Madden 16: Rounding Up Latest Expert Reviews of Iconic Video Game
In past years, the early reviews for Madden games have been sketchy. That's not the case this year. The current Metacritic score for Madden 16 is a stellar 84. That makes the game the sixth-highest "current" title on the website.
Such a near-consensus approval rating is rare for Madden. While I've normally been more up than down on the series, many gamers have taken to bashing the game on a regular basis. We've all heard people say things such as "same old Madden" or "this is just a roster update."
Both of those statements would be false this year, as the gameplay has seen noticeable improvements and there is the inclusion of a new and addictive mode called Draft Champions. While the game is fun and fulfilling, it's not perfect. My score of 8.4 captures my feelings and experience with the game over the last two weeks.
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Here's a roundup of seven online reviews of the game. Take note of the predominantly high scores. Just below the table is a brief look at what some reviewers had to say about the game.
| PlayStation Lifestyle | Louis Edwards | 9 |
| Polygon | Owen S. Good | 9 |
| Game Informer | Matthew Kato | 8.75 |
| GameTrailers | unlisted | 8.8 |
| GameSpot | Miguel Concepcion | 8 |
| Hardcore Gamer | Steven Hannley | 4 out of 5 |
| Destructoid | Steven Hansen | 6.5 |
Louis Edwards of PlayStationLifeStyle.net
There are two scores of 9.0 on Metacritic for Madden 16, and one of them comes from Louis Edwards of PlayStationLifeStyle.net. Edwards is wildly impressed with various aspects of the game, but in this passage he gushes over the sharp visuals:
"EA took Madden NFL 15 and did quite a bit more than just add a roster update for Madden NFL 16. While the graphics for ’15 were already top notch, adding in a bunch of new HD scans improved on the appearances of just about every player in the game for ’16. This is a gorgeous game with lifelike animations for everything from diving for a touchdown to a spectacular catch.
"
There's no question that Madden 16 is one of the best-looking sports video games available. The face scans look amazing, and the improvements to the crowd make for a beautiful and lifelike virtual football environment.
Game Trailers
The review from Game Trailers isn't attributed to a specific person, but the score is an impressive 8.8, and Madden 16 is listed as an "editor's choice" on the website. The GT review talks a bit about the new Draft Champions mode. It makes an odd but valid comparison for the new feature:
"Draft Champion is a new mode reminiscent of The Arena in Hearthstone. The draft lasts fifteen rounds with players selecting one of three available players and assigning them positions in each round. After the draft, your team can be used against the computer or other players in a single elimination tournament of up to four games, earning coins or additional cards. The duration of each game is much shorter than regular play, which makes the mode a welcome change of pace.
"
Many Madden gamers may not be too familiar with the iconic Hearthstone, but if you've ever played The Arena in the game, you can draw the parallel. The best thing about Draft Champions is that unlike Madden Ultimate Team, you don't have to sink money and/or an inordinate amount of time into the mode to be competitive.
Everyone is on an even playing field, and the randomness of the draft keeps the experience fresh every time.
Steven Hansen of Destructoid
One of the few mediocre/negative reviews on the game comes from Steven Hansen of Destructoid. He admits early on that he isn't necessarily the most experienced Madden reviewer. In his intro, he writes, "This is only my fourth year (out of 27 releases) covering it and I fear I may have peaked with last year's review."
That level of experience with the game could be seen as a positive or a negative. Perhaps he's fresh enough to the game that he can judge it without the concessions that veterans may be programmed to allow, or maybe he isn't as hardcore of a football fan as most who will actually be playing the game.
In any case, Hansen had some interesting things to say about Madden 16. After he rails on the Super Bowl 50 intro featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals, Hansen unleashes more venom on the NFL's association with EA Sports and more:
"This is what Madden is, though. In past years I have creatively ripped on the series for aggressive advertisements of real world products, which this one seems to have toned down significantly (unless they're coming dynamically as updates post launch). But! But. Madden is an advertisement, a yearly advertisement for the NFL. From the start menu it encouraged me to share my information with the NFL, promising digital playing cards as a reward. This is what it means to have exclusivity rights to the only meaningful football league (because no one internationally gives a s***), the commodification of players.
"
Well then. These points are definitely noteworthy, but it doesn't really hit on the parts of the game that—dare I say—most gamers will be interested in reading about.
Every reviewer is different and has his or her own preferences. This is why it's good to read more than one before making up your mind on a purchase.
If you're looking for my opinion, which you most likely are, Madden 16 is a must-have for your yearly sports video game dollar. It's worth your hard-earned dough—if you really love football.
Other review links from the table:
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