Madden NFL 17 - General Impressions & Game Discussion

[steelerfan]

I'm really loving the gap assignments and the OL/DL interaction. I've never before seen in Madden the D-Line move down the line of scrimmage, following the flow of the play, as they are engaged with the O-Line.

Granted, I haven't played Madden in 5 years but it is a thing of beauty and it really gives the running game a fresh and more realistic feel.

I'm also impressed by the catch animations and the drops that occur organically through interaction with the defender. Again, it might not be new but it's new to me.

The special teams finally feel like it can have the impact that it should.

There are a few odd interactions between limbs and so forth because of the physics but I'm very hopeful that Frostbite will provide a better experience next year.

I'm looking forward to getting sliders fleshed out to see how much fun this game will be when I have everything clicking the way I like. I think I'll probably enjoy a few seasons in Franchise Mode which hasn't really been possible in about 10 years (though I did play 2 or 3 on M12).

[bdoughty]

I've got a ? for y'all. I figure there are 2 ways to look at this, 1) they want to sell more more more or 2) I'm a frequent customer and they did me a favor. You make the call.....

Took me all of a minute to find a cartoon mostly based on what happened.








So... Do yourself a favor and get Amazon Prime or the Best Buy Deal and save money and not have to deal with the crap.

[gigemaggs99]

Thanks for the comic, I'm glad it's not just me. It just seems "strange", I guess that's a "different" way of doing business.

[souljahbill]

So everyone is feeling this year, huh? Bodes well for me next year. I haven't played Madden since McNabb was on the cover.

[steelerfan]

So everyone is feeling this year, huh? Bodes well for me next year. I haven't played Madden since McNabb was on the cover.

Well, everyone except mors.

[souljahbill]

Well, everyone except mors.

He was only kinda negative. That's a positive.

[morsdraconis]

He was only kinda negative. That's a positive.

I was really just frustrated that I was seeing some of the same stuff I'd been seeing 4-5 years ago still from the AI. What's been said about the improvements FARRRRRRRR outweigh the negatives I've seen. I did end up switching back to All-Pro and have had a good time with it there. Still allows for me to fuck up occasionally cause I haven't played a football game in years and still have fun with it.

[skipwondah33]

More impressions after several more games lastnight

OL/DL Pt 2

- wish I saved the plays after I seen them, but still amazed at how the interaction between the OL/DL is. Had a play when Heyward was rushing the QB fighting trying to get to him for a sack as the Lineman was still trying to block him. Heyward was able to make the sack by grabbing/wrapping the QB up with his free arm.

Again truly dominate DL players will be difficult to handle straight up or if you don't account for them. I've used and played against the upper tier DL guys and they have been a force every game in run and pass.

If your OL is below average you will also spend most of your time getting hit or rushing throws. Especially if you do not take the time to recognize the rush or block the TE and/or RB. Speaking of which blocking the RB is better than it was last version. Often times in M16 if you blocked your RB it would end up hurting you as he would do something stupid like set a pick on your own OL allowing a rusher to come in free. While the two players hugged one another






Deep Ball Coverage

- though I didn't think it was majorly broken last version in terms of aggressive catch being an issue. It did need some work as to the different outcomes and average receivers making OBJ type catches. It has definitely been improved and I love how defenders go up with the same aggression and actually swat the ball away. It was random last version if your defender would even try to swat the ball when you used Swat. Now the defender will do as you are intending to.


Catch animations/transitions

- As SF said the catch animations are definitely nice, none really seem out of place in relation to how the ball needs to be caught.


Speed threshold/movement

- this is a huge, in a prior versions fast guys in short areas never really seemed all that fast compared to slower guys around them. Now I have noticed on numerous occasions when in coverage or pursuing they the faster guys run away from those who are slower than they are. I tried to make several tackles how I've been able to do against faster, quicker guys and end up not being close at all. Where it looks like you are there for the tackle in past versions, now you just get left behind.

Same can go for user coverage on a guy. In the past I've been able to change direction or keep up with WR's across the field with an LB or Safety. Tried to do that against Dez Bryant on a Dig route and he left me behind as he should have against the slower guy. The speed threshold is on '50', but EA definitely made a tweak to it because guys who are a speed above separate perfectly. When you catch a pass in the open it's not the automatic magnet to the ball carrier if you are slower or on the wrong angle.


