Madden NFL 25 Review

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Madden NFL 25 Review

Summary

  • Madden NFL 25 offers players unprecedented control over gameplay.

  • Simulation mode can feel more casual than competitive, but both modes have their relevance.

  • Game modes lack true innovation and it's hard to justify paying full price for what is essentially a moderately improved Madden NFL 24.

Another year means another CrazyBut despite the monotony of annual releases, Madden NFL 25 Could bring some exciting elements to the franchise. Although the new features of the game are not so important to win players who do not like CrazyThey are certainly a treat for long-time series fans. at least, Madden NFL 25 Has surpassed last year's version, which is the base expectation of any new one Crazy Game.

Some of the best parts of Madden NFL 25 are its controls. New updates to certain aspects of the game make playing much more satisfying than previous versions. There are also many great options Make these Madden NFL 25 Experience unique to each player. The different ways to play Madden NFL 25 Also add some nice depth to the experience, but they aren't necessarily as polished as one might hope.

Pros

  • Offers players unprecedented control over gameplay
  • Updated staff skills feel satisfying
Cons

  • Game modes fail to reflect player performance in key ways
  • Not enough meaningful changes to justify paying full price

The controls and customization options of Madden NFL 25 are satisfying for experienced players

There is room for veterans to tinker with and refine

One of the very first screens Madden NFL 25 Presents players with an extensive list of customization options. Although this would likely be overwhelming for someone who has never played a Crazy Play before, there is a welcome space for returning players. right back, The game provides a wide range of options To ensure that players get the exact type of experience they want Madden NFL 25.

Perhaps the best option among those presented is the ability to choose between the simulation or competitive game styles. Simulation is more classic Crazy Experience, where the outcome of plays is largely dictated by the stats of athletes. Meanwhile, competitive puts more of the onus on the player's ability to precisely time their inputs. Simulation mode can be a more casual experience, while competitive mode takes some of the frustrating aspects of the game a little more automated.

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Playing on Competitive mode proves to be a very rewarding experience For anyone up to the challenge. Perhaps one of the best aspects of this mode is Crazy's reworked Hit Stick that has made tackling feel more satisfying than ever. The game now analyzes the timing of a hit, with perfectly timed hits being more likely to cause a fumble. Some things in Madden NFL 25 They are more satisfying than forcing a fumble on the one-yard line and knowing it was thanks to a perfectly timed hit.

Simulation mode offers an experience that is closer to a real NFL game. After mastering the controls in competitive mode, the team stats seem much less important. While it may be satisfying from a gameplay perspective to complete every pass or run 30+ yards consistently, it makes Crazy Feel much less like a real football experience and more like an arcade game. While simulation doesn't completely solve some of the game's issues with realism, it at least makes the difference between the top-ranked Kansas City Chiefs feel meaningfully different from the bottom-ranked New York Giants.

generally, Madden NFL 25The new controls create a very rewarding experience for players who are willing to plumb their depths. The ability to adjust passing routes, quickly swap defensive strategy with the switch stick, and the easy-to-use system for pre-game changes gives players plenty of options to pull off impressive plays. This makes Madden NFL 25s multiplayer much more exciting, because players have a lot of options for what to do on both sides of the game.

Madden NFL 25's game modes are fun but flawed


Kansas City Chiefs center showing a Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman.

Whether online or local, Multiplayer is where Madden NFL 25 shine the brightest. Thanks to competitive mode's focus on staff skills over stats, and the level of control one has over each game, multiplayer feels like a genuine test of your abilities. Unfortunately, not all of Madden NFL 25The game modes live up to this experience.

Franchise mode allows players to act as the coach for their chosen team, playing through multiple seasons as they try to build their team. Superstar mode is similar, but instead of playing as a whole team, players create their own custom avatar and take a single position. This allows for a deeper sense of immersion in the role of an individual, but less control over larger team decisions and the game as a whole.

Both game modes are great in concept, and for the most part that translates to a fun game experience. Perhaps one of the best aspects of both modes are the training drills that actually feel like them Learning valuable Crazy Skills that can improve your game. Both modes also have a good sense of progression, although Franchise Mode's progression can feel a little less satisfying if players pick a team that's already a major NFL powerhouse.

The main downside of both modes comes in the form of Crazys simulated game.

The main downside of both modes comes in the form of Crazys simulated game. Occasionally, these modes will take control away from the player and simulate the results of the game. frustrating, These simulations do not take into account player performance in a meaningful way.

If you play Superstar Mode as a quarterback, you can expect that leading three consecutive scoring drives will set their team up for success when the game takes control of them and simulates the rest of the game. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. in one case, Crazys simulation gave the winning team no additional points during the simulation, creating a major victory for the team whose defense was easily dismantled during real play.

This type of disconnect makes it like Crazy Wants to force players to feel like an underdog at the start, despite not being able to convey that through gameplay. Watching a player or team be spectacular during actual play only for the simulation to so poorly reflect that performance going forward is frustrating. This frustration can be avoided in franchise mode, where simulation is entirely optional. However, in superstar mode where it is a required part of the game, Simulated play can really deflate an exciting performance.

The financial realities of Madden NFL 25 hold it back

The ultimate team rears its ugly head once more


Pre-order bonuses via game add-on for Madden NFL 25

It is impossible to meaningfully examine a game like this Madden NFL 25 Without discussing its price and the release schedule of the franchise. Madden NFL 25 Could have made some gameplay improvements too Madden NFL 24But it is still difficult to recommend on this basis. More than likely, it will be a Madden NFL 26 Which builds on those improvements and possibly brings some new ones to the table next year. At a $69.99 price point, A game really should have a longer expiration date than one year.

This aspect of the US Crazy Franchise is true for a long time, but it Feels even more exploitative now thanks to the Ultimate Team mode. The ultimate team mode is fueled by microtransactions and what are essentially loot boxes. If the mode was in its own corner where people could choose to engage with it, that would be nice. however, Madden NFL 25 Continuously pushes players to the mode.

Related

Every time Madden NFL 25 Starts up, players are greeted with what is essential A pop-up ad for Ultimate Team Mode. The game is set to bring players directly to the Ultimate Team menu if they click X on the screen, the same button they are likely clicking to advance to the main menu. This often results in players accidentally clicking into Ultimate Team mode. It's hard not to feel like that Madden NFL 25 is constantly trying to get players to spend more money on a game that already struggles to justify paying for new versions every year.

Final thoughts on Madden NFL 25

3.5/5 - "Good, approaching great" according to Screen Rant's review metric


A Vikings player running from a Packers defender in Madden NFL 25

The highlights of Madden NFL 25 Are updated staff skills and the many options it has for customizing gameplay on and off the field. Despite their shortcomings, CrazyIts multiple game modes have enough to offer to keep players satisfied. That said, players who aren't interested in multiplayer probably won't feel the need to continue playing Madden NFL 25 For more than a few weeks.

Madden NFL 25 Really makes some improvements over Madden NFL 24. That said, It's hard to give the game a glowing review when it's not even the best football game EA Sports has released this summer. Anyone faithful enough to the Crazy Franchise to choose the new version every year will definitely be happy with Madden NFL 25But the game isn't a must-have by any metric.

Released

August 16, 2024

developer(s)

EA Tiburon

ESRB

Everyone