Madden NFL 25 Impressions (PS4)

[Bruce LeRoy]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Impressions (PS4)

Played this game for the first time the other night. Played two quick games; I was not impressed at all. First off the graphics are not good at all for a next gen game, it looks like a high res version of current gen and all the player models are the same. True Step gives the defense an advantage- its not fare that the ball carrier has to slow down and chop there feet while the defense doesn't; the defense can turn in a dime and clobber ball carriers while they true step. Also it seems like the cpu takes control of you back when you first hand it off to them. Its like they try to guide you through the whole, I don't really like that, I want full control of my back from the start. The canned animations are horrific- numerous times I busted up the whole full speed only to be sucked into a canned tackle that looks out of place. Too many hit stick tackles! Every other tackle was a hit stick! I can go on and on about what I don't like about this game.

The only two things I liked was the pass push/rush from the defensive line and the secondary pass coverage defenders were in the right spot, they closed in on passes quick, and they intercepted the ball of you threw it to them.

If you're judging this game by next gen standards I rate it a 5/10 by last gen standards it gets a 7.0/ 10

[Mos1ted]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Impressions (PS4)

Almost every game I have played thus far had my 95+ Accuracy QB throw a 2 yard open pass without any pressure right to a defender nowhere close to the play. He is consistently missing on passes about 2 yards downfield. Not missing like something slightly overthrown or behind, but missing by 5+ yards often. and all running backs are getting 80 yard runs untouched on off tackle plays running for 150-200 yards a half against me. It's just not fun, and I keep trying to enjoy it but it becomes harder and harder the more this stuff happens.

I play with the QB accuracy slider set to 10, and I still get the ball to go where I want to given the context of the pass. If I'm throwing on the run, I expect the ball to be off target. In fact, that's the reason why I lowered the QB Acc slider: I wanted more inaccurate passes than were present at the default setting. The thing with passing on Madden is that you have to think like a quarterback. You have to know when to put touch on the ball, when to rifle it, when to throw it out of bounds, when to tuck it and run, when to duck for cover and take the sack, etc.

Are you trying to rifle the ball to a receiver just two yards away? Doing so will cause your passes to be off target because the speed of the ball is unnecessarily fast given your receiver's proximity. Try rifling a football to a buddy two yards away. I guarantee it won't be very accurate.

Also, are your feet set when you throw the ball? The game has a Throwing on the Run rating which also affects QB accuracy. You can't just look at the THA rating and assume that the QB can make every throw for every situation. There's also the SAC, MAC, and DAC ratings to consider.

Unlike in current gen and previous Maddens, Madden next gen requires a more realistic approach, which is probably the reason while I'm enjoying Madden for the first time in 9 years.

In regard to your rushing defense, are you calling the right plays to stop the run?

[Mos1ted]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Impressions (PS4)

Anyone else having issues with guys NOT coming back on routes to the ball and just kinda standing there or falling back watching as a defender jumps in front? I mean, comeback routes involve COMING BACK to the ball after all (hence the name comeback) and not falling back away from it. never heard of a 'fallback' route before. Back shoulder passes aren't working either as every time i try to throw back shoulder it just throws inside the numbers and the defender picks it every single time. If they threw back shoulder he wouldn't be able to touch it...

Another thing I wish they would work on is the touch/lob pass which only works when a guy runs 60 yards downfield. otherwise it is just a pop fly right to the defenders. And bullet passes are just line drives without any sort of accuracy or placement. No control over ball placement at all in this game, and it's pretty much a "chuck and pray" scenario where you hope the game doesn't decide to place it right nowhere near any of your players so it gets easily picked off (happened 3 times already today). For some reason the game likes to say "you need a pick right now, so we will just place it nowhere remotely close to your wide open player."

