Madden 25 and NCAA Football 14

[HarleyQuinn]

So, who's biting the bullet?

Just snagged NCAA for about $50 at Amazon (not even realizing it had been released way back on July 9th).

I usually prefer NCAA given the varied playing schemes and ability to edit the rosters + download other people's amazing rosters.

 

[Broward83]

I don't know if I'm getting Madden next month, or waiting for when I get my XB1...probably the latter.

 

[Jaxxxson Mayhem]

Bought the Ultimate Madden edition or whatever it's called for $99 from Amazon. Got this year of Sunday Ticket online with it. Don't even need DirecTV.

 

[Mik]

NCAA is the best version since I've been playing it. Gameplay stepped up huge.

 

[HarleyQuinn]

NCAA has been a blast to play... even getting tough games against "Freshman" difficulty defense. There's a good thread on how the penalty sliders effect on field play: http://www.operationsports.com/forums/ncaa-football-sliders/644813-roughing-kicker-slider-undoubtedly-controls-running-game.html#post2045264918

Just beat USC 40-37 as Washington State. Week before I got rolled by Auburn 41-14 after throwing 1 TD vs. 6 INT.
- QB Connor Halliday: 55/72 for 555 Yards with 3 TD vs 2 INT. 7 Carries for 26 Yards including a clutch 9 yard keeper on a read option to set up the GW FG with 0:23 left.
- RB Teondrey Caldwell: 9 carries for 41 yards. RB Marcus Mason: 3 carries for 11 yards and 1 TD.

I had 6 players with at least 6 catches and 4 others had at least 1 catch.

 

[oldskool]

The NCAA pulled out of the licensing agreement with EA a couple weeks ago. Today the SEC, Big Ten and Pac-12 followed suit, with the Big XII "still discussing options". No teams as of yet have made a decision one way or the other, but I would wager there are a large number of individual teams waiting for the first domino to fall to either side before choosing a side, along with another large contingent in negotiations with one another to either stay (very unlikely) or pull out (very likely) as a collective unit.

 

[NoCalMike]

Anyone played the Madden 25 demo yet? I usually get the demo but I am thinking about holding out for the full game this time before I dip my toe in.

 

[Kageho]

I think they are all going to pull out as a collective unit. When the NCAA pulled out, fine, they just didn't want to have the headache. When conferences pull out, they don't want to lose any money they get.

 

[oldskool]

A domino has fallen: the University of Washington does not plan to renew. They're out.

 

[oldskool]

Madden 25 for $45, through Newegg on eBay
360
PS3

 

[Jaxxxson Mayhem]

We doing a league this year in Madden?

 

[JHawk]

We doing a league this year in Madden?

If we're doing one for PS3 I'm in

 

[Aero]

I played about half a game earlier before it became difficult to continue when several players on offense and defense became invisible for numerous plays, a glitch that was also in the demo, so that needs to be a priority fix.

Minor presentation gripe: I haven't watched the full replay challenge cut scene in a year or two with these games, but why is it still so difficult to get them right in that the call/commentary actually correspond to the outcome on the field? I know it was in several recent years also.

Haven't played much to have a full opinion, but it seems solid, again. I just hope the new running system doesn't make running TOO effective, but I guess sliders can be tweaked.

 

[NoCalMike]

Everyone order their free fathead decal for buying Madden 25? Just place my order, no shipping fee either!

Played 2 games online so far.

Things I like:

They really implemented the read option/pistol formation excellently. There is no stupid delay before the QB can take off running, or when the RB gets the handoff, and it actually feels like you are confusing the defense.

A little more control in the running game is nice. The mechanics have been worked over a little bit which is nice, gone is last year's severe problem of anytime a RB touched an O-lineman, it made them fall down or stumble instantly. Now you can actually follow blockers closely and wait for a hole to open up the way a zone run works instead of in '13 where doing this meant tripping over lineman.

Some things I don't like:

Linebackers still make way too unrealistic acrobatic INTs. I was running a bootleg, had a WR open across the middle, I threw the ball, and the linebacker fell backwards in a matrix bullet time motion to make an INT.....WTF? That kind of BS just can't happen.

There is still a bit of "ice skating" effect when a RB or WR get into open are and you hit them and they almost seem to slide sideways instead of stumbling, which also leads to something I've noticed with is RB's are constantly falling forward for like 3-4 extra yards in '25. Sometimes no matter how good a hit you lay on them the result is them stumbling 2 steps, then jumping forward. It's weird.