Commentary pt 2

- Lastnight they talked about Le'Veon Bell's suspension being reduced to 3 games and he'll be motivated when he comes back against the Chiefs!!!!


Ball Physics


​- Look great and actually work

[Rudy]

Played a crazy game this morning. Won in OT 44-38 with KC over San Diego. Jamaal Charles was fun and dangerous. Haven't touched the speed threshold (or whatever they call it this year) and he broke away from guys well. Phillip Rivers didn't play well against me. I need to check my settings for the cpu pass game a little as they haven't done very well lately with my adjustments.

Tons of big plays. The cpu blocked an XP attempt against me!


Also I returned a kick for a TD and then the cpu did as well! Can't remember the last time the cpu had a great return against me in Madden. I also returned a punt for a TD. They had a pick 6 against me as I threw four on the day. I didn't always make the best decisions lol. But the pick 6 was just an errant pass that got picked. Zone defense and the new calls are a massive part of the playbooks and I am still a bit clueless on what the new plays do. But I did have a lot of fun and throwing to TEs is a crutch for me. KC has some nice offensive players. Melvin Gordon busted a long TD run before the half. He was also pulling off some nice spin moves too.

Going to take Miami into Green Bay next time I play. I want to see Rodgers roast me a bit.

[skipwondah33]

I've never been into touching the speed threshold, well only because you can't in unranked online games.

But it is definitely not needed this version. Fast, quick guys in relation to slower guys is definitely noticeable. Trying to corral faster guys in an open space is difficult. Lesean Mccoy for example is extremely difficult. You will think you have him in the backfield, but yet he gets away and between multiple players. This is without jukes or the special ball carrier moves, just simple slight changes in direction.

Ran a punt return back for the first time in ever...since Madden 11 (extremely easy on both kick and punt returns on All Madden)

[souljahbill]

That's good to hear about the speed threshold. I play with it on 0 in NCAA because it I like seeing the fast guys actually be faster than D-linemen.

[cdj]

Good news: You can edit draft classes prior to the draft.



Bad news: I haven't seen this first-hand, but reading on social media that due to the ability to see draftee ratings while editing, this feature is going to be turned off in Cloud-stored Franchise Mode and patched out for offline Franchises.


FWIW, the ability to edit draft classes was not in the game until added relatively late due to community event feedback. If true, this is very frustrating to see it removed due to an exploit. I understand the complaints, but EA can't control the morality of users in online Franchises and this removes a feature that offline users (and those who would not exploit it) might greatly enjoy. Personally, I think this removal will greatly dampen my enthusiasm to play multiple seasons of Franchise Mode in M17.

[steelerfan]

Personally, I would never take the time to edit draft classes so it doesn't affect me at all. That said, I agree that it shouldn't be removed for "moral reasons".

If they want that much control over how people enjoy the game, they never should have added editing to begin with.

[Rudy]

I had another punt return for td. Hope that was lucky because two in five or six games is awful high. Plus I had a kick return for td as well.

[skipwondah33]

I had another punt return for td. Hope that was lucky because two in five or six games is awful high. Plus I had a kick return for td as well.

I've only returned 1 in about 40 games so far. All against users though

[cdj]

Go home @EAMaddenNFL, you're drunk 😂 pic.twitter.com/cvWECH8ksY

— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) August 26, 2016

[skipwondah33]

Not sure which part is funnier, the missed FG Touchdown or Cordarrelle Patterson actually catching a touchdown pass

[Deuce]

I've only returned 1 in about 40 games so far. All against users though

40 games! Damn!

You still feel great about the game?

[steelerfan]

I had another punt return for td. Hope that was lucky because two in five or six games is awful high. Plus I had a kick return for td as well.

I noticed the long punt return averages almost immediately. I attributed it to the ridiculous punt distances at default. I've been working the punt power slider down and I believe the sweet spot is going to be between 41 and 45.

That said, try lowering the punt power slider so that A) punt averages are more realistic and B) the punters are not out-kicking their coverage.

I say all of this, of course, not knowing if it's something you've thought of or tried.

[skipwondah33]

40 games! Damn!

You still feel great about the game?

Yes sir, still even finding out little things in the game that I didn't know were in.

More and more impressed with how the run game is and feels as I continue to run more.

Just hope the patch doesn't change the game outside of the issues that need fixed.