EDIT:

Also, why when my TE is 1 on 1 vs a CB does he continue to get trucked by the CB even though he is lowering his shoulder. In what world would a 250+ pound TE get trucked by a 190 pound CB when he is lowering his shoulder into him. It would be like watching Champ Bailey truck Jason Witten. just never.

You have to play with the tackle slider to address the trucking issue. I haven't found a setting yet that truly alleviates it -- a flaw in game design that needs to be addressed -- but playing with tackle at default is definitely not the way to go. I play with the tackle slider set to 100, and oddly enough, I'm getting better results than with it set to 50. It's still not perfect, but it did eliminate some of the frustrating suction tackles for me.

Also, the DB coverage is little too good at default. I suggest turning down your pass coverage slider until you find a setting that's more realistic for you.

[celtics6]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Impressions (PS4)

I picked this up last night because I was getting a little bored with killzone and nba 2k on the ps4 and needed something else to play for the next couple months until some of the bigger games start coming out.

I'm fairly happy with my purchase out of the gate.. It's not the huge jump up that nba 2k is and doesn't scream next gen but it definitely looks and plays better than current gen imo. I've seen the stutter step thing and not sure how I feel about it so far. Overall I like how players move and how fluid it seems, how players square up etc.. Played a couple games so far and overall it played well. Felt more immersed than the current gen version and just something felt different.

Overall I'm not sure if I wasted $60 again though. Also have the current gen version but I've done this time and time again with this game. This years version just feels different to me and was enjoyable and had that madden feel but also something about the game just pops and feels more polished as far as the AI is concerned. it also goes to show how bad this game has been. 2nd game I beat the cpu cowboys vs steelers 24-0 on all pro. The first game was last years superbowl I won 17-7. The AI can still go into braindead mode where I can just march up and down the field mindlessly it seems calling the same plays and not really seeing the variety. REminds me of Live that way. Feels good at times and coverages and lineplay is better, but there is just that something where I want to sit down play a football game and for it to feel right. I talk about feel but Madden is such a tease that way. It's like omg this is what I've been looking for then it's like omg no it's not. Why can't EA just make a tough good AI football game for once. I don't mind the cartooney aspects of madden so much as I just wish it was capable of playing a real simulation. I'd like to see more variety and just better AI at times. Scored on some broken plays and by pressuring the opposing qb and getting picks. They make this game too easy and have lost that edge in ways going on years now. Yes the DB AI is better and yes there are tangible improvements but on the whole this is still the same Madden game with the same glaring flaws it seems. It looks good in context but then you really get into the nitty gritty of the game.


Going to bump it up to all madden but it seems like the same difficulty problems and lack of immersiveness in areas. It's a more polished version of that.


Edit:Played a game on all madden. Won 7-3. Manning vs Brady. Manning was unstoppable and robo qb then I knocked him out of the game. It was a well contested game throughout and enjoyable but still the same madden in ways. Didn't really see much wrong with the game I played although a little more variety would have been nice. Animations are smooth and flow together really well. Saw some nice touched with tackling and the lineplay in general. Also always wondering if the cpu is going to do something stupid to take away from the drama of it. They didn't this game but I feel like they will eventually.


Overall I am pleased but skeptical. It seems like a good football game. Best madden to date. Will it be playable and stand the test of time? Who knows. I spend $60 on this game every year play it about 10 times before it is broken. This game seems to always lack something as far as going that extra mile as far as substance and personality but it has that something as far as fun factor too.

[WithoutRemorse]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Impressions (PS4)

I think this game is a night and day improvement over the PS3 version. PS3 version is very arcade like in the way the offense can abuse the defense. I have only played a handful of games on next-gen but I can already see and feel the impact this game will have when playing in a sim style league.

[celtics6]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Impressions (PS4)

I think this game is a night and day improvement over the PS3 version. PS3 version is very arcade like in the way the offense can abuse the defense. I have only played a handful of games on next-gen but I can already see and feel the impact this game will have when playing in a sim style league.

