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The Madden franchise is the only big name in American Football based games. There are some other games that are starting to kick up a storm, Backbreakers in particular, but none of them can approach Madden. The one ever present problem with Madden, and most annual sports games, is that they have to overcome the idea that they are nothing more than roster updates, they have to change enough each iteration to justify another purchase each year.

The major change EA Sports made to this year’s Madden is a complete overhaul of the defence system. Before, the only involved way to play defence was to play as a wide receiver and hope for interceptions, but, with the new way you can control the offensive line, you can really get in there and make a difference. Basically, as soon as the ball is snapped, you have to time your start with the right trigger to get off the line fast then, when met with a blocker, you can change which direction you break off to try and get a big tackle. The one bad thing about the new defensive system is the (admittedly optional) defensive camera which is too limiting to be a legitimate way to play the game. However, given that this is completely optional, it really can’t be considered a negative point.

 

 

Along with the defensive changes there are two new items on the main menu: a new, very in depth tutorial and a brand new Gauntlet Mode. The only reason that the tutorial is being mentioned at all is because of how insanely in depth it is, not only does it explain things to people who are new to Madden, it also helps people who are new to American Football as a whole. It explains why certain defences are good against certain plays, how to spot those defences as an offence and everything in between, it’s really helpful if you’re trying to get into American Football as a sport. The second new mode is the Gauntlet. The Gauntlet is basically a series of skill games with boss levels every five levels, these levels are some ridiculous challenge, like kicking a field goal in hurricane winds or running past a whole team stepping over falling blockers, it breaks up the pacing really nicely. The whole mode is about seeing if you can complete the 40 tier challenge in five lives and it is a great, intense way to play the game.

Improving on the Madden franchise is a tricky process, if you change too much, you risk leaving the game terrible and unrecognisable by the Madden faithful, change too little and you open yourself up to criticism of releasing a money grabbing roster update. Madden 15 walks this rope and, apart from some minor glitches and a poor camera angle, it barely even stumbles. Madden 15 is a great example of a game improving in an iteration without losing its roots.