Madden NFL 16 Community Impressions

[jwilphl]

Re: Madden NFL 16 Community Impressions

After a few days I have come to a couple conclusions: the gameplay is decent while franchise mode is incredibly shallow. Keep in mind my impressions are having been away from Madden for six years.

I am enjoying the gameplay so far. I haven't noticed any glaring errors just yet other than the wacky glitches that happen rarely. Although I have found playing defense doesn't feel very rewarding, for some reason. Maybe I'm just not good enough yet, but I find getting to the QB very difficult (even with the timing) as well as shedding blocks generally. If anyone has tips feel free to share.

The presentation is fairly well done. As I said, it has been a while since I've played a Madden game, and my only real complaints about the presentation are a lack of interesting discussions from the commentary team and not enough inclusion of "what we see on Sundays." This is pretty much par for the course, but nonetheless, the overall presentation is considerably improved over what it was years ago. The commentary could also stand to be a big more enthusiastic at times.

As for CFM, yes, I think it stands most are disappointed. The mode itself is very shallow and it is 100% clear they haven't given this mode hardly any attention over the last many years. I get it that the other modes are the "money makers," but I would think the franchise mode would be the overall most popular. It is a shame there isn't much going on. Contextual commentary is non-existent. As others have said, there simply aren't any stories to follow: the world feels enclosed. The "news" and tweets are buried in the back-end, but those hardly add anything of value.

For 2015 I would have expected more, though it is nice to see gameplay has progressed over time. Animations are still funky; I consider this a legacy issue that probably will never go away for as long as Madden is sold.

A solid game overall but by no means spectacular. I still need more time with it to give it a full review, though.

[canes21]

Re: Madden NFL 16 Community Impressions

I'm loving all of the animations with the WR and DBs. I was worried about the implementation of it all, but EA did a very good job with it. I'm so glad to be able to throw a pass body relative and have the WR make the play. In years past you pretty much had to hope the guy just outran his man with speed, or throw it when the cut in the route gave space between the players.

Finally I can throw it one on one and have a chance for a completion. It's nice to not have to touch the interception slider finally because of all the dumb pick attempts. Corners finally play the ball and their man like corners.

[SageInfinite]

Re: Madden NFL 16 Community Impressions

The game still needs a TON of work, but I enjoy it.

The graphics look GREAT at times. Lighting is awesome, I do like the lighting in domes with the roof open better on 15(The way the sun gleamed in was amazing), but everything else is WAY better.

The new handoff and playaction animations are GORGEOUS. Also like that sig throwing animations trigger on alot of throws.

Love some of the presentation stuff, others I'm not a fan of.

Like I said the game needs alot of work, but it's on its way to being a good game one day.

[jfsolo]

Re: Madden NFL 16 Community Impressions

Love the post play scuffles this year, adds a lot more life to the game.

I really like the run game this year. Yeah, the blocking logic, or lack there of, on many plays makes you want to throw your controller, but there is a lot of good stuff going on too. I've never used the precision modifier before, but IMO, it is a must now to get the most out of the running game. Precision truck, precision juke(which is really nice in space with the right players) quick juke, get skinny, all the moves are needed to turn 2 yard gains into 5 or 6 yard gains or 3 yard losses into back to the line of scrimmage runs.

[Moegames]

Re: Madden NFL 16 Community Impressions

Love the post play scuffles this year, adds a lot more life to the game.

I really like the run game this year. Yeah, the blocking logic, or lack there of, on many plays makes you want to throw your controller, but there is a lot of good stuff going on too. I've never used the precision modifier before, but IMO, it is a must now to get the most out of the running game. Precision truck, precision juke(which is really nice in space with the right players) quick juke, get skinny, all the moves are needed to turn 2 yard gains into 5 or 6 yard gains or 3 yard losses into back to the line of scrimmage runs.

Same here, the developers really REALLY need to build on this aspect of "atmosphere" .. Since the year i joined OSforums in 2002...I have been harping various developers for football video games to put some "soul" into these football video games and its really nice to see tiburon developers are now starting to see how important these "little things" are...these "little things" make a HUGE difference in the overall fun the game is.

Over the years i seen many people in here say these things are not important and only gameplay is...well i must say, these people were/are greatly mistaken because we now all see how much it's done for madden this year and the madden series has lacked this attribute so much but now the developers are finally "seeing the light". All i can say is that they must add much more to this and put more "polish" into the presentation and atmosphere aspects of Madden.

Hopefully next year we will see the commentary react more natural and have much more colored commentary to the overall feel of the play-by-play. They also need to keep adding more pre/post whistle cut-scenes or dialog between players and other various animation sequences of two or more players interacting with each other before and after the whistle. I like what i see "FINALLY" but lets just hope they continue to evolve because presentation/atmosphere is just as important as great gameplay when it comes to sports video games.

Oh and maybe a real half-time show with updates of other games going on around the league...why they have not touched this is baffling but then again...Tiburon had left most presentation and atmosphere aspects of Madden bone dry as far back as i can remember, it wasnt until now that they finally got going with these aspects of the game.

[THESHAMISASHAME]

Re: Madden NFL 16 Community Impressions

Is it safe to say Franchise mode doesnt play like Play now ? I mean as I get deeper in the playoffs Im seeing some super hu cpu Interceptions ?

Just wondering thanks

[DJ]

Re: Madden NFL 16 Community Impressions

You can definitely tell the difference between a good QB and a mediocre one. Lost Carr to an injury early in my game today at Denver and Ponder was terrible. Throwing balls high, short and off-target. It was frustrating, but more so that Ponder is bad and not that I was missing passes.