 

[The Amazing Rando]

Everyone order their free fathead decal for buying Madden 25? Just place my order, no shipping fee either!

Played 2 games online so far.

Things I like:

They really implemented the read option/pistol formation excellently. There is no stupid delay before the QB can take off running, or when the RB gets the handoff, and it actually feels like you are confusing the defense.

A little more control in the running game is nice. The mechanics have been worked over a little bit which is nice, gone is last year's severe problem of anytime a RB touched an O-lineman, it made them fall down or stumble instantly. Now you can actually follow blockers closely and wait for a hole to open up the way a zone run works instead of in '13 where doing this meant tripping over lineman.

Some things I don't like:

Linebackers still make way too unrealistic acrobatic INTs. I was running a bootleg, had a WR open across the middle, I threw the ball, and the linebacker fell backwards in a matrix bullet time motion to make an INT.....WTF? That kind of BS just can't happen.

There is still a bit of "ice skating" effect when a RB or WR get into open are and you hit them and they almost seem to slide sideways instead of stumbling, which also leads to something I've noticed with is RB's are constantly falling forward for like 3-4 extra yards in '25. Sometimes no matter how good a hit you lay on them the result is them stumbling 2 steps, then jumping forward. It's weird.

I have always felt in Madden that due to the LBs being insanely unbalanced at higher difficulty settings that even a halfway decent RB in speed (DMC was always a good go-to guy) that you could dominate even tough defenses being little on the pass and heavy on the run. The problem, though, was that you had to have a good defense to back yourself up. I was always a fan of the hard outside runs, playing blocks and trying to speed my way through the OLB/S holes than EVER trying to go up the middle. When I did pass, I relied on incredibly quick slants and short curls just to try and get first downs when my running let me down.

Having good Safeties is a god-send in this game and saved my ass more than once. Playing as the Bills running with Spiller and Gilmore snatching anything that came near him, it was tough to lose. My only real weakness, almost 100% of the time, were fucking opposing TEs. I could have the best linebacker core ever and I'd still give up shit loads of yardage to even the worst guys in that position. Granted, using TEs also worked well when on offense, but trying to defend them always fucked me over with QB scrambles and shit. It was always amazing how fast an asshole like Matt Cassel was when you decide to cut off Moeaki or whomever.

 

[NoCalMike]

Another thing they need to make a patch for ASAP is the injury trigger. I think this can be modified in offline local games, but online I think this type of preset is locked.

So far through 4 online games the following injuries have happened:

RGIII twice
Kirk Cousins (in same game as one of the RGIII injuries)
Brandon Merriwether
Tony Romo
Colin Caepernick
Frank Gore
DeMarco Murray
Mario Manningham

I know guys on the above list are not bastions of durability necessarily, but it seems like every single game so far features 2 injuries that are so severe players cannot return, (broken jaws, broken collarbones etc etc). And they happen on some very routine tackles.

I almost feel that when it comes to athletic QBs the Madden programmers are still over-correcting for making Vick & McNabb unrealistically God-like in their cover years so that now those kind of QBs get hurt at an insanely high percentage in the game.

I don't mind injuries in franchise mode or if you are playing through a simulated season but for a one game head-to-head battle online, I think it should have to take something special to knock a player out of a game.

 

[Kageho]

Changing online would require a huge patch, so it would likely be modified for offline games only.

Would you guys recommend a buy on this for a guy who didn't get last year's game? Or has the game not changed enough from year before's game to even bother and wait for the next console editions?

From what I've seen and heard, I'm not exactly impressed.

 

[JHawk]

Typical Browns.

Game 1, MINGO gets a pick, and immediately suffers a partial MCL tear to miss five weeks

 

[Jaxxxson Mayhem]

Changing online would require a huge patch, so it would likely be modified for offline games only.

Would you guys recommend a buy on this for a guy who didn't get last year's game? Or has the game not changed enough from year before's game to even bother and wait for the next console editions?

From what I've seen and heard, I'm not exactly impressed.

To be honest, I can't tell a difference between years now. Fuck EA

 

[bps21]

Well...of all years the last game before next gen consoles are released is bound to be the least different.

