EA Sports made a huge splash at E3 2014 by showing off plenty of new footage and gameplay demos for their upcoming library of games that includes EA Sports UFC, NHL 15 and more. We were lucky enough to get a chance to go hands-on with Madden NFL 15 live from the show floor. The first thing that becomes apparent when playing the upcoming game is the extra year EA Sports has had to spend time with the Ignite game engine has served the team well. Madden NFL 15 features easily the best graphics the game series has ever produced, and new improvements to the game's presentation now more accurately rivals that of a real game on Sunday. The team noted they had brought in a new cinematographer to truly capture the broadcast presentation of a real NFL game and reflect it in the newest version of Madden NFL. Though some of the features weren't finalized including heading back the studio for game breakdowns at halftime, the game still treated us to an intro clip complete with some of the key matchups to watch during the game.
Some of the biggest changes coming to Madden NFL 15 will be on the defensive side of the ball, which is perfect following the announcement of Seattle Seahawks defensive back Richard Sherman as Madden NFL 15 as cover athlete. One of the biggest changes will be the all new camera angles available to defensive players that allow players to flip the camera view or even see the play through eyes of a specific player locked on to on defense. It definitely takes some time to adjust to using new camera views on defense after spending so many years with the camera focused on the offense, but it actually seemed to improve the defender's playmaker ability after a while of playing from the different viewpoint.
Defenders now have more moves to use in order to shed blocks and get to the quarterback or ball carriers in Madden NFL 15. An improved ability to jump the snap and gain an advantage over offensive lineman will be included in the new release, and it works very well for getting some instant pressure on quarterbacks or to stop plays in the backfield. New power moves, stunts, spins and swim moves have also been added to help get past blockers, or players can simply choose to use power defensive linemen and push and direct weaker offensive lineman back into the face of the quarterback for a different type of disruption. Even with all the improvements, a player still needs to be smart and not over pursue a play, especially when going against scrambling quarterbacks, as we found out the hard way on a certain play during our time with the game.
Another noteworthy change for Madden NFL 15 is the new tackle system that challenges players to choose between unloading for a big hit on a ball carrier and a chance for a fumble or going for a more standard tackle that is much more likely to bring down the offensive player in a single hit. While the change isn't as revolutionary as the first time EA Sports unveiled the Hit Stick, the feature does mean players will need to slightly adjust how they play the game and look for the big hit only in certain situations. The big hit can be triggered by simply holding in a button while going for a tackle, and it's so similar to the Hit Stick that it's difficult to call the new tackle control an improvement as much as a simple a difference.
A couple of new features that weren't included in the early demo but will be included in the final version of Madden NFL 15 are the new crowd-sourced play call and Gauntlet mode. The crowd-sourced play call will be a nice improvement that will allow players to receive a play call based on the down and distance and what plays players typically call in online matches in those specific situations. There will be several options for players to quickly narrow the search and look for a play they like out of the recommendations such as looking at expert level opinions or looking for more traditional formations. The feature will no doubt be more helpful than Ask Madden, which has only really ever been useful for finding extra point attempt play calls in the past.
Gauntlet Mode will be added to the Skills Trainer in Madden NFL 15 to allow gamers to practice and hone their skills and then really put the knowledge to the test in the Gauntlet. The Skills Trainer will test a gamer's knowledge of the sport and game through teaching players when to call audibles and hot routes, when to hand the ball off on an option play and more. When the player is most confident in their abilities in the game, The Gauntlet can be challenged for even tougher challenges and even boss battles against some of the best players in the sport for the greatest challenge.
Madden NFL 15 will no doubt be a special game when it arrives for next and current generation consoles. The short time we were able to spend with it showed EA Sports is committed to improving the game through the addition of new features and tweaking of established content. New defensive improvements will change the way gamers play the game, while new presentation and studio analysis is just plain cool for fans of the sport. Another year with the Ignite Engine means improved graphics and player animations as well, and we can't wait to see what other great features EA Sports will reveal for Madden NFL 15 in the couple of months leading up to the game's release. Stay tuned for future updates on Madden NFL 15, as we get closer to the August 26th launch date.
Madden NFL 15 is now available for preorder from most major retailers for the MSRP of $59.99 and is scheduled to release on August 26, 2014 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One and Xbox 360. Madden NFL 15 is not yet rated. For more information on the game, check out the official Madden NFL 15 website.
Game Features:
- Online Multiplayer 1-2
- New Defensive Controls
- New Defensive Camera Angles
- Improved Game Presentation
- Practice Madden Skills in Gauntlet Mode
Game Information:
Developer & Publisher: EA Sports
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One (previewed) & Xbox 360
Release Date: August 26, 2014