Madden NFL 19 - Xbox One [Digital]

I only play Franchise so that's what I'll be focusing on. I honestly can't think of too many positive aspects about the game this year. Maybe something will come up after the negatives. Probably not though. The first thing that sucks (in no particular order) are the amount of sacks the offensive line gives up. I get sacked at least 6-8 times each game. I used to run play-action but I got sacked a lot, so I stopped. So that should tell you that I used to get sacked way more than 6-8 times each game. Running the ball is quite a challenge as well. If you're within arms reach of a defender, who is being blocked, your blocker pretty much just lets him go so you can be tackled. Physics are unreal as well. There's nothing more infuriating than to be racing for the goal line only to get tackled from the side and then you just drop backwards. Wait, nevermind. I take that back. I just remembered the time where I juked two guys with one move. It was beautiful. Until it wasn't. Both guys ran right past me. But then the second guy, who was running to my right when I juked left, magically turned around without even stopping and tackled me. Where's the momentum?? Pass deflections and amazing interceptions are way too common. Madden has always found a way to have three defenders converge on a deep ball, but this year it seems worse than it has ever been. I had a WR run an out route. I watched him make his cut and create good separation from the defender. I threw the ball to his outside shoulder, away from the defender who got beat, and then you probably know what happened next. Yeah. The defender recovered, and jumped in front of the pass to deflect it. He didn't even dive. He just did a normal jump forward and stuck his arm out. Then you have LBs who have eyes in the back of their helmets because they turn around and deflect passes like no one's business. They probably have as many deflections as the DBs. On deep balls, you'll see DBs, who are trailing by 3-4 steps, make diving INTs in front of your WR who makes no such effort to catch the ball. On this topic, I've also noticed that at lot of the elite WRs have only 88-90 speed. On the defensive side of the ball, there are way more non-elite DBs with 90-93 speed and LBs with 85 speed. So it's already unfair in the speed department. When you're drafting, it appears EA has taken away the ability to see who was drafted prior to your pick. In Madden 18 and earlier, you could easily go back and see which team drafted a particular player. If there's a way to do that this year, I haven't found it. There's more negative stuff I could write but this review is long already. I had to give this game a two because it's at the point where I don't even want to play it. I want to play football but this game is a mess.

I've been a Madden player for years, ever since Eddie George was on the cover! Every year, there's an element of disbelief. Those "yeah, right" moments, I like to call them. But this year, it's either physically full of glitches, or those "yeah right" moments are simply over-the-top. Examples of such instances are opposing RB's being able to hurdle the entire OLine, DB's coming from a full-on blitz, to being able to intercept your pass on a simple "GO-route." My favorite...and yes, this actually happened...having a player that was not even in the play, much less ON THE FIELD, get injured on the play. I kid you not...I ran a standard 2TE, 2WR, 1RB formation/play on the 1st play from scrimmage in a game as DAL. Obviously Elliott is their RB. After the play, there's a timeout for injury to Tavon Austin...who was NOT ON THE FIELD!! How is that possible? I sincerely wish EA would simply just have it to where you can keep a game of your choosing...for instance Madden 18, which I loved...and simply charge a fee to upgrade/update your rosters...which let's face it, that's all the new Madden is every year anyways. But I feel with each year, they also make frustrating & stupid "updates" that do nothing really for the overall gameplay. If I could somehow get updated 2018/19 rosters for the Madden 18 video game, I'd never have purchased this version of the game.

Like tons, I have been a Madden player for decades. Like fewer, I only play in Franchise Mode, generally offline. Hence generally speaking to Franchise Mode. EA slowly improved FRANCHISE mode -- this season is the same, touch-ups mostly, as at the core it still is the same and lacks in handling of player contracts, namely no 1st rounder 5 year extensions, tenders, still the really DUMB system that spreads resigns out over the coarse of the REGULAR season, no contract restructuring, no restricted FA handling AT ALL. The only recourse is the player editor allows you just deal with it, but that really sucks. On the good side, the NEW Draft Class Editor... that is very cool if that your thing. I see it was a way to allow users to overcome flaws in the game draft-class degradation that effected previous titles... so OK, new editor, uses have at it! Overall the same is very good. Great if you are NEW to Madden. Like always, some bugs to be worked out. Game play is fun! I stopped upgrading ever year -- not enough value --so this is a two-year upgrade for me. I appreciate many of the new features with the new engine from last year, but still mostly tweaks/fixes functionally speaking, Hence I would be nearly as content had I waited another year. What NEW do I get out of Franchise Mode --basically an editor. Overall, if are new to MADDEN, is a 5-start game (bugs aside). If you are long-timer, it's a cool and all. As a Steeler fan, had to get it with AB on the cover!

