Madden NFL 15 Review (PS4/XB1)

[mantiis]

***Or should I say "does not look like much of a difference."

[WarlordZMaster]

This review is too low. This is by far the best game of NFL Football available outside of the real game. Finally, eclipsing my all time fav NFL2K5. I had lost all interest in Madden over the years, only getting M25 with EA Access. M25 is a good game of ball, but M15 is a leap forward. Graphics, presentation, emotion are all amazing. Gameplay is tight and competitive. Lots of modes, heck the player improvement drills are fun. I will be spending much of my gaming time over the next few months with M15. See you in MUT fellas!

[Answer348]

Not sure if anyone else has mentioned this, but your critique of the recommended play calling is somewhat incorrect. For instance, an inside run on a 3rd and 18 is a very common play for a team to call (depending on the situation). Most teams are not entertaining the idea of getting a first down under those conditions.

As for four verticals on 3rd and 1, there are also times in which that would be a great play to call. If you were 3rd and 1 on your opponent's 40 yard line, you really are in four-down territory, as you would not be attempting a field goal. If you're sure that you can get one yard on 4th down, going for a home-run play on 3rd down isn't crazy.

[mantiis]

Good review score but the reviewer did not mention other glaring flaws in the game. Like the lack of foot-planting and abundance of sliding in this game? The horrid Qb animations and animations overall are bad & many have been in the game almost a decade, the robotic movement due to super compressed animations, a game dominated by pre-determined repeat canned animations where an 180 db can level a 260 lb TE without even being phased. Am I the only one bothered by these flaws in the game? Seems like people have become so use to it that they have learned to just accept it.

Football is a hard game to program for? Soccer and American football have a lot in common including 22 players on the field, yet FIFA is years ahead of Madden in technology. Madden does continually give a good and solid NFL experience most years? Are you serious!? I think most of OS will agree looking back that Madden last gen was a complete waste, with only the last couple of releases being decent. Overall I agree with the score, as Madden shoudnt get above a 7.5 when compared to other games but this game is a lonnnnnng way from being amongst the best in our genre.

Agreed. But, you forgot to mention the zero aware OLmen that just stand there as you get blitzed or my favorite controller smashing- watching an OLman just stand there instead of opening a route for your RB. The virtual players in Madden simply do not possess the same level of football intelligence as say, a 2K football game's players do. Having selfish 10 year opportunity to get it right, and falling on their face is sad for EA.

[MossMan84]

Good n Fair review. Played every Madden on last gen (360) and none of them would have got more than a 5.0 overall from me; Madden 25 was maybe a 5.5 so from what ive read Madden 15 might get as high as 6.0 from me. Ya I havent played it yet but 2 plus 2 still equals 4 and madden is still madden. I think some reviewers are scared or obligated to give it a higher score than it deserves. Cant say any Madden has come close to Madden 05-06 ps2; the good old days! Wont be picking up this game unless it goes on sale for half the price.

[bakan723]

Re: Madden NFL 15 Review (PS4/XB1)

Haven't been into games like Madden, NBA in years because of the lack of player control and terrible feel of automation. The strive to make it 'LOOK' realistic has taken away from the control & fun for the player. Maybe in the future they can make it look AND play amazing, but they're not there yet. Still play Pro Evo 5 on the PS2, stuff like Hot Shots Tennis/Golf, but I've pretty much gotten away from modern sports games, DESPITE being a big sports and video games fan.

[apsve]

Unfortunately the stats and progression issues are killers for me. I was really looking forward to picking up Madden this year for the first time in a while, but until these are address it's a big nope for me.

[Chairman7w]

From all indications, this is much better than last years' version. But last year got an 8 rating.

I don't understand the lack of consistency here.

[WarlordZMaster]

Thank You! First honest review I have read. I have gained an increase of respect for this place. Yet, as far as the game- it does appear like much of a difference from the last couple years- with the exception of a few tweaks and some new looks. I'll be holding on to my $60.00, but may pick it up when it substantially drops in price.

