Madden NFL 17 Review (Xbox One)

[drewst18]

"Franchise mode wasn’t given a ton of attention this year, but it received a large number of smaller changes that benefit it a lot."

That stood out so much when you consider they branded it as a complete overhaul

[BenGerman]

Re: Madden NFL 17 Review (Xbox One)

Might have missed it in the review but any noticeable improvements to penalties? My main issue has been with pass interference calls that are rarely called. I hate having a receiver run into a defender and being unable to make a play on the ball, because the defender essential become a barrier, and no flag being thrown.

I did everything in my power to stick with default sliders for the review. I made a note of it (but ran out of space in the review), but I only saw one or two pass interferences on default settings. I'm sure this has a lot to do with it giving online players fits.

FWIW, every slider that I did tinker with seemed to be pretty effective.

[Joshua1207]

Re: Madden NFL 17 Review (Xbox One)

Great review. Game is sounding pretty promising, can't wait for it!

[iam31yearsold]

If the game 'feels' like NCAA 14 does, this goes from a pass to a buy for me.

[BezO]

Re: Madden NFL 17 Review (Xbox One)

I'll leave specifics out as not to disturb the thread, but there are some glaring legacy issues glossed over or flat out ignored. Everyone's opinion will be different, so an 8/great means whatever, but there are too many missing elements not mentioned for my taste.

[BenGerman]

Re: Madden NFL 17 Review (Xbox One)

I'll leave specifics out as not to disturb the thread, but there are some glaring legacy issues glossed over or flat out ignored. Everyone's opinion will be different, so an 8/great means whatever, but there are too many missing elements not mentioned for my taste.

Hey Bez, I'm interested in hearing some of the legacy issues you're seeing. While not attributing them directly to "legacy issues", I definitely saw some problems that have existed in prior games (i.e. Running backs slamming into the O line and falling down).

[bucky60]

Re: Madden NFL 17 Review (Xbox One)

Hey Bez, I'm interested in hearing some of the legacy issues you're seeing. While not attributing them directly to "legacy issues", I definitely saw some problems that have existed in prior games (i.e. Running backs slamming into the O line and falling down).

Ben, are you a reviewer only or do you have direct contact with Madden Devs? My biggest issue with madden is CFM and how all their abstractions are very arcade. Any chance they will give options in CFM to provide more (optional) realistic CFM abstractions?

You were asking Bez for examples so I'm just taking a chance that you may have a line to Madden developer/designers. The realism crowd really doesn't have a franchise path.

My question/comment is strictly CFM. I think gameplay has taken some steps toward realism.

[Hooe]

Re: Madden NFL 17 Review (Xbox One)

"Franchise mode wasn’t given a ton of attention this year, but it received a large number of smaller changes that benefit it a lot."

That stood out so much when you consider they branded it as a complete overhaul

It was overhauled, though. Overhaul literally means "to take apart in order to examine and repair if necessary". That's exactly what Tiburon did, there are bug fixes and gameplay balance adjustments all over the place to make the mode just flat-out work and work better. They also added some new layers to the existing onion on top of performing those many fixes.

Was franchise mode revolutionized, or were high-level gameplay cadences radically changed? No, they weren't, and I suppose people who interpreted overhaul to mean that are going to be disappointed. But Tiburon didn't misspeak here.

[roadman]

Re: Madden NFL 17 Review (Xbox One)

Ben, are you a reviewer only or do you have direct contact with Madden Devs? My biggest issue with madden is CFM and how all their abstractions are very arcade. Any chance they will give options in CFM to provide more (optional) realistic CFM abstractions?

You were asking Bez for examples so I'm just taking a chance that you may have a line to Madden developer/designers. The realism crowd really doesn't have a franchise path.

My question/comment is strictly CFM. I think gameplay has taken some steps toward realism.

Bucky, I'm not answering for Ben, but did you listen to the podcast of 4tdverts with John White, one of the developers of CFM.

Based on that interview, I got the impression that XP wasn't going away. It sounded like to me they would like to make the XP experience more realistic.

That was my takeaway.

[bucky60]

Re: Madden NFL 17 Review (Xbox One)

Bucky, I'm not answering for Ben, but did you listen to the podcast of 4tdverts with John White, one of the developers of CFM.

