Madden NFL 25 review: Yes, it’s a Madden game

EA Sports Madden NFL 25 It feels like it had the potential to become a game that will forever remain in the history of sports games, but missed out. NBA 2K11 and FIFA 13It should have been released in 2018. Instead, it was released with a slightly improved Madden 24It’s crammed with a ton of extra content that gets in the way of the game itself.

To be fair, I haven’t seriously played a game of Madden since 2017, so my perspective on the yearly updates may be limited. Madden NFL 25 I gave it a go with an early access code from EA Sports, and was amazed at how well it captured the essence of what I’ve always wanted from a Madden game: the interface is clean, the soundtrack is vibrant, the Franchise mode has enough depth to keep me coming back for more, and the gameplay strikes a balance between authenticity and smoothness.

For those who have been away from the series, it’s a breath of fresh air and a showcase of how far the series has come, but for those who have been following it for years, Madden 25 It feels like the same old stuff with just a few improvements. Is it worth the $70 price tag? Look for a PS2. NFL 2K5 At a fraction of the cost.

I’ve spent over 10 hours playing the game’s various modes, and what I got was the same as every Madden game I’ve ever played: a good game, for sure, but it could have been better.

Madden 25 Gameplay

FUCK THE PACKERS
Credit: EA Sports / EA Orlando

Gameplay of the Year Madden It’s the culmination of EA Orlando’s work with the Frostbite engine to deliver a more polished experience. College Football 25focuses on fast and flashy gameplay. Madden 25 It employs a more intelligent, deliberate pacing that captures the essence of professional gaming, and it really feels like EA Orlando has nailed the animations in the Frostbite engine.

Most of the changes are Madden 25 This year we will be focusing on improving and polishing gameplay. Madden 24It includes some important updates that improve your overall experience.

First, you’ll notice new solo tackle animations, more dynamic 50/50 ball interactions, and improved blocking mechanics. The pass protection menu now lets you see exactly who is being blocked on a pass play, and you also have the option to use a half-slide line blocking technique, allowing for a more nuanced protection scheme. Timing has become more important when using the hit stick to make a tackle. Tight ends are now significantly harder to take down, and cornerbacks are now nearly impossible to land a hit stick on. However, the new “Boom Tech” feature, while a promising attempt to add more natural-looking collision animations, does result in some glitchy interactions that need to be patched.

Statistical graphics are displayed frequently during the game, enhancing the immersion. The introduction of custom route stems CFB 25This allows for more personalized and strategic route running.

Madden 25 Madden achieves a lot with its gameplay, but authenticity may not be one of them. The commentary in particular is hollow and lacks the soul and richness of context that elevates a sports game. What most sports titles, and Madden is no exception to, are missing is the casual, conversational tone that brings depth to the commentary. There’s a distinct lack of external discourse and emotion that reflects the intensity of an actual football game (which, let’s be honest, can sometimes be a bloody sport in itself).

It’s a minor gripe, but the commentary doesn’t offer up any unique or memorable calls during gameplay. Sure, we’re reminded that C.J. Stroud had a great rookie year, but where’s the excitement in hearing how amazing it was for Lions WR Jameson Williams to score three touchdowns and gain over 200 yards a few years after a torn ACL and gambling suspension? Stories like that would make the commentary feel more alive and connected to the deeper story of the game.

Ultimately, Madden’s gameplay is great this year, but it’s missing a bit of the intangible soul that makes it truly special.

Madden 25 Superstar Mode

Welcome to the league, mini-me.
Credit: EA Sports / EA Orlando

Immediately after startup MaddenI launched the game’s Superstar mode. College Football 25 The game takes players out of the game’s “Road to Glory” mode and Madden.

Superstar mode has a little less content, CFB 25its first moments are at least a bit more immersive. The College game asks you to choose a star rating and answer a few basic questions about your ideal playing environment, but Madden takes a more hands-on approach, putting you through the paces of the NFL Draft Combine, doing the 40-yard dash, bench press, long jump and even shuttle cone drills. These mini-games might feel like a bit of a chore, but they add to the immersion and give you the feeling that you’re actively shaping a player’s draft stock. Performing well in mini-games improves certain attributes, like agility and speed.