It's definitely better in that regard. I see enough improvements where it makes it feel that way. Especially on all madden I've noticed the improvements as far as a sim style game. Better line play. Better db AI and breaking up passes etc. The offense is just more responsive as well. That fun factor is still there as well. Overall it's improved but not mind shattering.

[Manidifata]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Impressions (PS4)

The thing that really make me feel is a "true" game? the way the Runningbacks can't change directions. If you are running on the outside and try to cut, you will not see power runner change direction so easily.
Another things that work is the AI when you use zone D. Really impressive!

[Flippedoutpunk]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Impressions (PS4)

True Step gives the defense an advantage

Yep! On 100% of my interceptions I check out a slow motion replay and you can clearly see my receiver shuffling his feet to make a cut on a route, and as soon as he makes his cut, the defender takes ONE STEP (no shuffling of the feet) and instantly cuts in front of my receiver for the pick, even if he is many many steps away from my receiver. DB and LBs, heck even D-linemen also rarely seem to drop interceptions as well, wonder if i can sub them in at WR. Im all for tougher defense in next gen, but when True Step only applies to my wide receivers and not the DBs, and you add in incredible 360 catch-making 70 ovr CBs, not very fair or fun on top of the fact that the defense seems to know exactly what I audible to each play. Hate when the defense shows blitz and i switch to pass and everyone backs up 5 yards instantly, hashtag c'mon man.

[BoltThrower74]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Impressions (PS4)

Already started trying All Pro. It's still just bad. My QB just overthrew a pass by throwing it literally almost 90 yards on the fly. It went from the 10 yard line to about the 15... So 85 yards about. And then 2 plays later he has an open guy only 15 yards on a go route and underthrows it by 7 yards to get it nearly picked off. The AI is horrible. on any difficulty setting. Just horrible. Nobody goes for pass deflections and everyone goes for picks, tacklers engage blockers they already shed instead of going for the ball carrier in a 1 on 1 drill, mediocre QBs throw for 80% on you, any running back can still get 150-200 yards on you consistently, and guys like Desean Jackson are running over linebackers they do not see coming.

I try to put some faith in the game but it's to the point where there is no light at the end of the tunnel. The only hope we can all have is that other companies get back in the game and ESPN stops hyping this game up every single commercial so that we can get competition back so everyone has a game for them. This is good for the arcade guy. It doesn't feel real at all, and every game feels like its against the same team. Once again going back to my belief that no matter what team you play you are playing the game against Madden only. I just threw my shoes across the house only to pick em up and throw em again because of this cringeworthy gameplay. It just isn't fun man. nothing else to say. And it's been that way for years. The last Madden game I actually enjoyed was 05. I played about 30 games of 2k that year too because my friend had it, and it was fantastic. It felt intense like an actual football game should. Madden doesn't have that intensity anymore. At least back then I could get the best of both worlds.

Every aspect of the game was just so much more in-depth... from create a fan, to the stadiums and new teams, to franchise mode having nearly everything. Scouting, drafting, multiple Free Agent Wires, Multiple coaches and scouts if i remember properly, you could choose captains, and there were more realistic stat increases and decreases depending on how a player played that year. It was so immersive that I played almost 15 years in my franchise which is more than I have in any game period. And then 06 came out with superstar mode or whatever, and it was fantastic... Interviews that affected your team play and everything, practices, training camp, performance institutes, and the wonderlic like test, choosing your parents... all of these having an effect on your player and your team. better agents giving you every perk imaginable, whereas worse agents would give you nothing. And now this CFM or CCM whatever it's called is in, and it doesn't even compare. You have no control over the game at all. Madden chooses captains, a rookie QB will throw 5 TDs and 25 Picks and get a 7 point stat boost because its his second year... Choosing a player does nothing at all, as its just the same as the poorly done franchise mode where you simply play games as one player instead of the team. Each mode (player, coach, owner) just gives you more control than the last, which is still very limited control... Even the last Madden I owned before that wonderful selection of games from 2005, which was M2000 on the old N64, was more entertaining than this. I know a good football game or several are possible because it has been done before. Madden, 2k, and blitz were all fun back in the day in their own way. So were backyard football and NFL street for that occasional "pick up game on the front lawn" feel. but with the way things have been going, they must change or else we will have the same cycle through another generation of gaming systems. I believe that I am just inspiring myself with false hope that the exclusivity license will end, and we will see something along the lines of "EA/Tiburon sign 7 year extension on exclusivity deal."

Sorry again for the nonsense ranting, I'm extra moody because I had to get a tooth removed and have been on pain meds all week. Can't even have a drink on New Years Eve man.

Geezus, what difficulty are you guys all playing on? And is this online H2H or offline franchise?

[SECElit3]

Madden NFL 25 Impressions (PS4)

Why is it that I can't make it through a full game of Madden 25? This game is just so stale. It's the little things I think that are getting to me. I actually enjoyed the game at first. However, the more I play, the less I enjoy it.

- Dropped passes by the CPU.
- Ratings just don't seem to matter.
- Announcers calling the wrong player names.
- Wrong players being shown in cut scenes, example: backup quarterback is sacked, yet starting quarterback is shown walking back to the huddle.
- That stupid cut scene where the defensive player puts on the same generic helmet before the offense punts. That cut scene just gets on my nerves.
- Animations are as canned as ever. The animations in Madden 12 were actually more lifelike.
- Special Teams play is not exciting.
- Madden 25 lacks polish.
- True Step is a joke because it only applies to one player on the field. Again, a great idea, poorly implemented by EA



If anyone were to ask me for my recommendation on purchasing this game, my answer would be a flat out NO. Madden 25 is very poor effort by EA Sports.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Impressions (PS4)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1385068555084189

Why is stuff like this still a thing in Madden? In what world is that not a catch?

[HingleMcCringleberry]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Impressions (PS4)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1385068555084189

Why is stuff like this still a thing in Madden? In what world is that not a catch?

I had a similar thing happen to me a lil while back. For some reason, these guys don't understand that when a guy takes 5 steps before running OB, it is actually a catch. Yet the CPU has done that stupid college thing where they are just taking one step in bounds and continuing full stride OB without dragging the other foot at all... I challenged it many times after watching the replay, and guess what... It remains a catch!!! It seems that they just never get it. Someday they might, but it's becoming the next "same story and different day" scenario.

[HingleMcCringleberry]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Impressions (PS4)

Why is it that I can't make it through a full game of Madden 25? This game is just so stale.

Nailed it on the head for me. I have quit games halfway through just because of unrealistic stats and the fact that it just doesn't bring any sort of intensity that a football fan gets on Sunday. I'm bout to give it another whirl, and so long as they don't run off tackle for 300 yards against me again, maybe I can make it through this game.

But it is playoff time. I am amped up for the playoffs each approaching week, and I want to enjoy a football game in the mean time because this time of the year pumps football fans up. It even pumps up people who don't know jack about the game itself. But then again, I put on THIS game and it is just motionless. From the terrible soundtrack (which I muted immediately) to the ridiculous animations to the missed calls and backwards wind meter, and to the long list of shortcomings you can add on... It just goes on and on for me, and has for years. This game is simply not immersive in the slightest bit, and it is just poorly done and plain boring. To each their own but that is just my honest opinion. If I put it any other way I would be lying...

[HingleMcCringleberry]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Impressions (PS4)

Words couldn't describe this right here, which just happened in my game. I'm the Defense BTW

<iframe width="700" height="393.75" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/EeGIf5Us9-E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[N51_rob]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Impressions (PS4)

LOL, looking through the yearly awards for my online CFM, and they forgot best LB. They have QB, RB, WR, OL DL, Db and K. I guess you could add best TE to missed award category as well.