[Meddera]

I think i've played my last game of Madden 19 today. It is the first Madden I have played in nearly 20 years. I was thrilled when they brought it back to the PC this year and I think the game has come a long ways in 20 years, but it still just is missing something in my opinion.

I have tinkered with the sliders for long enough at this point on ALL PRO. I have made the game more challenging, but at the expense of making the game unrealistic and silly.

I typically get sacked 4-10 times a game, even when trying to adjust coverage's. I know the Giants oline is bad, but no ones oline is that bad. Often I will go back and watch a replay after leaving a RB or TE back to block and usually they do nothing and do not pick up a man at all. I can try to move around a bit in the pocket, but lets face it, if someone breaks through in this game, there is no escaping a sack. Even 300 lb Dlinemen outrun Kyle Lualetta and his decent 78 speed. Even when getting outside the pocket and trying to throw the ball away will often lead to a sack as the animation to throw the ball is unreasonably slow in this game. You had better start the throw away when they are still over 5 yards away otherwise you'll be sacked.

I usually throw between 2 and 4 interceptions a game. Again, I am starting Lauletta who is basically the same as Eli if you ignore awareness. I also have the AI pass defense, reaction, and INT sliders turned up and my QB accuracy down because if I don't I will pick them apart.

I play with 75 speed threshold which should decrease the separation but the AI is still able to just bomb it over the top on me often. I will then go back and check and see that their 88 or 90 receiver somehow just blew past my 93 speed corner. Again, a little randomness needs to occur to make the game exciting, but too often the AI gets all of their points against me with deep bombs or 80 yard runs against cover 1. Often times their QB will have 2 or 3 interceptions but a ridiculous YPA average because of the absurd amount of deep throws they have successfully pulled off.

I usually have a punt or FG blocked ever 2 to 3 games. Sometimes I have had 1 of each blocked in a game. Just recently the AI has started having a rash of Kickoff returns for TD against me. These conveniently occur with 1 minute left with the AI down.

Basically, this sort of silly absurdity crap has to happen for the games to be close. And they are close, close so often as I have pointed out in another thread that it is a little ridiculous. I never kill them, and they never kill me. Often we kill each other but by the time the 4th quarter is over the game is ALWAYS decided less than a TD. These are not the type of games I want. I want games as close to what happens on Sundays. I do not want 6-8 turnovers a game, 6-10 sacks a game. 2-4 plays over 50 yards just so the score ends up close. And I don't want a close game every single time. Butt kickings happen often in the NFL.

And after all this lets discuss the ridiculousness of injuries. I have played my first 1-8 games of the Giants franchise season now probably over 20 times. I have never ONCE not lost Barkley and often his backups during all of these early parts of the first season. I have moved the injury slider between 25-50 and it does not matter. RB's in this game just get injured a ton. I don't care if you try to be even somewhat conservative with their carries. They still get injured far too often. Usually by game 5 or 6 I have lost Barkley and one of his backups to injury and usually they are out between 3-8 weeks. When I say this happens every time, I am honestly not exaggerating.


So in the end that's it. The game is beautiful, and it is still mostly fun. But trying to get a realistic experience is difficult. I don't expect it to be perfect. But it is still a little too far off for me to get completely immersed into a season. If they put 20 on the PC I will give the new game a try later this year and hope some of these issues are ironed out.