![]() ![]() This approach is novel enough and might work if storytelling was a forte of EA. Once you go through the NFL draft, the difficulty picks up but by then you’re playing a very familiar career mode, only with much less involvement as the story breaks only to involve you in career milestone events. Sitting through the cut scenes is like watching a soap opera, and any gameplay moments you’re dropped into are frustratingly short and laughably easy. ![]() It sounds cheesy, and many of the cut scenes are, but we did enjoy the presentation around the school and college games. However, once that novelty wears off it begins to feel like a chore. The main thrust of the story is a rivalry that builds between you (the back-up quarterback) and the high -school legend who has designs on making the NFL despite being diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. Well, it’s back this year and although you’ve got to give EA credit for the angle of their storytelling – your player narrates his career for a sit-down TV interview – it’s an extremely lukewarm career mode. ![]() One reason for this is possibly Face of the Franchise, the career mode that largely flopped in Madden NFL 20. FIFA fans will sympathise and point out similar issues in its career mode – it’s simply not on the radar anymore. For whatever reasons, franchise mode has been starved of innovation for around five years, perhaps even longer. And yet this was once the flagship mode of Madden. The neglect here is bordering on abuse and Madden NFL 21’s updated version follows the same pattern of its predecessors in practically ignoring it. Its main purpose was to inject some fun into a game that can get tedious if you’re sat there grinding the Ultimate Team solos, but The Yard does a much better job of it.Īnother mode that’s just sat there gathering dust is franchise mode. There are still rewards on offer and although the Lamar Jackson card on offer at release will legitimately strengthen most starter Ultimate Teams, there isn’t much point in playing Superstar KO. Now though, it sits there as one of many game modes we’re just not sure Madden NFL 21 needs. It remains to be seen how much will be added as the game runs along its life cycle, but the early signs are promising. The store does offer up a wealth of customisation options though, the backbone to any role-playing style mode in a sports game. The Yard could easily go the way of the Neighbourhood in the NBA 2K franchise and also calls to mind Volta Football in FIFA – an altogether more forgettable experience. But if more content is planned it will go down as one of the best innovations in a Madden release for years and fans should be excited for where EA can take it.ĮA’s latest American football sim is the last one before the next gen but what’s changed and is it enough to justify all the fan anger? Whilst you can play against the computer, or online and unlock different fields and challenges to partake in, at this stage you have to wonder about the longevity and depth of The Yard. The games are fast and the plays are innovative, whilst the ability to pitch the ball to any number of teammates means you can wind up scoring a ludicrously drawn out and creative play. That aside, it’s incredibly accessible and easily the most fun we’ve had with Madden in years. On the field you will notice a pretty glaring problem with kit clashes and on certain fields it can be nigh-on impossible to work out where your player or teammates are in such a fast-paced game mode. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |