There was a time when the NCAA Football video game was the basis for the eventual release of the latest Madden football game, and if there was anything new to offer in the college game, it was clear that EA Sports would make Madden just as impactful as the NFL game.
Since the return of College Football 25 last month, I’ve become more interested in the Madden series than I have in years. Having played Madden habitually for the past decade, I wasn’t expecting much change. College Football 25 far exceeded my expectations, and it made me want to play Madden NFL 25 for longer.
Going deeper
EA Sports College Football 25 official review: It lived up to our expectations
One feature that was fun back in the day was the ability to import rosters from college games and draft them in Madden. While that feature hasn’t returned yet, you can add players from Road to Glory to Superstar mode and continue developing them in Madden NFL 25.
Despite knowing that, I was cautiously optimistic that the game would live up to expectations: in recent years, aside from the updated roster, new editions haven’t felt all that new.
Madden 25 plays differently than last year’s version and feels like a new game, the graphics are great and the overall presentation on screen is excellent.
Even if you were disappointed with the series, there’ll be enough here to rekindle your interest, and Madden die-hards who return season after season will also find plenty to satisfy.
Gameplay
Madden captivated me with its attention to detail. In fact, the hit stick feature for defense and offense has a more logical element to it. You can see the difference when a player like Derrick Henry lowers his shoulder and how he accepts contact with a defender instead of simply diving towards the ball carrier and collapsing. EA Sports says this is part of their FieldSENSE technology, which introduces physics-based tackling and other features to make the game more realistic.
FieldSENSE technology makes Derrick Henry’s runs look more realistic. (Screenshots courtesy of EA Sports)
Each player has their own characteristics. Christian McCaffrey doesn’t run like Henry, but he doesn’t run like Saquon Barkley either. Davante Adams’ run after the catch doesn’t look like Deebo Samuel’s. The adjustments to how he shifts and juggles in the open field are also nice additions. Plus, he can now make different types of catches. He can now make one-handed catches.
Linemen also get into their stances differently, and it’s time for the game to stop treating them all the same. We’ve added more detail on pass protection and whether a defensive lineman will be unblocked on a play.
I played with a few teams to get a feel for the playbook. Some plays seem universal, like the inside run out of the shotgun, but there are a lot of nuances. Lamar Jackson’s planned runs were fun. The 49ers offense has McCaffrey moving all over the field in pre-snap motion.
Pre-snap adjustments also apply to wide receivers. Smart routes can be customized. Five-yard outs become ten-yard outs when called upon. Running, passing and catching mechanics have been improved across the board.
There wasn’t a lot of variety in the defensive calls, but the tackles were solid, so don’t expect to take him down just because you get close to the quarterback.
If you’re wondering who will be doing commentary while you play, Madden NFL 25 has options. While nothing can replace the nostalgia of having John Madden and Pat Summerall in the game, the team of Brandon Gaudin and Charles Davis is good enough. Madden has added other duos to call the games: Mike Tirico has paired with Greg Olsen and Kate Scott with Brock Hurd.
To me, the kicking in these games has always been weird, and there was something odd about it this year. But that might just be me. Mike Tomlin already cost me a loss by freezing my kicker in overtime. After the timeout, the perspective and mechanics of the kicking became more difficult, as they have been in the game for a while. But to me, things just seemed even trickier.
Franchise Mode
This is why I love Madden. This is my yearly attempt to make the Las Vegas Raiders Super Bowl champions. (Stop laughing.) I simulate it through the preseason, because no one should have to deal with the preseason unnecessarily.
All of the features I love are back — it’s always good to be able to improve your players during the season — and now you can hire and fire scouts, each with a primary and secondary focus — I quickly hired a scout who specialized in quarterbacks and fired one who specialized in the defensive line.
These scouts will be watching their “favorite” prospects throughout the season in preparation for next year’s NFL Draft, and it’s a fun new way to cover that part of the game.
You can even fire your offensive coordinator or defensive coordinator. You can improve the abilities of your coaches and coordinators to improve your play or work on improving your player personnel department. If you’re interested in everything behind the scenes, the game has all the details you need.
“Storylines” include team meetings, players bringing up issues for the head coach, press conferences covering topics such as rookie expectations, etc. Answering well in a press conference can boost a player’s rating. Highlighting a player who needs to play better will also impact that player’s rating.
There’s a lot going on…but it’s fun.
Superstar Mode
This was never my favorite game mode. I usually focus all my energy on competitive simulations, but once I got over the struggle of trying to master the combine tests, I found it fun to give it a try. Although I was bad at the combine tests, I did well on the combine questions, which improved my draft status. The running back I created was drafted in the second round by the Carolina Panthers.
The gameplay of this game was enjoyable, and the Superstar mode has enough to keep me intrigued and I would love to play more.
Conclusion
I’m always excited when a new Madden releases – it’s been the highlight of August, and coupled with the return of College Football 25, this edition is even better.
There are some nitpicks to be made: I found it hard to get off blocks as a pass rusher at times, even with the best defenders, but it didn’t detract from the overall play of the game.
As long as we continue to see more realistic player movements and the fun additions that the story mode offers, Madden is set to remain a highlight of the upcoming NFL season.
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(Top photos of Deebo Samuel and Saquon Barkley: Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images, Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
