

This has pretty much been my exact experience. I think I'm on a run of at least 7 games in a row where there has been a non-offensive score. I started up a game against the Broncos a little bit ago and quit in the first quarter. First it was this: Okay it happens, whatever. Then they get the ball back and this happens: They kick the FG and then I return the ensuing kickoff for a TD. They get the ball back and I sack them on back-to-back plays to start the next drive and I turned it off. I'm over trying to make it work for now. Maybe later down the road but as it stands right now I don't feel like I'm playing football. The only semblance of defense is sacks and turnovers. It doesn't feel like the patch did anything to make players smarter or even better in coverage. I played a game yesterday where Marcus Peters got beat twice by Luke Kuechly playing TE in man coverage. Every game is high scoring and has a ton of huge plays. It's the exact same issues that led to me putting down 17 so quickly and this year has the added problem of QB AI. I really would like to start a CFM but when I sit down to play an hour and a half game I don't want to have to deal with that stuff in pretty much every game. Hopefully the next patch will touch on some things and I can get back into it but I'm about to take a couple weeks off because it's not enjoyable at the moment.

Jesus that safety lol.

Week 3 of my franchise I got two safeties in one game. Both of them due to sacks. Neither were as bad as your video, but in both the QB displayed zero awareness of the situation.

I probably will give it a second chance after the next patch, but I'd be surprised if it is much improved. They've mentioned looking at QB AI, but I don't think they are too keen on lowering the rate of big plays. I've tried to engage them on twitter on this topic but have received no response (with the hurricane it is understandable to a degree)

[SteelD34KC]

So a few things have been happening since day 1 in MUT, mind you this is the first year Ive ever done MUT, so no idea if these were past problems as well.

1. When the QB spikes the ball to stop the clock, EVERY single time the announcer asks why he did it, the clock wasnt running. But it was, EVERY single time, and the CPU QB spiked the ball for a reason.

2. Showing the wrong coach when you passed a MUT challenge. Though I think thats fixed now.

3. Either each challenge is so hilariously easy I score 70+ points in 2 minute qtrs, or the CPU is beyond even All Madden challenging.

Those three things stood out the most to me. But what has been happening these last few days have followed me into my offline franchise.

I just shut my Xbone down, and almost screamed "IM DONE!!".

1. Running a crossing, out or in pattern 10 to 15 yards down the field my WR will basically run into a safety, who then does the press animation and completely redirects my WR. No penalty on either player, nothing but either a pick or a WTF is my receiver doing scream. This has happened at least 3 or 4 times a game in both MUT and CFM.

2. A highly rated Olineman being shucked by a low rated LB or Safety. Now the running is vastly improved. But when a 92 overall Larry Allen gets shucked by 75 overall OLB with 72 Block Shed, on 5 plays in a row. Really? Not one pancake.

3. Pancakes. They only ever seem to happen to me. I usually play my DT Mean Joe Greene (In MUT) or Allen (CFM). Both players though usually, not always, but usually much higher rated getting pancaked. Usually right when I do any sort of move. Not double teamed, just one Olineman making me look like a college kicker.

4. Coverage - 10 times a game easy my Safeties and Corners continue to look out to space for alien life. The CPU? Oh there safeties can leap tall buildings with a single bound. My guys? Balls flying over there head more then a porn star.

Its number 1 that had me just turn my Xbone off. I cant turn it back on. The game was going wonderfully, I was less then 55% passing. The CPU had moved the ball decently, I was up 9 to 7. Was running well.

Then I see Corey Davis coming inside across the middle. The Safety with his back turned, backpedals into him, goes into the bump and run animation, and Corey Davis completely stops his route to fly up the field.

I threw the ball as he was coming free, thinking ok great a good little 15 yard reception. Nope, picked off, by the safety, who wasnt even looking at the play.

Yeah, I cant load Madden 18 up anymore.

[Prilosec]

Facts:

*play every game with two-controllers and custom playbooks.

*control every offensive snap.

*close your eyes and pick defensive play via quick or strategy.

*you must lower QB throw accuracies across the board and I know the scale from testing.

You will now enjoy the game.