Madden NFL 15: Your First Impressions (Roundtable)

[Mos1ted]

Re: Madden NFL 15: Your First Impressions (Roundtable)

Haven't played Madden in a few years, strongly considering picking this up for PS4. Couple of quick (closely related) gameplay questions:

1) Is passing more difficult? That is to say, is it more challenging to consistently complete passes?
2) Are users punished enough for attempting difficult passes and failing to complete them?

Apologies for my ignorance, only been following the leadup to the release loosely.

I would definitely say that the improvements to the defense have made offense as a whole more challenging -- in a good way.

I play on All-Pro, and I'm loving the fact that my running back's abilities actually matter. When I'm playing with a good back, I can eat up yards on the ground. With an average to below average back, I'm lucky if I can manage to average 2 yards a carry.

The passing game requires you to approach the line of scrimmage like a real QB. You have to really look at the defense, analyze your receivers' routes, make adjustments if necessary, and really go through your progressions once the ball is snapped -- all while counting to 3 in your head to make sure you get rid of the ball before the pressure gets there. Also, some of the money plays from previous years aren't as effective. For example, four verticals is no longer the guaranteed first down/touch down that it used to be -- for me at least.

[leeahnee]

The on-field portion of the game is pretty solid, the skills trainer is fun (if a bit infuriating at times), and as someone who is just getting into MUT, I'd say they've done a good job there too.

However, as someone who primarily plays offline CFM, it feels like half of the product is broken. Game Prep is pretty cool, but the confidence rating doesn't seem to really work. The branching storylines are okay, but it feels like it doesn't pop up enough (Also, the all-black uni for every storyline player is weird). The news stories are a bit repetitive, and the sim stats wouldn't be in tune with the NFL of four years ago, let alone today. Pretty much everything other than the gameplay is mediocre at best.

[BigRick47]

It feels different for the better, not as easy to run or pass and that's a good thing! So far, so good! Menu's even take time to get used to, which kind of sucks, especially when playing online, time is not on your side defensively trying to navigate the play menu, but that too will come with time.

[regroc88]

Why do EA always

[regroc88]

Why Do EA always take things out of madden. The New consoles have more then enough space for .Player of the Game. C'mon EA this is the Easy Stuff I had a Big game with Arian Foster and Got Nothing No After the game interview Nothing. What did you guys forget to put this in" What"!!!!!!? Frickin Frustrating!!!!!! Put that **** Back!!! C'mon Mannnnnn

[dmslapped]

I wish there was more penalty's, or any at all would be great

[CT Pitbull]

Re: Madden NFL 15: Your First Impressions (Roundtable)

Im definitely having fun with M15 so far. The visuals are finally getting there on par with the "other" basketball game. I really was expecting a lot more with living worlds this year, but seeing as there was no hype leading to release I knew there wasn't going to be any significant improvements.


The audio while sounding the same(same sounds) sounds much better, if that makes sense. The NFL films camera shots are beautiful at times.


Im really having fun with the defensive camera, and the camera switching on-the-fly keeps gameplay from getting stale. This is an underrated feature. We still need to be able to customize camera angles though.


Ive seen some improvements in tackling but at the same time, far to often when players collide they pinball off each other 3-4 yards away, that's too far. It needs to be tightened up.


By far M15 isn't a perfect game. It is the best game of football ive played in YEARS though, its getting there. There NEEDS to be more penalties added to the game (defensive holding) as well as the ones we do have need to work properly. So far for M15, penalties are non existent.


The intelligence of the CPU QB's also needs to be higher while at the same time the accuracy of there throws is still too high. I do feel a diffence between top notch QB's and scrubs but even the elite passers aren't as accurate as M15 makes them out to be. There is also a nice contrast of ability with different RBs. A power guy FEELS like a power back. A shifty RB definitely FEELS way different than a guy like Stephen Jackson or LeGarret Blount, which is nice. EA needs to keep running with that and give each player signature moves and traits.


The game definitely still has its issues but you can see there is some polish to some areas, now its time to build build build on this base. NO MORE subtraction of features, its time to add and then add some more. Like someone above said the "player of the game" interview is gone this year for some reason. WHY? This is something that EA has to stop doing yesterday. Stop removing features that don't need to be removed. This has been a huge part of their frustrated fan base for quite some time, the CONSTANT removal of things for seemingly no reason at all. Its the classic 1 step forward 2 steps back. Like Ditka says "STOP IT!!"


So far ill give M15 an 8 out of 10, its getting there just not as fast as all of us would like.

[NetsBaller]

Madden 15, so far, for me is great. Defense is looking good and that is what has me drawn.