I bought it though. Mostly because I don't have to play as Ryan Fitzpatrick anymore when I use the Bills. Yes...that was enough to sell me.

 

[NoCalMike]

For me if you regularly use a team that utilizes the read option/pistol formation, this year's Madden is a must. It really gives you the feel that you're actually doing the stuff the team does. It's a pretty sick weapon that is new to the game.

 

[2GOLD]

Does the drafting and free agents signings still suck though?

 

[Kageho]

For me if you regularly use a team that utilizes the read option/pistol formation, this year's Madden is a must. It really gives you the feel that you're actually doing the stuff the team does. It's a pretty sick weapon that is new to the game.

...wait, the pistol formation works? I love using the pistol for my teams!

Aw man, now you got me thinking I should take a look at it. Damn you.

 

[NoCalMike]

For those that play online, is me or is it extremely annoying that seemingly everyone is playing as either the 49ers or Seahawks and those teams are ranked so high that it can make bad/average players, look good?

I can usually keep pace with any team when it comes to scoring, but the defense is downright awful. It kind of irks me because while the 'Skins pass defense did suck last season, the front seven was pretty good at stopping the run, but not in Madden 25.

For reference, when I played against the Vikings, sure AP got a few big runs here and there but ultimately I could contain him, however when playing the 49ers or Seattle it seemed like no matter defense I called, it never covered the guy getting the ball. Every run would get at least 4 yards, and then they were able to get into one of those "hey I'll run this same exact passing play anytime I need big yardage because I know the guy will be open every single time" zones.

I don't mind losing to players who are equally as good or better than me, but it was obvious these guys were just going for teams ranked above 90, and taking advantage of the game's engine making those teams nearly unstoppable.

I think I need to look into this whole franchise mode thing which I've never really explored because playing online is getting frustrating.

 

[sfaJack]

I don't mind losing to players who are equally as good or better than me, but it was obvious these guys were just going for teams ranked above 90, and taking advantage of the game's engine making those teams nearly unstoppable.

This kind of stuff is why I limit my online play to only playing against my brother or cousin. I have limited time for gaming anyway and I don't want to waste it against assholes that have no interest in playing just a plain old competitive game of Madden.

I got really tired of playing online a couple of years ago when Vick joined the Eagles and seemingly every player online picked the Eagles and proceeded to just run with Vick or scramble for 6 seconds before launching the deepest bomb possible. It was easy to beat most of them by putting a double spy on Vick and containing him but it wasn't fun. And then, of course, as soon as their "offense" was stopped and/or if I got ahead by more than 7 points, they quit.

 

[NoCalMike]

At least the Eagles's version of Vick, would get put out of the game with one big hit. Or fumble after every hit.

The Falcons version of Vick? Forget about it, every single play was a roll out or bootleg, and no matter who was in pursit one click of the analong stick and Vick would do a super-juke in any direction needed and GONE.

It was so unrealistic but it was obvious the programmers were merely interested in "making the most awesome player in Madden ever"

Also, linebackers, ugh. It makes no sense that you have a WR open 20 yards down field, but a LB makes an INT being only 3 yards deep. As if a QB is going to throw a bullet just above head level of the line of scrimmage.

 

[sfaJack]

Oh, my God yes. I lost an online game in the final minute the other night when Cushing made a gigantic vertical leap in the air and snagged the INT with one hand when my targeted receiver was wide open in the seam 10-12 yards behind him. It was ridiculous.

Also, the closing speed that DB's and LB's seem to have when the ball is in the air in this year's version is crazy. Receivers that were open are not by the time the ball gets there.

 

[Damaramu]

And then, of course, as soon as their "offense" was stopped and/or if I got ahead by more than 7 points, they quit.

Is this a huge problem with the online play? People quitting when they are losing?

 

[Kageho]

Speaking of throwing... I haven't played last year or the year before, is the arc throw more reliable now? When last I played, it felt a lot slower than it should be.

And I'm so glad they haven't fixed LB INTs. Always fun knowing the bug of all features is still there.

 

[Agent_Bond34]

And then, of course, as soon as their "offense" was stopped and/or if I got ahead by more than 7 points, they quit.

Is this a huge problem with the online play? People quitting when they are losing?

When isn't it? I love watching people rage quit. You can tell it's gonna happen the minute the person pauses or the game just suddenly stops out of nowhere. You know you beat them when this happens.