But that immersion quickly wears off, and you run into the usual pitfalls of any “become a star” mode: after you’ve been drafted, you fall into a cycle of playing game after game over and over again until you’ve either completed all of your objectives or you tire of the drudgery and decide to quit. The initial excitement gives way to monotony, making it difficult to stay engaged for long periods of time.

The pacing of this mode has slowed dramatically since EA Sports introduced random cutscenes that trigger challenges or temporary attribute boosts in the next game. For example, a coach might call you up and ask whether you want to focus more on short or medium passing this week. You make a choice, and the game sets up a related challenge. It’s a creative idea, but it breaks up the flow between games and makes the experience feel disjointed.

Not a great coach.
Credit: EA Sports / EA Orlando

That’s not the only problem: the AI ​​in this mode is baffling, to say the least. The game promises that your performance at the draft combine will influence which quarterback-in-need team selects you, but I still chose the Atlanta Falcons. In fact, the Falcons recently spent a ton of money on former Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​($180 million over four years) and then drafted another quarterback with a top-10 pick just a few weeks later.

To make matters worse, because Superstar mode uses the most up-to-date roster, the Falcons have three quarterbacks in their depth roster. The solution is to trade Cousins ​​to the Los Angeles Rams, who already have Super Bowl-winning QB Matthew Stafford in their starting lineup. It’s a bizarre, almost laughable outcome that highlights the mode’s flaws and ruins whatever immersion remains.

Madden 25 Franchise Mode

Credit: Who are you hoping to make the roster this year?

in Madden 24Franchise mode has introduced several authentic improvements that make for a fun year-round experience. Madden 25However, I had a slightly different impression.

The draft presentation has been completely overhauled in Madden 25. There is now a large board that displays all the teams in the round and each team’s picks, with each pick announced by Roger Goodell. You’ll also see the drafted player come up on stage and hold up their team’s jersey. If they’re not in attendance at the draft, you’ll even see them take a call at home. After the picks are made, the game provides details on the actual draft position and provides context and analysis on the picks.

But scouting remains unchanged from last year, aside from a new look for the prospect board. You can still sort players by physical attribute grades, combine numbers, and pro day results. But unfortunately, these changes are a big disappointment. The scouting and draft sequence is painfully slow, and trying to skip it just hits a glitch that slows the process down even more.

meanwhile Madden 25 It brings an interesting visual update to the draft process and maintains a solid scouting structure. twenty fourBut these additions are ultimately undermined by slow, shaky execution and frustrating morale management. For example, I was prompted to mention the possible battle for the RB1 position between rookies Sione Vaki, 68th overall, and Jahmyr Gibbs, 84th overall. Obviously, that wasn’t going to happen when I said the team’s overall morale dropped by -10. As a result, some players’ overall ratings seem to have dropped by 1 or 2 points for the entire season.

It feels like a step backwards to be penalized for making logical decisions in Franchise mode or saying the wrong thing during a press conference or while dealing with a loudmouth player. I want a fascinating and deep Franchise mode, and I’m sure my younger self would have loved this, but it all just feels superfluous to me now.

teeth Is Madden 25 worth it?

Madden 25 It’s a mix of good and bad: On the one hand, the gameplay is better than ever, with smoother animations, more intuitive passing mechanics, and updated features like “Boom Tech” that add a realism to tackling. The pacing feels more thoughtful than its flashier predecessor. College Football 25and for some, it’s a welcome change. But while Madden gets the on-field action right, it fails in other areas.

Franchise mode, which saw some real improvement last year, feels like a step back. Madden 25The revamped draft presentation and scouting system, while visually entertaining, is bogged down in slow execution and glitches, and the morale system is downright frustrating, with illogical decisions severely lowering the morale of an entire team and potentially ruining your entire season, plus the game’s reliance on playbook logic to determine player performance still creates bizarre and unrealistic scenarios that ruin the immersion of the simulated season.

If you’re purely looking for improved gameplay mechanics, Madden 25 It lives up to what you’d expect. But if you prioritize the franchise mode or overall experience, you might be disappointed by the game’s shortcomings. It’s a good game on the surface, but it lacks the soul and polish to make it truly great. Depending on what you value in a soccer simulation, it may or may not be worth the upgrade. Madden 24.