Madden NFL 25 review in progress: Here comes the BOOM

Madden NFL 25 review in progress: Here comes the BOOM

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I must admit that Madden NFL 25 has me feeling like a kid in a candy store all over again. The emphasis on hard-hitting action and realistic tackles brings a new level of immersion to the gameplay that I haven’t experienced since the good old days of Madden NFL ’98.


In Madden NFL 25, the focus is significantly on intense collisions or being subjected to them, which might seem intuitive given its sports background where massive athletes clash at high speeds. However, this year, there’s a noticeable heightened importance placed on physical interaction.

So far, my brief experience with the game has already shown noticeable visual enhancements compared to previous versions. I can’t wait to explore newly enhanced aspects such as the updated Franchise Mode, which seems to be a much-anticipated addition.

Hits hard

Madden NFL 25 review in progress: Here comes the BOOM

As a longtime Madden fan, I’ve been playing this game since the early days of the SNES and the Sega Genesis. Over the years, I’ve seen countless updates, improvements, and tweaks to the game, but this year feels different. This year’s Madden feels like a treasure trove of fan requests that have finally come to fruition. The new commentary teams, Kate Scott and Brock Huard, bring a fresh perspective to the soundscape I’ve grown accustomed to over the years, and their addition goes hand in hand with the updated broadcast packages. As someone who has spent countless hours playing this game, I can say that these changes breathe new life into the experience and make it feel more immersive than ever before. I’m excited to see what EA Sports has in store for us in future updates!

As a die-hard sports enthusiast, I can’t help but notice how signature animations bring a unique flavor to the playing field. However, it’s the thunderous tackles that truly take center stage this season. The roars from the crowd when I make those crucial stops are music to my ears!

In a groundbreaking move, EA is introducing a fresh BOOM physics model (yes, that’s its actual name), and this innovation significantly alters how tackle sequences and subsequent animations unfold. Fundamentally, it promotes more authentic tackles, encompassing instances where players prepare for impact before getting back up afterwards.

In action, EA claims it considers numerous variables to make interactions feel more authentic. For instance, smaller players might be pushed off the ball while running, or players may stumble over their teammates leading to a turnover, among other scenarios.

Madden NFL 25 review in progress: Here comes the BOOM

Changing your go-to passing strategies from familiar ones to less predictable ones introduces an element of uncertainty, but it never leaves you guessing whether you’ll successfully catch the pass or not. (Farewell to my unwavering faith in deep post plays)

To put it simply, the game now demands more precision from players as they have to be more cautious about their moves like the next dodge or spin. For instance, in one match, my player was subtly knocked off-balance by an opponent’s ball carrier at the last moment, which led to a slight loss of balance during what should have been a tackle, resulting in the opponent gaining a few extra yards.

In earlier Madden games, such features could occur spontaneously, but now they seem more intentional, as if controlling the element of surprise.

Human Chess

Madden NFL 25 review in progress: Here comes the BOOM

Discussing the aspect of being unforeseeable, you have the ability to mask your coverage plans now. This tactic might catch your opponents off balance, but it could also create confusion within your own team. On numerous occasions during testing, I accidentally left openings for opponents to exploit.

I can’t wait to jump right into the revamped Season Mode this coming weekend and watch how things unfold throughout the entire league season.

During the Draft Night, you’ll notice a live-updating board for easier tracking. The emphasis is on capturing the excitement of your player receiving “the call”, as well as more authentic improvements and decreases in their stats over time. Additionally, player scouting has been significantly enhanced, making drafting feel less like a risky guesswork.

Madden NFL 25 review in progress: Here comes the BOOM

I’m really looking forward to delving deeper into the game, as the engaging storylines within it are designed to maintain player satisfaction and progression. It’s exciting to note that EA Sports appears to have dedicated more resources to this feature, along with the Career Mode in EA FC 25 for this year. After what seemed like limited enhancements in recent years, I’m hopeful for significant improvements.

To be honest, this year, it’s Ultimate Team that seems less popular compared to others. I’m excited to give the new 6-on-6 Events a try, and I must admit, Solo Seasons have piqued my curiosity as well. In these modes, you compete with your Ultimate Team throughout an entire season against AI opponents, aiming to win the Super Bowl at the end. Plus, there are ranked divisions for added challenge.

Final Thoughts

In a while, I’ll return with a critically scored assessment, but these slight advancements might signal the beginning of Madden NFL awakening as a potential titan. Just like the Patriots, they’ve faced hard times recently, but there’s enough promising potential, even at this early stage, to hint at a resurgence.

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2024-08-16 18:13