Madden NFL 17 (Video Game Review)

Electronic Arts has released Madden NFL 17 for Xbox and PlayStation.

Madden NFL 17 raises the bar once again for the franchise with new gameplay features, improvements and commentaries. The new release focuses more on making the gameplay experience more entertaining than previous releases while focusing on accessibility and authenticity.

Madden NFL 17 has added a ton of new accessibility features with Automatic Skill Moves, Run Path Assist and Concept Counters. Automatic Skill Moves allow ball carriers to make the most appropriate moves with no player input. This new feature has been amplified by the new onscreen visuals that show the direction of the player and their projected path through Run Path Assist. The ability to call the perfect play has never been easier thanks to the new Concept Counters which allows players to identify what the offense is doing and call plays to stop it. On top of these new accessibility features, players will also see the return of the First Interactive Experience, Skills Trainer, and On-Screen Prompts.

The Franchise Mode in Madden NFL 17 has been overhauled this year with Play the Moments and Big Decisions allowing players to play the game in an entirely new light.

Play the Moments reduces the time it takes to play each game by allowing you to control the most important parts of each play through. This feature helps you make it through seasons much faster with the Sim speed being completely adjustable. Another great addition to the Franchise is Big Decisions which allows you to choose to bring back star players from injury, renegotiate contracts and even see every team skill at a glance to make better decisions about where to spend time and energy.

The developers of Madden have also been listening to requests from the community and have added some of these features into NFL 17. Players now have the ability to edit everything about their appearance and equipment alongside a new in-game ticker and practice squads.

Madden NFL 17 is gorgeous in regards to its visuals and soundtrack which have made this year's game experience more realistic than ever before. The gameplay has been enhanced with the addition of new ratings-based skill moves alongside animations that beautifully demonstrate the new effects of these moves. The game has also improved pass coverage with expanded defensive zones and the defensive swat mechanic. Madden NFL 17 has expanded the options for fakes on kicks and punts alongside the new kick meter to set power and accuracy.

One of the best new additions to Madden NFL 17 is the revamped ball physics that change everything you knew about playing the game. The introduction of real ball physics now make tipped passes more unpredictable with the ball reacting more realistically to fumbles. Once you have mastered all of the great new content in Madden NFL 17 then you can try your hand at building the ultimate Fantasy Team with Ultimate Team. Madden Ultimate Team offers up hundreds of challenges to try your hand at with an improved Solo Challenge and new Chemistry system. The Solo Challenge has improved with the new "end conditions" and "restart" feature with unique commentary to drive the immersion and fun.

In the end, Madden NFL 17 is another fantastic release in the franchise with its broadcast quality presentation, slew of new content and complete overhaul of its gameplay mechanics. Madden NFL 17 is developed in Orlando, Florida by EA Tiburon and is available now for Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3. To learn more, visit the official Madden NFL 17 website.


Score: 8.5 out of 10
Reviewed for Xbox One