Madden 25 (The Game)

Comes out at the end of August, wondering whether to buy it, anybody know if it'll be any good?

Demo is out tomorrow Olly.

Out on all the Xbox/PS3 etc?

That's good news if ever I heard it

I believe so mate. Madden usually improves year on year as well.

It is indeed Olly on 30th august

Got my Madden 12 ready to trade in. It'll be sad losing my career but needs must to get the latest game

I'm not that fussed by it this year. Not sure why as I'm using a version a couple of years old.

There are possible issues with the fact they are trying to co create it on next gen consoles as well so they are properly overworked!

I've always said EA should offer a subscription for just roster updates, so you can play the game with new rosters, without having to but the new game. But they never will because its a solid revenue stream, just like FIFA etc. At least with the old PC version, you could get/make custom rosters.

Will have a play on the demo before deciding to buy it, which I inevitably will do. Love the Career Mode stuff on Madden games

I like career mode but I find with the streak functions etc. the game becomes too easy after a while. It doesn't adapt well to individual styles of play, but if you then move up to Madden level etc. its a big jump in frustration level (CPU pulls off daft miracle plays etc.). Needs less detailed sliders and more effort into the AI to accommodate individual gamers.

Yeah I find that skins4ever, sort of the level before Madden is too easy, but Madden is too hard. Guess you just have to put up with it either way, and with it being hard it does make it more enjoyable (as it is competitive, I hate games where it's too easy)

Will download the demo tomorrow and see what it's like

I bought the EA Season Ticket for Fifa last year so I get to play Madden 4 days earlier than you peasants.  

Tell us if it's worth buying then NYJ, I need to save the pennies

That's what I'm using it for too. I've never bought Madden at full price.

Yeah my brother has that as well.

Hoping this game is gonna be really good

What do people who have got the demo think then?

Haven't bothered with it this year, between GTA 5 and FIFA there is plenty to keep me occupied, would be interested to see what others think though

Got the early release thanks to having 1 day left from last year

Owner mode is great and it all seems revamped , however gameplay hasn't come as far as I hoped.

The fun thing to do is to take a team like the Vikings jags or rams and just make em your own, build a new stadia or relocate them

Just got an email saying my order has been despatched. I guess I'll get it come Thursday...

Just started an Owner Mode and it's very good. You have control over everything from the ticket prices to the bags of nuts. You can move a team to any number of cities (including London...) and while I won't move my Raiders I figure I'll take someone like the Patriots and move them. The franchise name changes too.

Gameplay wise...well it's more or less the same game. Little kinks here and there, and they've taken off auto-sprint which was an adjustment. Defense is a little harder to get into and I lost 31-24 to the Colts because I couldn't pressure Luck at all. Then again I am the Raiders, so...

Read option plays are good fun. I ran 101 yards and 2 scores in with Terrelle Pryor. You actually read the defender yourself too, so if you balls up its your fault.

I had trouble with the defense too. Interceptions are easy but getting pressure and stopping runners is a nightmare. It's like the acceleration burst is for offensive players only and my defenders are far slower. I did have some success straight up bull rushing the Center into the QB with my NT though.

With GTA V coming out soon plus the next gen consoles needing my money, I'll wait until the price is lower.

Game hasn't even been dispatched yet!!!

Owner mode looks like the real draw for this offline. Looks so so cool

Where did you order from Olly? I used play and only ordered Monday so I was pretty surprised it dropped through on Wednesday.

They brought fantasy draft back too, so I will probably use that and move a team to London at some point on a different save.

I ordered off Amazon, they're crap for this, gonna use Play in the future.

I love fantasy draft, god this game sounds good

It's more immersive in owner mode, which is good, you literally control everything including coaches and facility upgrades.

Slight disappointment that it's pretty similar in terms of gameplay though. I wasn't expecting massive changes but it does feel like a slightly boosed Madden 13. Some of the commentary is still the same (and I'm sorry to say it's still Phil Simms).

One thing I like is the ability to change plays at the line has improved and you have more than your standard audibles. You can move personnel around in the formation and it opens up a lot more of the playbook at the line.

Well I didn't get Madden 13, so hopefully the gameplay has moved on from the last one I got (Madden 12!)

Can you still do the create your player and a career with him as well?

It's different from 12 definitely, it's a faster game than 12 felt and passing and running are a little easier to do.

You can create a player, yes. And you can still create a coach if you just want a franchise mode without having all the owner crap too.

Totally being Shahid Khan on owner mode. A man with such a tache deserves my gaming

Last year I made my ea gameface. On madden I was as white as Casper and on fifa I was black! Lol

Game came this morning.

Only had a little bit of time to play it. Owner mode is the jubblies

Got the hang of this now, in the main. I'm 6-4 with the Raiders, which is almost annoying because I want a better pick...

Still, one thing I wanted to ask was the use of the sprint trigger. How do you guys use it? I tend to find I only use it on outside runs when I'm trying to get the edge, but am I supposed to hold it down for all runs? I'm a bit unsure of it.

Iirc, in Madden 13 and possibly 12 the default setting meant sprinting was done by the CPU for you so you can concentrate on spins, cuts (almost said dekes) and stiff arms. You can turn it to manual if you want.

They've changed it for 25 though, I've just read a blog that explains the changes better so I can probably use it more effectively. There is no auto-sprint, and players can only sprint for a short period of time before tiring. You can also use the LT to 'brake' and enhance spin moves, stiff arms etc.

Sodhat have you found any drafting cheats for this game yet?

Olly wrote:Sodhat have you found any drafting cheats for this game yet?

and why would you be cheating Olly... Bill Belichick may spy on the opposition, but he can't guarantee a draft pick being successful so why should you?

Because I'm fed up of drafting busts Dave!

It's like being a Raiders fan for me at the minute

I haven't to be honest Olly, but I only did my first draft yesterday. The awareness thing is still kind of applicable I think but you need to more thoroughly scout the other areas too. I got an 83ovr DE in the first round but the rest were around 70 or so.

You'll see that it's a bit cheaper to scout "overall" this year than previously, although it still only gives you a B or C (or worse).

To be honest I think you just have to be smart on this version. Prioritise the positions of need and then scout awareness and other important positional attributes. If they are holding up then scout the overall rating.