[JoshC1977]

I think the abilities are done better in M21 than they were in M20; there are more of them (diluting the possibility of a handful of overpowered ones - like enforcer - taking over), and the abilites themselves are a bit more reserved. I actually think some of them (like the ones impacting the OL's resistance to pass rush moves) add another layer to the game. Playing with the default 75-man roster, the majority of the abilities are really solidly done (though I do edit the apprentice abilities from CPU players as they don't use hot routes - to my knowledge).

The recently added ability for the user to easily edit them has been quite helpful, as is the ability to limit the overall numbers of SS/XF players and to turn off breakout scenarios (which are harder to trigger even if turned-on). One can quite easily minimize the global impact of these abilities on CFM's long-term stability (which was the major bugaboo in M20).

I'll be honest, I really thought last year that Madden was going down the path of the online-centric games (i.e. NBA 2k and its inane badge system); but they actually reversed-course and began toning-down the impact for CFM players using default settings while providing users the ability to have fun and pump up the numbers.

The one area where Madden still needs to clean it up is with the on-screen displays. It's time to give us the ability to turn off the displays (and I'd argue, including pass icons) so we can engage in a true 'clean screen' environment...which is actually funny being that we're in a time where NFL broadcasts are adding more and more of them.