Madden NFL 25 Next-Gen Review (PS4)

[bspang2]

Its not a port, they did change things under the hood and they are using the Ignite Engine (like Live, and FIFA, NHL will also be using it for the next gen version).

You seem to think that graphics were the most important thing about the move to next-gen, everyone on this site will disagree with you. Gameplay is what matters most, graphics should evolve with time but if the game doesn't play well then graphics are meaningless.

The game plays better and it looks better, you may not be happy with the leap in graphics but the gameplay improvements are more than enough to warrant the uptick in the overall rating.

This Port nonsense needs to stop, it's not a port plain and simple, if you want to argue that it is too close to the current gen in looks and/or gameplay, fine (I disagree, and I think the majority would say that it is an improvement with the only debate being how much of an improvement it is), but that does not mean the game is a port.

I believe they should have concentrated on the graphics and presentation this year. When EA creates a football that looks far behind what it should be all we have to lean on is the game play and they still cannot get that right. The movements of players are not natural/authentic... very robotic. Yes gameplay if improvements if existed would make for a better game, but when the looks amazing and feels amazing and its presented (commentary, game day presentation) great. That makes for a great game, then we can deal with the slight if any adjustments to game play.

[roadman]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Next-Gen Review (PS4)

I am giving my honest opinion just like everyone else on here, I do not feel its fair to delete my comments. I have been the biggest EA sports fan for the past 20 years. Madden has had 25 years to get the game play right and all I am saying is that for the past 7 to 10 years we have been saying "Madden looks to be moving in the right direction". Lets be honest the graphics are comical, player models are comical. I thought this was supposed to be the NEXT-Generation of gaming.... its ALMOST the same game.

Is there anything wrong with people having different opinions? On a messageboard, no one else's opinion reigns higher or supreme with other opinions.

I just don't agree with you that every year over the last 10 yrs "Madden looks to be moving in the right direction." Madden 06, 07, 08, 09, 11 and 13 were not moving in the right directions for me.

Game play is king to me as noted earlier, and based on the people who have the game and have played the game, they are saying gameplay is much better on NG.

Those people aren't wrong for having those opinions.

[kehlis]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Next-Gen Review (PS4)

I believe they should have concentrated on the graphics and presentation this year. When EA creates a football that looks far behind what it should be all we have to lean on is the game play and they still cannot get that right. The movements of players are not natural/authentic... very robotic. Yes gameplay if improvements if existed would make for a better game, but when the looks amazing and feels amazing and its presented (commentary, game day presentation) great. That makes for a great game, then we can deal with the slight if any adjustments to game play.

I disagree and you will find that you are in the minority here.

Gameplay is far more important than graphics and presentation.

I need a game to play like football before I care about how it looks.

[bspang2]

Is there anything wrong with people having different opinions? On a messageboard, no one else's opinion reigns higher or supreme with other opinions.

I just don't agree with you that every year over the last 10 yrs "Madden looks to be moving in the right direction." Madden 06, 07, 08, 09, 11 and 13 were not moving in the right directions for me.

Game play is king to me as noted earlier, and based on the people who have the game and have played the game, they are saying gameplay is much better on NG.

Those people aren't wrong for having those opinions.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with other having their own opinions and feelings about the game. I have played the current-generation and next-gen versions of Madden 25 and the gameplay yes is "Different" not better. However that is solely IMO.

I have been a sports gamer for years and its more then just gameplay its the entire package. If gameplay was the most important thing then lets forget the graphics and have a bunch of stick figure characters plays some amazing, fluid, authentic football... LOL (Im obviously over exaggerating) but you get my point. Its the entire package and for me I need aesthetics along side good game play.

[bspang2]

I disagree and you will find that you are in the minority here.

Gameplay is far more important than graphics and presentation.

I need a game to play like football before I care about how it looks.

I doubt I am the minority on this one. Why do you think in all the reviews all they talk about is the GRAPHICS not being what it should be? How the game does not look like it was advertised? I guarantee if the NG Madden had amazing graphics say like a NBA2K14 critics and madden community would be signing a different tune.

I am sure you will disagree with this as well, but that is ok.

[bspang2]

I disagree and you will find that you are in the minority here.

Gameplay is far more important than graphics and presentation.

I need a game to play like football before I care about how it looks.

Actually I just thought of something... I think I agree with you. I remembered playing NFL2K5 and felt the game play was far better then madden. I remember I played it again a year or two ago and even though the graphics were obviously old... I still much rather have played a 2004 game over a 2011 game just because the gameplay was so much better and felt natural/authentic.

So yes I agree with you.

[kehlis]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Next-Gen Review (PS4)

I doubt I am the minority on this one. Why do you think in all the reviews all they talk about is the GRAPHICS not being what it should be? How the game does not look like it was advertised? I guarantee if the NG Madden had amazing graphics say like a NBA2K14 critics and madden community would be signing a different tune.

I am sure you will disagree with this as well, but that is ok.

All I mean is that you are in the minority here on OS, I don't go to other sites so I very well could be wrong and that wasn't my intention, but you ARE in the minority here. It's not really a question, nor is it important.

[Iceman87GT]

I doubt I am the minority on this one. Why do you think in all the reviews all they talk about is the GRAPHICS not being what it should be? How the game does not look like it was advertised? I guarantee if the NG Madden had amazing graphics say like a NBA2K14 critics and madden community would be signing a different tune.

