EA Sports Madden NFL 25 Review

EA Sports Madden NFL 25 Review

With the release of College Football 25, fans of the long-running Madden franchise have been wondering if this could finally be the year that EA Sports delivers the professional football experience we’ve been craving for over a decade. After a solid week with Madden 25, I feel confident in two things: Madden 25 is not as good as College Football 25, though I have had more fun with it than any other Madden in a very, very long time.

One of the most striking aspects of Madden 25 is its impressive graphical fidelity. Leveraging the Frostbite engine to its full potential, Madden 25 boasts meticulously crafted player models, lifelike animations, and stunning stadium environments. NFL players exhibit an uncanny likeness, with facial expressions and reactions that mirror their real-life counterparts. Of course, not all players are afforded the same level of attention, but stars like Odell Beckham Jr. and Patrick Mahomes look phenomenal. The attention to detail extends to weather effects, dynamic crowds, and the intricacies of the field itself, making for what is undoubtedly one of the prettiest football games I’ve ever played.

Commentary Woes

Unfortunately, the upgrades to Madden 25’s presentation are hit-and-miss. Brandon Gaudin and Charles Davis return to the booth, in addition to two new commentary teams: Mike Tirico and Greg Olsen on one side and Kate Scott and Brock Huard on the other. It’s nice to hear new commentary, especially from Mike Tirico, but there’s an undeniable robotic feeling to a lot of their dialogue. The new teams just don’t sound as natural as I’d like. Kate Scott, specifically, is almost unbearable to listen to. It wasn’t long before I was begging for an option to choose my commentary team outside of quickplay.

Thankfully, commentary has been solid as far as contextual relevancy goes. I’ve noticed a few erroneous calls here and there, but it’s much better than the abysmal commentary bugs that permeated Madden 24.

On the field, Madden 25 retains the fundamental gameplay mechanics that have defined the series for decades. However, this latest iteration introduces several innovative features catering to newcomers and seasoned veterans. FieldSENSE has seen a few significant upgrades, the most noticeable being Madden 25’s physics system. Things like weight, speed, timing, and positioning affect a hit more than ever, culminating in a tackling system that feels refreshingly authentic. It almost feels like a sin to admit, given that defense has been such a bore in Madden over the last decade, but I’ve been having a lot of fun with it in Madden 25.

Sweet Fluidity

Furthermore, the revamped player movement system introduces fluidity to player actions, allowing for more nuanced control over running, passing, and tackling. The implementation of real-world physics makes collisions and interactions between players feel organic. If there’s anything for Madden 25 to hang its hat on, it’s that many of the players accurately represent their real-life counterparts. While the learning curve may be steep for new players, these mechanics will surely resonate with veterans craving a more intricate and rewarding gameplay experience.

The passing system has also received an upgrade. Madden 25 implements a new passing mechanic that allows for greater control and precision. Players can now use various types of throws based on the intended trajectory and distance, allowing for a more tailored approach when strategizing offensive plays. This system draws a lot of inspiration from College Football 25. Throwing the ball in Madden 25 feels exciting in ways it hasn’t throughout the years. If the teams behind College Football and Madden can continue to work together to deliver in ways like this, the years ahead look much brighter than before.

Though typical of the Madden franchise, Madden 25 doesn’t come without its technical hiccups. Clipping is still a jarringly noticeable issue. Connections to servers have been highly unreliable. Most infuriating is the number of times it’s completely frozen on me in the middle of a game. It might be something in the water at EA, but whatever happened to the days of their sports games working without all the headaches? For as much as I enjoy the improved feeling of the defensive game and the more nuanced passing, it means nothing if I can’t be confident that I’ll be able to play four quarters without the game locking up.

Goodell Goodness

In addition, I’m losing faith in EA’s ability to deliver game modes that actually sink their hooks into the player base. Franchise mode has seen a few updates, most notably the draft getting a significant overhaul, complete with Roger Goodell welcoming draftees to their new teams. But the promise of managing storylines between games inevitably falls flat. I never felt like I was building a connection with my players. It was more akin to a tedious trial of tapping through mediocre dialogue that offered no stakes.

With that being said, there’s no doubt that EA has built a solid foundation with Madden 25 in which to build upon in the future. The gameplay is solid. Now it’s just a matter of putting that same effort into the rest of the package.

Madden 25 emerges as a strong continuation of the series, combining stellar player models and environments with an overall improved on-field experience. It’s not perfect by any means, but when compared to Madden entries over the last ten years, Madden 25 easily sits at the top. Though, I understand that the bar wasn’t set very high in the first place.

With College Football 25 being a ton of fun and Madden 25 taking a large step in the right direction, I can safely say that I’m excited for what’s to come. See you on the gridiron.

***A PS5 code was provided for this review***