Madden has dominated the sports gaming community for so long, and their monopoly is holding back from innovating the game. Commentary before, during, and at half time are terrible and repetitive. Games out of the 2K studio have proven that sport games can have amazing, random, and engaging commentary. They are the gold standard. A lot of features have either been lowered to a very low standard, or taken completely out. Franchise mode fades and becomes extremely reparative within a few hours of playing, and Madden Untimate Team (MUT) is nearly distorted by pay to win gaming. The UI is a confusing mess; this is especially true in MUT. Gameplay itself has not improved or changed in 4 years, and graphics are below standard. Loading times have improved however, so waiting for games to start and menus to load saw a significant improvement. This is the best feature of Madden 19 Overall, I think EA Sports needs to look back at Madden 06 and bring back the amazing Superstar mode, and also take note that the game has only changed in aesthetics since. I would skip this iteration of Madden, and spend your money on a more developed game.

As someone who gets this game every year, I really like some of the changes they've made to this year's version. I play a ton of franchise mode (less some of the other modes, such as Ultimate Team), and they really updated Franchise nicely with Scheme Fits, new positions under depth chart, and upgrading players. I haven't played through multiple seasons yet, but can tell that it will be really enjoyable to build multiple teams. The gameplay is solid, I like that they brought back touchdown and sack celebrations, but still working through some of the individual sliders; I highly recommend changing user and CPU sliders to get a more realistic game (for instance, on default settings running the ball can be a bit ridiculous). The commentary still needs some updating; I like the announcers, and the addition of the Coach for pregame and halftime was a neat touch, but too much repeated lines and commentary that doesn't sink up with what's going down on the field (ex., talking about making a great catch in the Super Bowl as if it's being played, but it's only Week 2). Still, I would definitely recommend getting this game overall. I like the graphical enhancements of the Xbox One X addition especially :)

Pretty run of the mill Madden experience. If you like previous version of Madden you'll like this. If previous versions of Madden left you wanting more, this likely will too. The run controls have been changed, otherwise controls are fairly similar to previous versions. I don't do all of the MUT junk and I know that's the appeal for a lot of people, so you may enjoy this version more than I do. The whole thing has a new menu setup, which makes it feel fresh as compared to previous years. Still suffers from some bugginess in gameplay at times (threw a bullet pass on a out route immediately into his break and receiver kept running out of bounds despite plenty of room to turn up field). There are new offensive and defensive schemes and additional depth chart positions, which is a nice bonus. The visuals are mostly improved over previous years, still some odd ugliness here and there. The commentary is stale since most of it is exactly the same as Madden 18. Overall, not bad, not great, about what you'd expect at this point.

Still need to wait for the first two, three patches to really get a feel for the game. So far my complaint is the same as it is every year with Madden: There's no difference between the best and worst teams when playing on the all-madden skill level. I'm a big fan of sports games, and love the franchise modes in each more than anything. When I play NBA 2k, and match up against, say the Celtics, while controlling a lesser team like the Knicks, I struggle. Even when I build my team up, it's a challenge when you play the league's best teams. When I play lesser teams like the Nets, I beat up on them. You can tell the difference between the best and the worst. I still don't get that feeling with madden. The same dinking & dunking the Browns drive the field with is exactly how the Patriots run their offense. Disappointing. But this is the only NFL game on the market. So I, and everyone else, will still pay & play.

People always complain about Madden but I have no complaints. it is the people exploiting the game! Been playing competitive madden for years and enjoy this game. The graphics are great and MUT is solid. If your someone who doesn't want to spend money in MUT play draft champions or play the salary cap mode. The only complaint I have is people playing safeties and linebackers. Fast people running all over the field and it doesn't seem they get penalized against the run. They should make weight more of a factor so these safeties a LB get blown up in the hole against the run and cant shed blocks left and right to guys who weigh 100 + then them. Overall, Madden has always been my go to video game and basically the only game I play almost year around.