There’s no doubting the success of Madden NFL, it’s one of EA Sports biggest sellers and a lucrative franchise with a loyal global fanbase. The game offers the most realistic and authentic football experience around, with fans who bet on real games and follow the latest NFL odds, often playing out games to help them inform their betting choices, such is the games attention to detail.
EA Sports Madden 24 is the latest instalment in the long-running football simulation franchise that aims to deliver the most realistic and immersive NFL game ever. However, despite its many impressive features, the game has also received plenty of criticism from fans and critics alike.
What’s new:
As with every incarnation of Madden, EA Sports have added plenty of new features to this year’s version in order to persuade gamers to part with their hard-earned cash. This year’s headlines are:
- FieldSENSE
There’s new contested-catch tackle types, wraps, and scoops for more control and a wider variety of player options on defense. Pass receiving is now smoother and the catching system has received a complete overhaul.
- Sapien Technology
A new performance skeleton has been created to improve animation levels and graphic fluidity, making the on-field action even more realistic. EA claims this new character technology “transforms the way players look and move with realistically redesigned player models and smoother animations.”
- AI
The AI has been improved to give players better AI across offense, defense, and blocking.
- Cross-play
Players on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, can now connect up and enjoy cross-play.
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So, with all these new game updates in mind, what are the pros and cons of Madden 24:
Pros:
- The game is visually stunning, as you’d expect, with lifelike player models, animations and impressive stadiums. The lighting shadows and weather effects add to the realism and atmosphere of every match.
- Better physics, collisions and ball trajectories enhance the games realism. Players now react to the game environment and each other in a far more natural way than previously. Injury and fatigue are also more realistic and relevant.
- Better AI playbooks and strategies mean the game better adapts to your style and skill level, offering several modes and challenges to suit your preferences.
- New career mode lets you create your own custom player and go from college football all the way to the NFL and the Super Bowl.
Cons:
- Unfortunately, the game is full of bugs and glitches that ruin the entire experience. Constant crashes and screen freeze, as well as load failures, all add up to a frustrating experience.
- Innovation and originality are severely lacking. Madden 24 feels like an over tweaked version of previous years offerings.
- Lack of new features and modes make it hard to justify handing over your hard-earned cash.
- The game is over reliant on microtransactions and loot boxes that tilt the odds in favor of those who are prepared to pay to win.
- An uninspiring career mode fails to capture any of the drama or passion that comes from playing in the NFL.
Verdict: Incredible realism but…
There’s no doubt EA have put a lot of work into Madden 24 and tried to build on previous successes, but the constant drive for new and improved technology seems to have come at the expense of basic gameplay experience.
Madden 24 is undoubtedly the most realistic NFL game ever made in terms of graphics and physics. However, realism does not always translate to fun or quality, and this game is guilty of sacrificing the gameplay experience for the sake of realism.
The game is also way more difficult and frustrating to play than previous years incarnations, requiring more skill and patience to master than ever before. The game is also more repetitive and does not offer enough variety or creativity in its modes and features to make you want to keep coming back to the huddle.
Future of the Franchise
Overall, Madden 24 is a mixed bag that has both impressed and disappointed fans and critics alike. The game has shown that it can deliver a realistic and immersive NFL experience, but it has also shown that it can be buggy, boring, and yes, unoriginal. There’s potential to be great here, but it needs a lot of work before we get to that point.
The future of the franchise depends on how EA Sports listens to the feedback and responds to the issues. If they can fix the bugs, add more content, and introduce new features that make the game more fun and engaging, then Madden 24 could be a turning point for the franchise. However, if they ignore the problems, recycle the same formula, and focus on making money rather than making quality games, then Madden 24 could be its downfall.
