Madden 17: Top Reviews and Scores from Around the Web

The release of Madden 17 not only gives fans a new set of rosters to enjoy, there are enough upgrades across the game to have critics excited for the latest version.

While it seems most sports and video game fans can't wait for the point of the summer when the latest NFL game is released, there are often complaints about a lack of improvement from one year to the next. Without major competition, it's easy for developers to get complacent about the state of the game.

However, Madden 17 provided the necessary changes to keep players excited about the upcoming year of gameplay. Here is a look at how some of the top critics broke down noteworthy factors in the game.

Commentary

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Listening to Jim Nantz and Phil Simms provided NFL fans with familiar voices that we are used to hearing on Sundays. Changing to lesser-known commentators of Brandon Gaudin and Charles Davis was certainly a risky move, even with mixed feelings about the previous group.

Fortunately, the move seems to pay off with quality work from the newest tandem. Brian Mazique of Forbes called this change "the best decision the developer have made with the series as it pertains to presentation." Mazique continued to praise the duo before rating the game a 7.75 score out of 10:

"

Gaudin and Davis are outstanding, and the stitching components in the audio performance are the best I’ve ever heard in a sports video game–NBA 2K included.

The dialog is informative, conversational, entertaining and best of all, it’s pure football. It gets even better during Connected Franchise where there are constant references to your current season.

"

As Christian McLeod of EA Sports explained, Gaudin and Davis will continue to add to the commentary as the season progresses, giving a new dimension to the game. As a player improves in real life, you will know about it in the game.

McLeod called this the "single biggest commentary project in franchise history."

The fresh perspective will make playing in any mode interesting.

Gameplay

Presentation and style are important, but the biggest factor remains the gameplay. If it's not enjoyable to actually compete in the games themselves, the rest doesn't matter.

According to Bryan Wiedey of Sporting News, there has been noticeable leaps in this area, especially when it comes to running the ball:

"

New ball-carrier moves have made skilled players extremely explosive in the open field. Even those a little less agile can weave their way through defenders on occasion and break a play. This has surprisingly proven true for the CPU, as well, which has always struggled to perform competently, especially in the run game.

"

Facing the CPU is usually less fun than competing against a friend, especially when trash talk is involved. However, the bigger issue is the competition isn't quite as strong, often leading to one-sided contests and skewed stats.

While no one likes losing, perhaps the increased awareness from the CPU will provide a more enjoyable experience.

Physics

Sometimes you don't necessarily notice the factors that make a big difference unless you are really looking. 

Matthew D. Sarrel of PC Magazine, who rated the game a 4.5 out of five, broke down the ball physics as one thing that makes a big upgrade in the newest version:

"

When you've been reviewing iterations of the same game for more than 15 years, you begin to realize that it's the little things that matter. This year, the EA Sports team spent a lot of time developing more-realistic ball physics, which not only kept me on my toes, but also showed off the computational power of the PlayStation 4. Ball physics are calculated and applied in real time, so no two kicks, tips, or fumbles are the same.

"

Simply comparing this version to past games of the sort will make Madden 17 look that much better. It's hard to be exactly like the real thing you watch on television, but this does come close.

Franchise Mode

While there are plenty of gamers who exclusively go online to compete against friends and strangers alike, the Franchise Mode is also a huge draw. You play the games against the CPU while consistently building whichever team you choose into a powerhouse.

Although this isn't a new feature, a few tweaks could make this an even more popular feature.

Dustin Toms of IGN noted the changes and the positives that come with them:

"

Franchise’s new Play the Moments super-sim mode places you into a game only during key moments, like third downs, red zones, and defensive stands. I’ve never been a super-sim fan before, but this new mode has me flying through each week of my franchise completing every single task. It’s great that Play the Moments gets me through a game with realistic statistics within 30 minutes, leaving ample time to complete weekly tasks.

"

Those who don't want to just spend hours on end getting through a season will have an opportunity to move quickly through games and build your franchise. If this is what kept you back before, there is a whole new mode to enjoy in Madden 17.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for year-round sports analysis.