I am sure you will disagree with this as well, but that is ok.

I saw your post about 2K5 so it appears you may have changed your tune but every article that I have read except for IGNs (which was garbage, I mean he pretty much said that the game was more realistic, and remarked that this may be a bad thing (because he can no longer run all over teams)), have noted that the graphics are improved but not as big of a leap on the field as you would expect for Next-Gen, but they have all praised that the game is a solid step in the right direction, praising the gameplay aspects that still need work but are finally in tune with what players have been asking for.

Also NBA 2K14 has been getting roughly the same scores, in the end the Graphics while being an amazing leap have been cancelled out by small changes to the game play (not bad ones, but also not positive changes).

Gameplay is what matters in sports games, and this is a sentiment held by a vast majority on the site (its why people still play NFL 2K5, and MVP Baseball 2005, and choose games like College Hoops 2K8 over the much better presentation-wise NCAA Basketball 2010). Presentation is important and graphics should improve as we venture further into this generation, the most important thing is gameplay.

[inkcil]

It's almost like they "assigned" it an 8 in part because the last gen version got a 7.5 score. So even if the reviewer had opined that only the graphics improved and nothing else got worse, then it would be logical to give it an 8 based on the review history. What was illogical was giving the 360 version a 7.5 in the first place when it was more like a 6.5.

This is all my opinion of course. I've played Madden games that have received 8 or higher and the DB's backpedal off the field and into the sidelines in the middle of the play. And o-linemen ignore blocking assignments to block air. But to each their own opinion.

[Sticks13]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Next-Gen Review (PS4)

I saw your post about 2K5 so it appears you may have changed your tune but every article that I have read except for IGNs (which was garbage, I mean he pretty much said that the game was more realistic, and remarked that this may be a bad thing (because he can no longer run all over teams)), have noted that the graphics are improved but not as big of a leap on the field as you would expect for Next-Gen, but they have all praised that the game is a solid step in the right direction, praising the gameplay aspects that still need work but are finally in tune with what players have been asking for.

Also NBA 2K14 has been getting roughly the same scores, in the end the Graphics while being an amazing leap have been cancelled out by small changes to the game play (not bad ones, but also not positive changes).

Gameplay is what matters in sports games, and this is a sentiment held by a vast majority on the site (its why people still play NFL 2K5, and MVP Baseball 2005, and choose games like College Hoops 2K8 over the much better presentation-wise NCAA Basketball 2010). Presentation is important and graphics should improve as we venture further into this generation, the most important thing is gameplay.

2k has been getting high scores across the board, and the changes to gameplay have been far from small. In fact they've been getting praised because of the graphics and gameplay. The real problem people have had is lack of features.

[bspang2]

I saw your post about 2K5 so it appears you may have changed your tune but every article that I have read except for IGNs (which was garbage, I mean he pretty much said that the game was more realistic, and remarked that this may be a bad thing (because he can no longer run all over teams)), have noted that the graphics are improved but not as big of a leap on the field as you would expect for Next-Gen, but they have all praised that the game is a solid step in the right direction, praising the gameplay aspects that still need work but are finally in tune with what players have been asking for.

Also NBA 2K14 has been getting roughly the same scores, in the end the Graphics while being an amazing leap have been cancelled out by small changes to the game play (not bad ones, but also not positive changes).

Gameplay is what matters in sports games, and this is a sentiment held by a vast majority on the site (its why people still play NFL 2K5, and MVP Baseball 2005, and choose games like College Hoops 2K8 over the much better presentation-wise NCAA Basketball 2010). Presentation is important and graphics should improve as we venture further into this generation, the most important thing is gameplay.

I agree with your points

[bspang2]

All I mean is that you are in the minority here on OS, I don't go to other sites so I very well could be wrong and that wasn't my intention, but you ARE in the minority here. It's not really a question, nor is it important.

I think more research on your part would be beneficial... but as I mentioned I agreed with your gameplay points.

[cgalligan]

In my opinion, this game is much MUCH better than Current Gen... Just better in every way

[bucky60]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Next-Gen Review (PS4)

I just don't agree with you that every year over the last 10 yrs "Madden looks to be moving in the right direction." Madden 06, 07, 08, 09, 11 and 13 were not moving in the right directions for me.

Your years are basically the same as mine. M12 was the only one I thought took steps in the right direction.

Gameplay is far more important than graphics and presentation.
I need a game to play like football before I care about how it looks.

I need an in depth and realistic/smart offseason to keep my interest. Gameplay alone just isn't nearly enough for me. Maybe that's why others like M25 CG more than I do. Too much gamey/arcadey offsesaon.

I don't have NG, but I think I can grade it knowing what the offseason is like and I wouldn't give it an 8 just for the things I really don't like in the offseason. I can't grade gameplay, but I'm getting a sense that it's improved by all the impressions. But from the impressions from people I trust, it seems like the gameplay improvements still need a lot of work.

I am disappointed in not being eligible for the $10 upgrade. I would have done that in a heartbeat because I'm convinced that M25 NG is better than M25 CG. Just to me, not $60 worth better. To others yes, but me no.

[BonesKnows85]

I love the game as far as gameplay, it is a huge step up from the PS3 version. I just cannot enjoy CCM because of EA generated draft classes. The player's names are outrageous. If we could have imported draft classes from the PS3 version, I'd be in heaven right now.