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Madden NFL 15 Review for Xbox 360

Madden NFL 15 Review for Xbox 360

Football Season Is Upon Us Again

I absolutely love it when a new Madden game comes out. It signals two very distinct things I care about. One, it means that football season is about to start (no, I don’t care about the pre-season). Two, the most exciting part of the gaming industry year is about to begin. Madden has been the one game that gamers can count on to kick off the usual explosion of gaming titles we’ve been clamoring for all year long.

There’s another tradition more than a fair share of Madden players do every year. They weigh on whether this year’s title is better than last year’s. They debate for a few weeks as to whether or not the new entry into the mega-franchise is worth the pick up. Some wait until the following year, some buy, and then on very seldom instances, some will wait until Madden has “been updated enough.” While last year’s entry was an impressive one for the next-gen, and should mean by the above logic, that it is ok to skip this one, but I can’t agree. Simply put, Madden NFL 15 is something you don’t want to miss.

The best thing about the Madden franchise to me is the familiarity. There’s never been a Madden title that made me feel like I had no idea what was going on. It’s one of the main reasons Madden has been such a long standing sports game. People like familiarity and Madden NFL 15 soars above expectations in trying to keep this tradition going. For example, Skills Trainer.

Skills Trainer is designed to ease players into the gameplay mechanics. Teaching them the essentials as well as helping them grow their own personal play-style for the inevitable online matches they will be dominating. In Skills Trainer, players get the chance to explore some of the in-game functions they may never have known how to fully control, e.g. Acceleration Burst and Total Control Passing. Admittedly, I always assumed I was using these things effectively but going through the Skills Training allowed me to better hone those abilities. In addition to these things though you will also learn how to read the field, have a better understanding of exactly what Cover 2 means, and discover the right moment to pass the ball versus tucking and running.

Madden NFL 15 Screenshot

You also have the Gauntlet. If you have ever wanted to play Madden with Boss battles this is where you need to be. In the Gauntlet you have 40 increasingly difficult levels to plow through. Every fifth level you have a Boss battle, not your standard boss battle but you’ll get the idea when facing slightly more difficult stages and CPU players. You also start out with five lives. Spend them and it’s game over in the Gauntlet for you, well until next time you load it up. To me this was an interesting way to allow players to continue honing their skills while adding an element of fun to the game.

But what about the actual game? How is this year’s different than last year’s and all the year’s before? The best thing I can say about this year’s Madden is that it is all about the “D”. While it’s been long standing that Madden continuously refines the offensive line with each entry, the defensive line has always seemed a little less shiny. Sure we were able to pick our play to the best of defensive abilities, but it almost always felt like that once that selection was made; you were taken out of the game to see what happened. I know, you were able to control the defensive line, but more often than not (by even seasoned Madden players) it felt like you were button mashing until your next play.

Madden NFL 15 Screenshot

Disrupting the Line is one of my new favorite aspects of the defensive line. You can shed the blocks with power and finesse moves that have been added to the thumb stick as you play. If done correctly, players will see prompts appear over their player’s head. Pressing them when prompted will allow you to get into the backfield and truly disrupt the quarterback’s calm. It’s always a rush of excitement when you tackle a quarterback. Even more exciting when you get the feeling the CPU quarterback is now afraid of your defensive line.

One other big change that I enjoyed is the cone of execution the player will have as they approach a target. The cone gives you more precise control of how effective your tackle is going to be. For example the darker the area of the cone the stronger your chance is for a tackle. You also now have the ability to prepare your tackle before it happens. This ultimately allows you to smear the field with your target as you parade around slamming your fists into your chest (in the game of course).

There are a few other nuggets of Madden NFL 15 that I am sure you will love, but I don’t want to spoil anything because there are a few new additions I love and am glad were not spoiled for me. Trust me though, they are very solid additions to the franchise and I can’t wait to see how they refine them with each future installment. Okay, fine, I will share about one other. Remember how I said it was all about the “D” this year? Well this next small feature truly acknowledges that.

Now when playing defense you will have the option to rotate the camera so it is behind the defense. No more will you have to try and judge the play based off just the line of scrimmage. Now you will be able to see how the opponents are moving and make necessary adjustments to your play style as needed. Such a small adjustment has truly changed the way gamers will experience Madden for years to come.

Madden NFL 15 Screenshot

With the new additions, you would think that the control mechanics we’ve come to love would be hindered. In actuality, the controls are some of the strongest I have ever experienced in a Madden title. There are a few “button-mashing” scenarios, but this could just be my own way of playing the game. I like to mash things, so that might be why I appreciate the tweaks to the defensive gameplay. Now if I could just figure out how to get Hulk as a playable defensive lineman, my Madden experience would be complete.

Graphically, what can I say? It’s beautiful. The stadiums have always looked great, the crowds in the seats have personality (while not at crazed fan levels), players move fluidly on and off the field (with the traditional Madden exceptions), and the weather effects are wonderfully captured. Complimenting the graphics are the authentic gridiron sounds. Sure, the announcers tend to talk too much, but they do at actual football games too. Regardless, the voice work is solid and authentic. This has always been one of the more accurate aspects of the Madden titles. This is no exception to what has become standard for the franchise.

So that time of year has come–new games, new FOOTBALL!!! Ultimate decision time. Madden NFL 15 could be skipped, but you’d really dislike yourself if you missed out on all the good this year’s installment brings. So stop debating, stop delaying, stop procrastinating and get your copy–you’ll be glad you did. See you on the field!

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.5 Graphics
This is one of the best-looking Madden titles I have played. 4.5 Control
While there has been some refinement to the controls, there’s still room for a lot of improvement. 3.5 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Love it or hate it–it’s Madden. 5.0 Play Value
Once again, it’s Madden and everyone’s experience with Madden is different. 4.3 Overall Rating – Great
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 – 1.9 = Avoid 2.5 – 2.9 = Average 3.5 – 3.9 = Good 4.5 – 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 – 2.4 = Poor 3.0 – 3.4 = Fair 4.0 – 4.4 = Great 5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

  • See defense through a whole new lens with all-new camera angles that let you attack the play from the defensive’s perspective. Lock in on a single defender and go for the big play or follow the action wherever the ball goes.
  • Utilize a new set of pass rush tools to beat your blocker and disrupt the backfield. New mechanics to jump the snap, shed blocks and steer offensive linemen put your in control and make defensive linemen more powerful and versatile than ever.
  • Broadcast and NFL Films–inspired presentation redefines the way games are presented. New cameras capture the emotion of every play from fresh new perspectives, and choose from 6 gameplay cameras pre-snap to get the best view of the action.
  • The new pre-game and halftime shows, complete with studio commentary, tell the story of the game, with special emphasis on game-changing matchups and big play highlights.
  • A revolutionary recommendation engine utilizes data from millions of online games to surface the best selection of plays possible for the match-up and situation. Sort from traditional sets and formations, to expert recommendations, to what’s working the best in the Madden NFL community.
  • Skills Trainer has been expanded to teach not only gameplay skills, but strategy and football concepts as well. Learn how to read zone defenses, when to hot route a receiver, and more with nearly 50 new tutorials and drills. Once you’ve mastered the basics, enter The Gauntlet where your skills will be put to the ultimate test through intense challenges and boss battles.

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