EA Sports hasn’t really matched the NBA 2K series for dramatic prowess, but the mode is a nice distraction for those who enjoy single-player gameplay, and moves along briskly, if not forgettably. Likewise, the simpler, more-focused story in Face of the Franchise eliminates a lot of the silliness (and horrific acting) of previous editions. Now, gamers can realistically manage their franchises without spending hours in menu trees and getting these dream teams on the field is much easier, making a true dynasty a realistic option for the average player. Otherwise, the venerable Franchise mode has been streamlined and sped-up, eliminating a lot of the office minutiae that mired down previous versions. Beyond the standard Play Now, the slightly improved (but still arcadey) KO and Yard modes, and the exhaustive Face of the Franchise story mode, not much has changed. Under the hood, not much has changed in terms of features or modes. In short, gamers who enjoy spamming those cross patterns are about to fall in love with Madden all over again. This was a highlight of Madden ‘21 and it’s disappointing that the challenge no longer scales appropriately. On a negative note, last year’s improved AI seems to have set sail for next-gen machines, leaving Xbox One owners with a computer opponent that rarely learns from human error.
Plus, the “pre-canned” feel of the juke animations is largely gone in Madden ‘22, resolving a concern players have had for several editions. The number of onscreen animations is impressive, with tearing and clipping kept to a minimum, even when employing last-second misdirections and dives. Last year’s improvements to controls and Skill Stick nuances carry over to this edition with snappier response, even during chaotic pileups at mid-field. Gaming is certainly beginning to see diminished returns in graphical quality from generation to generation, and while Madden ‘22 on XBO might not be the belle of the ball, will anyone really notice in the middle of an intense scramble away from aggressive defense? But on the field, where it counts, Madden still looks an awful lot like Sunday afternoon broadcasts. No, users aren’t going to love the player faces, and the Create-a-Player is less feature-rich than desired. Player models are more realistically proportioned, and on-field graphical glitches have been smoothed out more than expected. There might not be a 4K sheen on the Xbox One version of Madden NFL ‘22, but that doesn’t mean this edition is one to sneeze at. They’re mostly cosmetic, but the effort is noticeable and appreciated. Maybe it isn’t a “must-buy” in the truest sense (and that Tom Brady fanservice in the opening might deter even more buyers!) but EA Sports seemed to heed reviewers’ advice and made some upgrades for the current season. Fortunately, Madden NFL ‘22 does just enough to justify its existence on older consoles.
#MADDEN NFL 21 PS5 REVIEW UPDATE#
They are not alone.Īt the end of GameCritics’ review of Madden NFL ‘21, it was made clear that the series needed a next-gen update to maintain relevance.
This review is for the patient masses who tirelessly check Twitter for stock updates. Similarly, I would imagine it’s likely that many of our readers may find themselves in a similar predicament. Though every effort was made to secure a Series X prior to Madden‘s release, there wasn’t one to be found.
WTF Madden Ultimate Team is the ultimate wallet drain.īefore this review officially starts, readers should note that this is covering the Xbox One version of Madden NFL ‘22.