[GisherJohn24]

Honestly, this is the first NFL game where I can honestly say it feels like an NFL game for real on Sunday. No offense to poeople who like rap music and some of that current gen music out there today, but I'm glad those days of those terrible soundtracks are gone. It's not NFL Films music which I so adored in Madden 10 and 11 , but the new music is more of an orchestrated score and I'm completely down with that and it fits the mood of NFL Sunday in most respects. The closeups after a play, the replays, the camera angles, the awesome celebrations, the crowd atmosphere is even great! And do we have lively sidelines for a change? We certainly do!

After the virtual highlight reel the game put you in, you are offered to go into the training modes or dive into the ultimate team or other modes. The skills training is long and very entertaining, but most of all, you really learn a lot when you play the trainer. was a nice addition and I learned a lot about the new defensive mechanics and I was instantly having a blast learning how to play again. I knew if the training is fun, the main game had to be fun right? Well, let's see here...

The difficulty level has gotten tougher IMO. I let the Browns beat me (Eagles 14 to 10 in my first game) but it was a fantastic an exciting game and I didn't want it to end. But what stood out? I could play freaking DEFENSE!!! Although I was learning with that new defensive camera angle. Is it me, or did they somewhat borrow from backbreaker? That threw me off back in the day, it's throwing me off now, but it grows on you and I like playing behind the defense for a change and it works well.

Again, I mentioned before, you do occasionally see some pretty outrageous animations especially near the end of a tackle with guys flopping around again like in 25, but it's definitely been addressed and toned down significantly and overall, it really feels and looks good.

Offense feels great as the defense does. The typical controls still will be right home with the Madden guys. Running game is a blast and run blocking continues to improve each year, and I feel the holes are easier to distinguish in this game. Passing is smooth and doesn't seem overpowering. I tried a few of my money plays I learned over the years and they all seemed to be contained. Computer A.I. is smart and mixes it up. I love the play calling screens. Nice and big and easy to see which is great for poeple who like to really get up close and personal. I really like the ability to look through so many plays and the reccomended plays always seem like a good option when you're wanting to do hurry up.

Graphics are fantastic. As good as MLB The Show and NBA2k?? I sure think so. The players faces are better than you would expect considering they are usually hiding under their helmets, but there is an amazing amount of detail especially for big name guys like Peyton Manning. Coaches are eeriely like their actual counterparts. So much love was to make this look more real than it already did, and Madden 15 gets nearly everything right in the graphics department.

The commentary is the only thing that continues to disappoint. It's an improvement from last year, all be it a miniscule one. I like Nance, but i think I heard his voice over the years too many times on NCAA. The halftime show and end game summaries are very nice though, the broadcast presentation as a whole truly feels like an NFL Sunday broadcast, can probably lean on CBS a bit with the vibe I get when I play.

The game offers online tournaments, connected franchise modes, online quick matches, roster sharing (woo hoo) and LEGENDS are back! I don't know how many yet, but nice to see I can make my own players too and make my own classic teams! Look out everyone, the 86 browns will be coming for you!

Madden 15 is not Madden 25 with updated rosters, this game feels great, feels new, and feels fresh. EA put a lot into their game this year and made me a believer that EA can still make a good football game on a yearly basis if they want to. Madden 15 is proof for me. I give it a 9 out of 10.

[Killaice]

I'm all about presentation. Something madden has always lacked in compared to 2k games. That intro video/game with the Seahawks versus the Panthers. Give me that game. I would play something like that all day! But after all my bias years I will give madden some credit. It actually plays better(thank the heavens)

[slick1ru2]

Unfortunately for those on the older consoles, we paid the same price but got an incomplete product. No pre and half-ti8me show is the biggest omission along with no community play input with success % rates. I didn't expect, of course, for the graphics to be any better including the crowd, but the other elements should have been included especially if charged the same price. I have to admit, if you have an XBox One or PS3, this purchase may be a pass since its basically Madden 25 with the elimination of Defense Assit and addition of two new ways to tackle. MUT went overboard. What we needed in MUT was a simpler way to find out where a card goes. They added it but changed it around so much its now confusing. Also the CC pregame seems like a waste of time. Last year's was too easy, this year is too complex and absurd. You get a tiny allocation of hours and have too much of a choice to spend it on. Its not like that in real life because in real life teams have a staff that works with each group.

[slick1ru2]

Unfortunately for those on the older consoles, we paid the same price but got an incomplete product. No pre and half-ti8me show is the biggest omission along with no community play input with success % rates. I didn't expect, of course, for the graphics to be any better including the crowd, but the other elements should have been included especially if charged the same price. I have to admit, if you have an XBox One or PS3, this purchase may be a pass since its basically Madden 25 with the elimination of Defense Assit and addition of two new ways to tackle. MUT went overboard. What we needed in MUT was a simpler way to find out where a card goes. They added it but changed it around so much its now confusing. Also the CC pregame seems like a waste of time. Last year's was too easy, this year is too complex and absurd. You get a tiny allocation of hours and have too much of a choice to spend it on. Its not like that in real life because in real life teams have a staff that works with each group.

I meant XBox 360 or PS3, obviously, not XBox One.