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Madden 23 Reviews. Another year, another rushed disaster.

Bragr

Banned
Metacritic: 65
User Rating: 2.4

People hate it.

With every FIFA or Madden, they try to implement some new gimmick, "super fast ankle movement to create dynamic plays!", or some horseshit that means nothing. And with Madden, they have degraded the game every year while trying to change it, and now it's a complete mess and they rush it out so fast that they don't have time to fix it.

Compared to other Metacritic scores of Madden games of recent years. Not going too well for Madden lately:
- Madden 22: 68
- Madden 21: 63
- Madden 20: 76
- Madden 19: 80

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Kokoloko85

Member
Yep same story as Fifa. They just feel like the same shit from years ago. I took a few years off Fifa and it still has the same lifeless Issues.
Considering how much money EA make from Fifa, they could make something special
 

kether

Neo Member
As I was watching NFL Network(maybe it was ESPN?) the other day, I saw a news alert on the bottom scroll that said EA and the NFL renewed their exclusivity deal. Very sad indeed.
 

SteadyEvo

Member
I judge Madden by playing online to see if last years bullshit has been patched and if the gameplay is realistic vs human competition. Based on that I have to say this is one of the better Maddens. QB scrambles are harder to get while CBs realistically defend passes. Players can no longer scramble and throw crossing routes all day. Passing yards are truly earned. The same is true in the run game. Patience is rewarded.

Now if we’re talking Franchise and Ultimate Team I have no clue cause I never touch those modes. Madden for me is an online only game.
 
They have no reason to make any effort, people just keep buying this garbage. I'm really into football but I refuse to support this game in any way.
 
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Reactions: RNG

reinking

Gold Member
I don't even try to play them anymore. I would rather they dial it back to the 16 bit era compared to the crap they put out now. Hell, if they had a 16 bit era gameplay version included with roster and team updates I would pay full price for it.
 

DonkeyPunchJr

World’s Biggest Weeb
I don't even try to play them anymore. I would rather they dial it back to the 16 bit era compared to the crap they put out now. Hell, if they had a 16 bit era gameplay version included with roster and team updates I would pay full price for it.
As long as they bring back the feature where the ambulance drives out on to the field and plows all the players out of the way when your QB gets injured.
 

Gamer79

Predicts the worst decade for Sony starting 2022
It's still going to sell well, sadly.
It is very true. I boycotted Madden years ago because I am so sick of this rinse and repeat cyle of the game. I cannot remember their last true evolution to the game has been. It doesn't matter, the usual fans will buy it regardless.
 

REDRZA MWS

Member
Of course. Sunk cost fallacy, people who have zero standards, people who no self-respect. Its why gaming continues to get greedier because dumbasses buy trash like this.
A bit over the top hyperbolic commentary dog. Madden 23 on ps5 S/X is looking and playing great. Finally feels like the engine/game has caught up to the speed of the newer consoles. Also, some real nice features such as the new lead passing mechanic to try and throw the ball away from defenders. The pass rush with a standard 4 man rush is much improved and very welcome. So far, it’s playing a solid game of football.

People always hate on Madden and generally anything EA related. I’ve been playing Madden since it’s inception so I don’t really care about metacritic scores. Bunch of angry crybaby EA and Madden haters to begin with.
 
A bit over the top hyperbolic commentary dog. Madden 23 on ps5 S/X is looking and playing great. Finally feels like the engine/game has caught up to the speed of the newer consoles. Also, some real nice features such as the new lead passing mechanic to try and throw the ball away from defenders. The pass rush with a standard 4 man rush is much improved and very welcome. So far, it’s playing a solid game of football.

People always hate on Madden and generally anything EA related. I’ve been playing Madden since it’s inception so I don’t really care about metacritic scores. Bunch of angry crybaby EA and Madden haters to begin with.

Nah mate, I am just a fan that wants more than the absolute bare minimum. If you are OK with mediocrity then good for you! I will keep pushing for an actual evolution of the franchise and better treatment of consumers.
 

64bitmodels

Reverse groomer.
it's fucking football, instead of playing a dumbed down virtual version of it consider getting some of your friends and playing an actual game of football that's infinitely more immersive than any PS5 or Xbox version (and gets some of you fat fuckers some exercise too)
never got the point of these sports games besides the nintendo stuff which actually adds a twist
 
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ChiefDada

Gold Member
Fucking lazy CASH GRAB!!!!! Oh wait sorry that only applies to a certain developer that pushes tech forward.
 
Eh its a throwaway sports game of the year as usual. Never been tempted to buy any ea sports game day 1 as they put them on ea play soonish and i can have my fun then.
Recenty, I spent 100 hours on the psplus version of fifa 22. Did nothing but randomised champions league on masterclass difficulty to see how the a.i /game master fucks with the player.
 
The NFL giving exclusive license to EA was the death knell of advancement in the football game market.

Worse that they also had exclusivity in NCAA Football which should have never been legal, but they killed that series off.

That is the series where they should have experimented and Madden should have been where they polish features.

