This is everything you will need to know about Madden 19 with a full break-down and review.
Release date slated for August 10th with the Hall of Fame Edition release August 7th, EA access members can play on August 2nd on Xbox One. Releasing on: PC, PS4 & Xbox One.
It's that time of the year when EA releases it's newest instalment of Madden. I have been playing the Madden series since early 2000. With EA locking up the rights to all NFL games this is the only option for football fans who miss the beloved 2k and NCAA series and can only hope they return in the near future. This is a full review on the new Madden 19 which will split into three segments. (What's New, Gameplay & Honest Opinion).
WHAT'S NEW:
After a long break it's back on PC! This is big for fans who don't own a console and have been waiting for it to release on PC. Franchise Mode gets some love this year and an aesthetic update with players and coaches now in the backgrounds during your franchise experience compared to the plain backgrounds of previous Madden's. Also now in franchise mode you will have more control over your team with the ability to change your roster to fit your scheme and play style, EA has clearly put work into improving the franchise mode after years of neglection.
A huge update that have many fans excited is the new draft class customization which you are able to also share with the online community, this is a simple yet very welcoming change we have been wanting for years. The ability to have real college prospects and draft them accordingly to draft makes gameplay more engaging and in depth.
Madden Ultimate Team (MUT) gets some upgrades introducing Solo Battles designed for single player and similar to FIFA with single player in mind. There is also MUT squad that allows you to do challenges alongside your friends in a 3 v 3 setup for a co-op experience. A small change which some may like or dislike is upgrading player option where you earn training points to upgrade certain players, the good part of this feature is points can be redeemed and used on other players if you decide to change your mind. Personally I like this change and give a more engaging experience in MUT where NAT players are no longer pointless and can be sold for training points. This may be the best MUT experience to date.
GAMEPLAY:
Madden 10 supports 4K HDR 10 which looks great and really shows off the frostbite engine. Last year was the first Madden series on frostbite and it was a nice change but had many issues naturally being the first football game to run on that engine. EA wanted to build on this and try to improve gameplay in most aspects and as you play more and more you can tell the difference in realism. From the running routes of receiver to the way running back carry the ball to small details in how the quarterback play calls and signals. At first it may get some getting used to as there is a clear difference in pace and gameplay.
Player motion has been enhanced making each player feel more individualized. EA said they wanted to really improve on the "RPM" (real player motion) and you can see they did just that. With new animations making the role of each player feel more realistic noticing a difference in body types and positions. There is more detail in this game in every aspect from the way the quarterback moves and call signals to the way the defensive ends line up. Wide receivers get the biggest update with and overhaul with most mechanics in running routes to catching.
Small details make the gameplay more fun such as celebrations after a touchdown.
RS UP – Team & Group Celebration / RS RIGHT – Spike / RS DOWN – Player Signature / RS LEFT – Dance / RS CLICK R3 – Swagger: Steal a Signature animation from the opponent team
HONEST OPINION:
When I first saw the gameplay trailers and then tested the BETA I must admit I was sorely disappointed, it felt clunky the shoulder pads were ridiculously big and it seemed Madden may have taken a step back. I really wish EA could implement simple additions like legendary teams for fans and a more in depth story mode with more customization options like creating your own character. There are many areas the game can be more enhanced but due to having copyrights there really is no competition and fans alike are left with no other choice. This was how I felt after trying the BETA version but things changed once the full version was released.
There is good in all this though, now that the full game has released majority if the issues were addressed and fixed and after playing for 10 plus hours faith had been restored a bit. No we don't have legend team yet but , the game is different than Madden 18 the graphics are more refined and the gameplay is much more realistic, one of my favourite new updates is how the RB now must build his speed up making the run feel much more real similar to WR motions which are much smoother and each receiver feels different with the new gaming mechanics bringing a positive change to the series. This was the most fun I have had on Madden in years and has the potential to be one of the best in the series to date.
FINAL REVIEW & RATING:
Despite it's flaws this is and feels like a new game and is smoother than its predecessors EA is heading in the right direction despite the lack of competition giving it a rating of 8/10.