You will be missing out, this is the Madden to buy if you have a next gen console.

[JoshC1977]

More importantly....does the CPU TAK slider impact the kicking power like last year? Do we have to go through the whole song and dance to get sliders and auto-subs to load properly in CFM?

M25 for next-gen was such a bear last year because the sliders didn't do what they were supposed to do. On old-gen, they did, and that made modifying the gameplay experience far less frustrating. .

If the sliders are in a decent state and if they fix the sim stats issue (first review I have read that mentioned that - thank you much for that), then this might actually pull me away from NCAA 14 for a while...

[ConnSKINS26]

Re: Madden NFL 15 Review (PS4/XB1)

Sorry. I don't care how much the gameplay is improved, if a sports game ships with a broken franchise mode, they can't score this highly. Absolutely can't.

[Jerros]

This review is too low. This is by far the best game of NFL Football available outside of the real game. Finally, eclipsing my all time fav NFL2K5. I had lost all interest in Madden over the years, only getting M25 with EA Access. M25 is a good game of ball, but M15 is a leap forward. Graphics, presentation, emotion are all amazing. Gameplay is tight and competitive. Lots of modes, heck the player improvement drills are fun. I will be spending much of my gaming time over the next few months with M15. See you in MUT fellas!

While I'm glad to see you are having fun with the game for what it is, I have to disagree completely with the assessment that Madden is the most sim game to date. For one, since when did you watch games on Sundays where Olinemen get tossed around like feather weights. Those guys train and get paid to do a job just like the defense. Another thing, there is ZERO technique in the pass rush and QBs drifting back in the pocket for 10 extra yards is a fundamental no no. Olinemen stand starring down field once a defender basically runs over them. The animations are horrid. QBs don't use proper mechanics or footwork. Every team uses the same exact blocking system which uses poor logic giving the illusion that the defense is making great plays. DBs are still seen standing flatfooted in zone coverage. Weather still means nothing, penalties nonexistent. That's what you think you see on Sundays?? And the saddest thing of all is the fact that APF still does a lot of these things better. Soooo, I have to completely disagree. From the what I played these things are still broken. Oh and I forgot to mention the gang tackling which is not tackling at all. Players just run into each other, then go limp and seemingly unconscious after contact. Thats NOT what I see in real football man. But again, if its great to you then that's all that matters. Just agreeing to disagree.

[bigball12]

Re: Madden NFL 15 Review (PS4/XB1)

The review is well written and informative.

Although not mentioning the removal of team play, seems like an oversight.

[timsmooth503pa]

Re: Madden NFL 15 Review (PS4/XB1)

While I'm glad to see you are having fun with the game for what it is, I have to disagree completely with the assessment that Madden is the most sim game to date. For one, since when did you watch games on Sundays where Olinemen get tossed around like feather weights. Those guys train and get paid to do a job just like the defense. Another thing, there is ZERO technique in the pass rush and QBs drifting back in the pocket for 10 extra yards is a fundamental no no. Olinemen stand starring down field once a defender basically runs over them. The animations are horrid. QBs don't use proper mechanics or footwork. Every team uses the same exact blocking system which uses poor logic giving the illusion that the defense is making great plays. DBs are still seen standing flatfooted in zone coverage. Weather still means nothing, penalties nonexistent. That's what you think you see on Sundays?? And the saddest thing of all is the fact that APF still does a lot of these things better. Soooo, I have to completely disagree. From the what I played these things are still broken. Oh and I forgot to mention the gang tackling which is not tackling at all. Players just run into each other, then go limp and seemingly unconscious after contact. Thats NOT what I see in real football man. But again, if its great to you then that's all that matters. Just agreeing to disagree.

have you played m15 yet because its way better that your assessment

[Jdreher123]

Last year, all I played was mut. Now connected franchise is all I'm gonna play. I cannot wait to buy this game