Also played a couple of games on default all - pro, and one online game.
1. Running the football is difficult. In a good way. I think in the last couple of years I'd become a little lazy with the run but this seems more balanced.
2. I don't think CPU QBs are perfect, but on the default sliders I'm seeing very few inaccurate passes. I've picked a few off, so that's good but need to tweak the accuracy slider a little.
3. The graphics are very solid, the lighting and stadium models are very nice indeed.
4. The players actually have some distinguishing features this year which I like.
5. Skills trainer is excellent. I've watched football for nearly 10 years but tactically I'm still on quite a basic level. The football concepts section is a fantastic idea, and the drills are fun.
6. Online seems smooth, and I won my first game which always helps
7. The presentation is definitely an improvement, but still I think it could be more polished. Things like there being no welcome back line after a quarter. If little things were fixed we could have a very good broadcast package.
8. The game is quicker, and I like that. Football is a fast game so we need to feel that pressure in Madden.
9. Defense takes a bit of time to get used to but I do feel this is ten times better than the old system.
10. The play calling screen is very good, and I would think new players will get a lot out of it. Especially finding out why a specific play should be called in that situation.
Overall ill give it a solid 8 after my first day, if franchise is good then I'd definitely give it a 9.