OTF's Blue Publication September 2017
Are you ready for
“Madden season”?
August 31, 2017
Another NFL season is
upon us, so it must be “Madden season” once again. This year’s edition of “Madden NFL”, entitled
“Madden NFL 18”, successfully builds off last year’s game. New features are sure to entertain even the
most casual football fans. Let’s take a
look at what’s in store for armchair quarterbacks this season.
First off, Madden
veterans and newcomers alike will enjoy the new “Longshot” mode. “Longshot” is a story mode where you take
control of “Devin Wade”, a Texas-born quarterback, as he tries to make it to
the NFL. Along the way, you’ll have to
go through high school and college games, as well as make some important
decisions. Can you guide Wade to NFL
stardom, or will the young quarterback be just another “flash in the pan”?
As was the case last
year, “Madden NFL 18” includes a solid franchise mode, in which one can play as
a head coach, player, or owner. As a
team owner, players can hire/fire staff, set ticket and merchandise prices, and
even build new stadiums. Not feeling the
home crowds in your city? Head for greener pastures, and relocate your
franchise! Owner mode gives you the ability to set down roots in various
cities. These include St. Louis, Mexico
City, Toronto, and London, just to name a few.
Just watch out for backlash in the form of fan outrage.
Another great feature of
“Madden NFL18” is the game’s incredible presentation, which includes
mind-blowing graphics. If one wasn’t
already aware that they were playing a game, they could easily believe that
they were taking in a real life NFL broadcast on CBS or Fox. The true-to-life presentation is, indeed,
“that damn good”. Kudos to the team at
EA Sports for getting this important feature right.
So in which areas does
“Madden NFL 18” come up “short of the marker”? Although there are some good
songs on this year’s soundtrack, I feel like the overall music experience needs
work. Neither Franchise mode or “Play
Now” gives you the option of choosing classic teams, such as previous editions
of this game did. Personally, I believe
this feature needs to return soon. And
Patriot haters will not be pleased with the selection of Tom Brady for the
game’s cover.
Other than these oversights,
“Madden NFL 18” is an excellent, fun-filled game. It could very well be the year’s best sports
title to date. If you’re “ready for some
football”, I highly recommend picking up a copy at your local gaming
outlet.
“Madden NFL 18” is
available for the PS4 and Xbox One gaming platforms now. Retail price at “Gamestop” is about
sixty-five dollars.
– CTHuskyMan