Madden NFL 25 Impressions (PS4)

[guaps]

I got the game last night (European release date) and my first impression is that it is a decent game.

• True Step feels a little awkward, but it has potential. I'm looking forward to seeing it affect the whole team and not just one person on the field.
• War in the Trenches is a beginning. There is still a lot of warping and suctioning, but it's getting better. Double team run blocking is still way overpowered. I'm consistently getting between 10 and 15 yards per carry from my HBs running up the middle - this is on All Pro though.

After my first day with Madden on PS4 I'm cautiously optimistic about next year. and hope Madden '15 will be on par with APF 2k8.

[ashm89]

Picked this up yesterday (European release).

Really liking what's happening on the field. The pocket whilst not perfect is so much better on NG. Have had numerous QB's escape the rush either moving around, or even more impressively stepping into the pocket on the rush off the edge.

Oh, and as someone who goes to all the International Series games it's nice to see a true representation of Wembley in Madden now! Wish we could use it as a stadium to relocate too if you chose London though in a relocation, that would be really nice!

[N51_rob]

Does anyone, think that the 3-4 defense is at a disadvantage vs the run? I know that I mostly use the Redskins and that is probably part of the problem. Just wondering if any other user who run a 3-4 defense are having difficulties?

[The JareBear]

They really need to fix the "insta offense" plays. In CPU games, and even against users, screen and toss plays are basically zero risk, all reward. Toss is a little better in user games but screen is still borderline cheese. CPU controlled defenders, whether on user team or CPU team, just do not react at all realistically to it. You can have zero guys rushing and it still works. It's basically an "easy button." I don't run it against users unless a user runs it on me first, and even then I only match it one for one throughout the game. Toss isn't as big of a problem as it used to be but it's still a little overpowered.

I also think it's silly that the spread option stuff is harder to defend in this game than NCAA. The blocking in those plays is just super juiced and defenders still don't react well or shed blocks like normal. I know,about the pre-snap adjustments but they don't always even work as intended. I really hope EA has paid attention to what NFL Defenses have done to the read option this year and adjust moving forward. Just like the "wildcat" offense of years ago.

[N51_rob]

Only way I've been able to slow down the screen game, is to anticipate it being called, control the DE/OLB on what I assume is playside and rather than rush, peel off and get under the RB. Even if you control the LB who (in man) is covering the RB he can't get over there in time, and the CPU downfield blocks are "perfect" every time.

[guaps]

Quote: Originally Posted by N51_rob

Does anyone, think that the 3-4 defense is at a disadvantage vs the run? I know that I mostly use the Redskins and that is probably part of the problem. Just wondering if any other user who run a 3-4 defense are having difficulties?

I feel that all defences at a disadvantage against the run. It didn't work properly on current gen and it appears to be worse on next gen, IMO.

It appears that then new War in the Trenches is mostly a numbers game. Madden doesn't seem to account for whether you have a 350 lbs nose tackle or a 290 lbs defensive tackle lined up. This makes the 3-4 defence more or less useless in Madden as it is just reduced to 3 defensive linemen against 5 offensive linemen. Also double team blocking seem to be way too overpowered - this was also the case in CG Madden - and with a 3-4 defence you get more double teams.

What usually happens during double team run blocking is that offensive linemen warp to the DTs/DEs at the snap and almost immediately begin pushing them backward. You almost never see the defensive linemen standing their ground as you would in APF 2k8 and they are easily pushed 3-4 yards back. And when linebackers aren't controlling their gaps, you basically have no run defence.

Below is an example of what typically happens in Madden regardless of whether you play a 3-4 or 4-3 defence. Bare in mind that I've only had the game for two days, so my impressions are subject to change

[LBzrule]

Quote: Originally Posted by N51_rob

Only way I've been able to slow down the screen game, is to anticipate it being called, control the DE/OLB on what I assume is playside and rather than rush, peel off and get under the RB. Even if you control the LB who (in man) is covering the RB he can't get over there in time, and the CPU downfield blocks are "perfect" every time.

LOL yep and then when you try to run the screen the CPU blows it up every time by allowing the backer in man coverage to slip underneath all your blockers and hit the HB before he can turn up the field.

[LBzrule]

Quote: Originally Posted by guaps

I feel that all defences at a disadvantage against the run. It didn't work properly on current gen and it appears to be worse on next gen, IMO. It appears that then new War in the Trenches is mostly a numbers game. Madden doesn't seem to account for whether you have a 350 lbs nose tackle or a 290 lbs defensive tackle lined up. This makes the 3-4 defence more or less useless in Madden as it is just reduced to 3 defensive linemen against 5 offensive linemen. Also double team blocking seem to be way too overpowered - this was also the case in CG Madden - and with a 3-4 defence you get more double teams. What usually happens during double team run blocking is that offensive linemen warp to the DTs/DEs at the snap and almost immediately begin pushing them backward. You almost never see the defensive linemen standing their ground as you would in APF 2k8 and they are easily pushed 3-4 yards back. And when linebackers aren't controlling their gaps, you basically have no run defence. Below is an example of what typically happens in Madden regardless of whether you play a 3-4 or 4-3 defence. Bare in mind that I've only had the game for two days, so my impressions are subject to change

To be a little fair, it looks like based on the way that defense is aligned, your force player is on the right side of the screen. That's why Charles can get out there like that. The issue I have with it though is that the defensive call looks to be a blitz. You shouldn't have to blitz to have a force run support player. The game IMO is still off when it comes to those things on defense Force, Spiller, contain, PA boot player. That said, the game does have "gap control."

To remedy this until the game gets up to speed, I call a defense that is supposed to have a force player on one side, then I control a defender opposite that and if the runs is away from my original force player, I become the force player on the other side. In this play above, controlling the OLB away from the blitz or controlling the Safety up top and lining up over the LG 10 to 12 yards deep could have put you in position. I can't promise that open field tackling will be good though LOL