Based on that interview, I got the impression that XP wasn't going away. It sounded like to me they would like to make the XP experience more realistic.

That was my takeaway.

"More realistic" doesn't give me confidence in getting a realistic CFM experience. Whether XP exists or not really doesn't matter to me. It's how it's implemented that does. I don't mind EA/Tib providing an arcade experience if they have an optional realistic counterpart. Adding realistic elements on top of an arcade base doesn't really do anyone any good (arcade or realism crowd).

[jrjolley]

yeah this review has me more excited about the game. i'm looking to get some reading and watching in today, and your review was most pleasant from the previous 2 ive read.

i like the positive light. i don't play enough to always find glaring issues, and as a whole i'm always happy with the game.

this review is way encouraging.

thanks.

I'm also looking forward to the game now. As a blind player, it's good to know that the commentary is significantly better. I'd love it if someone has any full games from top to bottom so I can hear what the commentary's like for late game situations and that kind of thing.

[roadman]

Re: Madden NFL 17 Review (Xbox One)

"More realistic" doesn't give me confidence in getting a realistic CFM experience. Whether XP exists or not really doesn't matter to me. It's how it's implemented that does. I don't mind EA/Tib providing an arcade experience if they have an optional realistic counterpart. Adding realistic elements on top of an arcade base doesn't really do anyone any good (arcade or realism crowd).

I guess my point was it didn't sound like, based on the interview, that a optional realistic counterpart was in the future, but I could be wrong on that note, too.

Just a gut feeling.

[bucky60]

Re: Madden NFL 17 Review (Xbox One)

I guess my point was it didn't sound like, based on the interview, that a optional realistic counterpart was in the future, but I could be wrong on that note, too.

Just a gut feeling.

I think you're right. I'm with you thinking the realism CFM crowd is out of luck. But it seemed like a good question and time to ask Ben (if he has access) to bring this up with the Madden devs.

[BezO]

Re: Madden NFL 17 Review (Xbox One)

Hey Bez, I'm interested in hearing some of the legacy issues you're seeing. While not attributing them directly to "legacy issues", I definitely saw some problems that have existed in prior games (i.e. Running backs slamming into the O line and falling down).

Poor, binary player interaction. You mentioned the pocket, but left out the lacking dynamics. It's still basically win or lose. I'm not seeing pockets collapse, for example. And DEs still get up field way too slow.

Despite gap assignments, contain is almost non-existant. One of the hardest things to do in the NFL is to take the corner. I'm seeing this happen regularly in vids I'm watching. Stretches & tosses still look like the go to run play. And QBs still escape the pocket too easily. When there is contain, it's only because the d-linemen or OLB disengaged. They can't maintain outside leverage while engaged. Very binary.

Despite the emphasis on special teams, still no gunner interaction. In the NFL, those guys try to engage the gunner asap and keep him from getting up field. In Madden, blocker(s) turn, run and set up blocks near the returner.

More special teams, the o-line on field goals are still pass blocking instead of the bend don't break style used in the NFL. I'm sure there's some things I won't notice in a vid, but the only special teams improvements I see are a new kick meter and designated punt/FG blockers.

Footwork is still poor. Still no tiered defensive play calling. A lot of stiff animations that standout against the newer ones. Defensive matchups? No huddle / hurry offense differentiation, and players still get to the LOS too fast. No short yardage blocking animations. No special teams depth chart? No SOLB/WOLB or SS/FS alignment. I'm going to stop before I turn this into my wishlist.

[BenGerman]

Re: Madden NFL 17 Review (Xbox One)

Ben, are you a reviewer only or do you have direct contact with Madden Devs? My biggest issue with madden is CFM and how all their abstractions are very arcade. Any chance they will give options in CFM to provide more (optional) realistic CFM abstractions?

You were asking Bez for examples so I'm just taking a chance that you may have a line to Madden developer/designers. The realism crowd really doesn't have a franchise path.

My question/comment is strictly CFM. I think gameplay has taken some steps toward realism.

Hey Bucky.

I certainly understand your point. In year's past, the XP system has really bugged me as well. It was more subdued this year and I actually think it works pretty well. My guess is that EA is slowly moving toward handling franchise mode in some other way, but I can't confirm that in any way.