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Perfect Shouldn't Be The Enemy Of Good

by Matthew Kato

Concept:

Last year the air attack was addressed, and this time it's the ground game – mainly in the trenches

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Graphics:

The player faces and uniform details (including new equipment) have taken a step up this year

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Sound:

The new commentary is a revelation compared to years past due to its fluidity, sheer amount of content, and better contextual awareness. I also noticed a lot of little touches on the field such as grunts and equipment sounds

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Playability:

Optional new visual indicators in the running game and auto-dekes are available for newcomers

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Entertainment:

The experience isn't perfect on or off the field, but it still has plenty to like

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Replay:

Moderately High

In Madden 17, a specific line stands out from the excellent new commentary team of Charles Davis and Brandon Gaudin. Davis, the ex-player providing the color commentary, talks about how coaches are always looking for that perfect game. The perfect game doesn't exist in the NFL or in any given rendition of Madden. Even so, Madden 17 has a lot to enjoy. As they do every year, developers EA Tiburon concentrate on a set of new features, fixes, and points of emphasis to varying degrees of success. Not all the bases are covered, but this is still a team win that Madden gamers can appreciate on some level.

If last year's gameplay was all about the air attack, this year is about what happens on the ground. Instead of just picking your hole and turboing through it, the revamped blocking schemes give players more to consider. Even though the holes are a little bigger, I wouldn't say running is easier. In fact, an in-your-face danger surrounds the defensive players as they crash in to disrupt the play or hold off an offensive linemen with one arm and come sliding down the line to gobble you up in the backfield with the other. The interplay between the offensive and defensive lines at the line of scrimmage is dynamic, exemplifying football's human chess match.

As fluid as some of the line play is (I saw an offensive linemen shuffle down the line of scrimmage, make a block, and then slide off and make a second block further down the line), you still see awkward steps by isolated players. Lead blockers occasionally prioritize the wrong target, players slide into catches or blocks (something I thought was solved last year), and others take baffling steps in the wrong direction.

See more of the review at Game Informer

GAMEPLAY

• Ball-Carrier Feedback System: New prompts and path assist help identify defensive threats and recommend special moves to elude any defender.
• Pass & Rush Counters: Simplify play-calling on defense. Think you know what your opponent is going to do, but don't know the defensive formation to stop it? Decide to defend the pass or run and let your defense do the rest. Featuring the most realistic defensive AI to date, grounded in current NFL strategies, all-new “Gap Play” puts your defenders in the box, in position to stop the run up the middle, while your zone defense delivers on pass coverage.
• Special Teams: Welcome the excitement of special teams back to Madden NFL. The ability to ice the kicker matches the challenge in today's critical field goal attempts, while new elements of risk and reward through trick plays and blocked kicks can now change the outcome of any game in one play.

FRANCHISE

• Play the Moments: Experience Franchise faster than ever. Jump into game-defining plays, drives and situations that matter to you, speeding up your experience and delivering more fun. Is your team in a rebuilding year? Get back to the playoffs and win that championship quicker with the all-new Play the Moments.
• Game Planning: Know your opponents' tendencies every week, then pick the right drills to attack and counter those tendencies in game. This new level of strategy delivers more variety and more fun when preparing for your next opponent, whether it's a user or a computer simulated player. Once you're in game, expect to see a team boost for plays you've practiced, helping you earn that critical score or a defensive stand to secure the win.
• Big Decisions: Big moments come to you, with the right information at the right time. Do you start your star QB with a lingering injury or go to your unproven back-up with a playoff spot on the line? Big Decisions begins a new direction in your career mode, delivering more strategy, more control and more fun.
• Community Requests: Several Madden NFL community's top requested features round out Franchise Mode with the addition of the practice squad, full-player editing, and the in-game ticker that keeps you updated with scores from around the league.

PRESENTATION

• Commentary: Madden NFL 17 delivers our most authentic commentary in Madden NFL history with the addition of an all-new, in-studio team featuring Brandon Gaudin and Charles Davis. With access to the team year-round, commentary has been completely rebuilt from the ground up, providing players with unprecedented depth and analysis. With the ability to provide content updates throughout the NFL season, experience fresh and dynamic commentary all season long!
• Cameras Focused on You: New, authentic broadcast cameras put you at the center of the story, creating a more immersive experience from practice all the way to the Super Bowl.
• Sounds of the Game: In-game audio has never sounded so real, from hits to crowd reactions and everything in between. Almost every sound in the game has been re-designed and re-recorded at the world class Pinewood Studios.

Dominate the Competition

Click here to learn more about the Official Strategy Guide

Master your team with the Madden NFL 17 Official Strategy Guide!

Pro Tips from the Game Changers: Get expert advice and in-depth strategy from highly skilled Game Changers, Zan and Litzout. Always know what to do and when.

Madden Ultimate Team: Understand the new features of this game mode and build a team with the best players in each position to dominate the competition.

Game Winning Plays: We give you the top 17 plays in Madden NFL 17. Easily find which playbooks have them and the strategy behind what makes them the best.

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