In the past, you couldn't tell the difference between QB's. Now, you can. A nice extra layer of strategy and roster management when injuries occur.

[DJ]

Re: Madden NFL 16 Community Impressions

Playing with an undisciplined team is VERY challenging. I was playing with the Cardinals against the Raiders and the Raiders were blowing me out 27 to 0 by halftime because of all my defensive penalties. 5 offsides, 4 were due to that offside bug though. Happened 4 times in a row too. Then I had 7 defensive holding penalties.

I was loving it and hating it at the same time. I kept thinking to myself my goodness Cardinals you guys really lack discipline. Add to that, none of my DBs could hang with Amari Cooper, he was killing me, along with their other WR. Patrick Peterson was getting torched every passing play. Add to that, the Raiders new running back DeMarco Murray was running wild.

It was the worst butt kicking I ever took by the CPU in Madden. Ratings really matter and when your team don't match up well, lord have mercy. Might as well hold on for dear life because you about to be taken for a ride. Woodson had Fitzgerald on lockdown, he couldn't catch anything. And Floyd kept dropping passes. I couldn't run because Mack and the other Raiders LB shut that down.

Truly all around humbling experience.

Khalil Mack is an absolute beast in this game.

[JMD]

Re: Madden NFL 16 Community Impressions

The more I play it the more I like it. I feel like they made the game with the offline guys like myself in mind this year. As soon as CFM gets patched this game will be even better.

[NYJin2011tm]

Re: Madden NFL 16 Community Impressions

Just went to load my Franchise and can't load it. If I go to files it's there but can only delete it.

[Hooe]

Re: Madden NFL 16 Community Impressions

In Madden NFL 15, the CPU could get away with Cover 0 blitzes because the receivers couldn't adequately fight for jump balls on the outside.

No longer.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AD_tdrMCgMM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Also this is probably the most in-rhythm throw I have ever made in Madden history, haha.

[jfsolo]

Re: Madden NFL 16 Community Impressions

In Madden NFL 15, the CPU could get away with Cover 0 blitzes because the receivers couldn't adequately fight for jump balls on the outside.

No longer.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AD_tdrMCgMM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Also this is probably the most in-rhythm throw I have ever made in Madden history, haha.

I actually love it more that I can't get away with as many cover zero blitzes. I'm using much more of the defensive tools in the game than I ever have in the past. It's great.

[N51_rob]

Re: Madden 1NFL 16 Community Impressions

Playing with an undisciplined team is VERY challenging. I was playing with the Cardinals against the Raiders and the Raiders were blowing me out 27 to 0 by halftime because of all my defensive penalties. 5 offsides, 4 were due to that offside bug though. Happened 4 times in a row too. Then I had 7 defensive holding penalties.

I was loving it and hating it at the same time. I kept thinking to myself my goodness Cardinals you guys really lack discipline. Add to that, none of my DBs could hang with Amari Cooper, he was killing me, along with their other WR. Patrick Peterson was getting torched every passing play. Add to that, the Raiders new running back DeMarco Murray was running wild.

It was the worst butt kicking I ever took by the CPU in Madden. Ratings really matter and when your team don't match up well, lord have mercy. Might as well hold on for dear life because you about to be taken for a ride. Woodson had Fitzgerald on lockdown, he couldn't catch anything. And Floyd kept dropping passes. I couldn't run because Mack and the other Raiders LB shut that down.

Truly all around humbling experience.

Cardinals must truly suck in this game. Andrew Luck just 16 for 17 303 yards and 3 TDs plus a rushing TD. Couldn't really stop him at all. Gonna have to play him again with the Seahawks just so I dont go running around mumbling about robo QB to myself.

[Bootzilla]

Re: Madden NFL 16 Community Impressions

This game is really good. It really shines as it pertains to teams strengths and weaknesses. And my goodness, star players really stand out. I love the fact that throwing against the Browns secondary is hard (stay away from Joe Haden). Playing as the Ravens I'm beasting with T. Sizzle and Dumervil. Hard to muster a pass rush with lesser players.

Some examples from some of my games: Playing as the 49ers, I was get slaughtered by the cpu's passing game vs. the Titans. I'm muttering under my breath "Mariota ain't THAT good." I later looked through the position ratings and saw that the 49ers corners are ranked last, yep 32nd in the league. Replayed the game. Went bend but don't break. Played mostly zone and kept everything in front of me and wouldn't you know it I kept them in check. Gave up yards but no big plays and forced enough field goals to win.

So, some of the issues in past Maddens appear to be there but aren't if you play to teams strengths or in the case weakness. Robo QB, terrible coverage does exist if your team can't cover and you're trying to run a lot of man. It doesn't exist if you play according to your personnel.

Cpu running game seems under powered... Sankey averaged 1.2 yards per rush. I'm thinking I need to boost cpu run block or lower my tackling below 45 where I have it. Next game Murray from the Raiders runs for 163 yards at 7 yards a clip.

Human run game seems under powered... Averaging about 3.0 yards a carry with Forsett. Broke loose for 180 yards the next game.

The game forces you to vary your strategy and play smart.

The only thing that may be an issue once CFM is working is I don't see how I will possibly throw under 20 interceptions. Even when I'm being extremely cautious, I will get the pass break up where the ball flies in the air and gets picked or the random wild overthrow when I have someone running wide open underneath. The ball always goes directly to a linebacker or safety.

[WISports]

Re: Madden NFL 16 Community Impressions

Did they remove coin toss from the game? I've just been playing offline quick games, and so far, there's been no coin tosses.