I'm really hoping that T2 gets the FIFA license and just goes to town on EA who as of now really is only defacto leader in things because of their market realities or exclusivity agreements

NBA 2K killed off NBA Live
MLB The Show killed off Triple Play Baseball/MVP Baseball

Take2 already has the Tiger Woods license now

Maybe one day we'll see another hockey game on the market
 
Soccer is the fastest growing pro sport in America

With EA losing the FIFA license (org not players or pro clubs) it's a great opportunity for someone to really invest in the sport.
 

clarky

Gold Member
I'm really hoping that T2 gets the FIFA license and just goes to town on EA who as of now really is only defacto leader in things because of their market realities or exclusivity agreements
As far as I'm aware the Fifa license is just that, the name and the world cup. EA still holds the rights to everything that matters, players, teams. stadiums etc etc. Unfortunately I don't think we'll get a decent Football game to compete for very long time now PES has basically tapped out.
 
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As far as I'm aware the Fifa license is just that, the name and the world cup. EA still holds the rights to everything that matters, players, teams. stadiums etc etc. Unfortunately I don't think we'll get a decent Football game to compete for very long time now PES has basically tapped out.
They have rights, they aren't necessarily exclusive rights.
 

SZips

Member
I used to love getting (near) yearly Madden games back in the day. But it has been a VERY long time since I cared to get a new one.

I played Madden 21, which was my first new Madden in years and uh, yeah. Didn't feel particularly great. It hasn't helped that EA has been releasing the previous-gen versions on PC where I mostly play these days (no PS5... yet). Maybe when they finally have feature parity on PC with the next-gen versions I'll give it a go.

Also, this article in hindsight of those review scores is pretty damn funny: https://www.ign.com/articles/madden-23-interview-ea-tiburon "Madden 23 Devs Promise 'Most Polished Version in a Long Time' After Years of Buggy Releases" 😆
 

clarky

Gold Member
They have rights, they aren't necessarily exclusive rights.
I think a lot of them are. Isn't this why you don't see real clubs in PES, outside of the licenses they had? I might be wrong. I'd love to for someone else to have a crack at a proper football sim.
 
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EAs soccer game isn’t going anywhere tho

Yeah, we'll see ultimately what happens here. Wouldn't be the first or last time a major franchise is supplanted by another, hell not even for EA.

NBA Live and Medal of Honor used to be genre giants before being supplanted by NBA 2K and Call of Duty
 
I think a lot of them are. Isn't this why you don't see real clubs in PES, outside of the licenses they had? I might be wrong. I'd love to for someone else to have a crack at a proper football sim.

They have exclusivity to the Premier League at the moment, but we'll see how long that lasts if someone else has the FIFA license AND builds a better game...
 

clarky

Gold Member
They have exclusivity to the Premier League at the moment, but we'll see how long that lasts if someone else has the FIFA license AND builds a better game...
Can't see EA giving that one up as easy. Like i said theirs a gap in the market for a decent serious sim, Fifa as is doesn't scratch that old school PES itch for me.
 
I think a lot of them are. Isn't this why you don't see real clubs in PES, outside of the licenses they had? I might be wrong. I'd love to for someone else to have a crack at a proper football sim.

It’s cost I think - otherwise I guess that Football Manager would not have them all. PES just bought a couple of big teams each year to save money.
 
Don't mind me, I just found a way to entertain myself by comparing the reviews that are the complete opposite of one another, I can't tell why I find it entertaining, but it works.
oH2lsmD.png
 

Saber

Gold Member
Of course. Sunk cost fallacy, people who have zero standards, people who no self-respect. Its why gaming continues to get greedier because dumbasses buy trash like this.

Reminds me of people acting like smartasses when Diablo Immortal were emptying their pockets of how much money they got.
Like " haha, take that internet! We won!".
 

Klayzer

Member
As long as they bring back the feature where the ambulance drives out on to the field and plows all the players out of the way when your QB gets injured.
Ahh, the memories. Playing season mode and your best player gets hurt and the stretcher comes out.
 

Nautilus

Banned
Of course. Sunk cost fallacy, people who have zero standards, people who no self-respect. Its why gaming continues to get greedier because dumbasses buy trash like this.
Nah.Its because the game has no competition. What other dev is making a game about american football?

If you want to play a game about it, ypu have to buy madden. And without a threat of losing custumers, madden's dev don't care
 
As I was watching NFL Network(maybe it was ESPN?) the other day, I saw a news alert on the bottom scroll that said EA and the NFL renewed their exclusivity deal. Very sad indeed.
That was for the shitty madden tournament

They already had an exclusive agreement through May 2026


Fucking blows, I fucking LOVE football, literally one of my favorite hobbies.

But I haven't bought madden since I want to say 19?

Blowing their load on MUT (which somehow continues to get worse and more predatory) and ignoring the other game modes is a travesty.

I'd kill to see 2k get another shot
 
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it's fucking football, instead of playing a dumbed down virtual version of it consider getting some of your friends and playing an actual game of football that's infinitely more immersive than any PS5 or Xbox version (and gets some of you fat fuckers some exercise too)
never got the point of these sports games besides the nintendo stuff which actually adds a twist
Spoken like someone who didn't actually play football

I'm over 30, I'm not exactly chomping at the bit to bring out my pads and helmet and shed blockers/tackle rb's/go over the middle/and get blindsided in the pocket like I did for years

You do you though, make sure you never play call of duty when you can join the army, and never play Mario when you can scour rivers for turtles to jump on
 
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