MADDEN NFL 25 Review (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows)

It's no lie that EA Sports has captured the hearts of many gamers with its immersive sports video game franchises. I'm talking about everything from the adrenaline of street racing to the high-stakes action of F1, football, and the NBA. EA Sports reigns supreme, and each new release only solidifies their dominance. 

Now, the studio is back with the latest installment in the Madden NFL series. The game is quite different from Madden 25, which debuted in 2013 to mark the studio's 25th anniversary. In fact, no other game in the franchise comes close to Madden 25. While EA Sports didn't reinvent the wheel, they certainly turned it into solid gold. 

With the NFL pre-season in full swing, what better way to get in the zone than with a virtual experience? Whether you're a die-hard football fan or just curious, this is one game you can't afford to miss. Buckle up as we dive into the highs, the lows, and everything in between in our Madden NFL 25 review.

Play Time, Boys!

Madden NFL 25 charges onto the field with revamped graphics and gameplay that go far beyond just a slight upgrade. This time, EA Sports has gone the extra mile to deliver an over-the-top football experience that fans have been craving. But does that mean Madden NFL 25 is a stark departure from its predecessor? Not at all. It still carries the same legacy, but with a fresh layer of depth in both gameplay and visuals.

While it's not the first in the series to feature a storyline, Madden NFL 25 plunges deeper into immersion with its Superstar and Franchise modes. In Superstar mode, you can create your players and guide them from rookie to pro. With character creation in your hands, the ball is truly in your court. You can choose between two ways to play this mode: The League or Showdown.

In The League, you lace up your boots and hit the field to climb the ranks to reach Tom Brady-level greatness. You'll need to conquer challenges and smash milestones, with every bit of progress tracked in real-time. After each session, you'll receive performance summaries highlighting areas where your avatar needs improvement. Plus, the rewards are plentiful, allowing you to enhance your avatar's appearance and skills.

Then there's Showdown mode, where you can flaunt your avatar's skills by competing against other superstars. This is where the best of the best go head-to-head. If you want to maximize your rewards, I recommend diving into Showdown and Superstar modes.

Take Care of the Football

The realism doesn't stop there. Madden 25 draws parallels to College Football 25, the entry that reignited the popular NCAA Football franchise. With authenticity as its backdrop, Madden revs up the virtual football experience with the Franchise mode. It's perhaps one of the best modes in this installment, where you work on improving your star athletes for the season. The fun doesn't stop there. You take control of your team by hiring and firing coordinators. The game allows you to bump up a coach to a coordinator with the right XP and developmental nous. Much of these is in Madden 24, but EA revamps the experience with new environments, rookie records and grand Super Bowl celebrations.

If you want to experience the full thrill of an NFL game, you should probably check out Madden Ultimate team mode. Here, you face off with other players' teams after building your own crème de la crème team. The best part is you get to add current-day players or legends to your team. 

Arguably, this is the best Franchise mode the series has seen yet. With an improved interface and flowing conversations, the storylines in Madden have never felt more alive. 

A Sight for Sore Eyes

Visually speaking, Madden NFL 25 knocks this one out of the pitch. The graphics are more fluid and the game has more light than its predecessors. The character models are perfectly rendered, although it's not a giant leap from the previous game, but noticeable. Ideally, it's the little things that matter. There's a delicate attention to detail. You can notice the stitching on the player's jerseys, adding a fine layer to the overall texture. 

On the flip side, the player models off the field were seemingly left out of these improvements. Take, for instance, the AI-generated draft class. Most players have a similar face foundation, with minor variations in the color of facial attributes. 

The soundtrack also goes a long way in providing an authentic NFL experience, only if you find them first. EA Studios went ham with a boatload of hip-hop tracks, with some giving you a nostalgia trip to the 2000s. The tracks don't automatically play when you load up the game. You have to manually pick your playlist, which I find to be a neat feature. Instead of listening to a bunch of songs where only a few get your adrenaline going, you are the master of your music. 

To top it off, the crowd cheers add to the immersive virtual experience. But the commentary does an awful job of complementing it. Let's face it: a good NFL game has about three commentaries, which gives fans or players a diverse range of sound instead of hearing the same voice over and over again. No offense, Kate Scott, but the commentary sounds like borderline AI. 

The Good

Looking back, Madden NFL 25 delivers a rich, immersive football experience packed with innovative features that elevate the gameplay to new heights. EA Studio's commitment to realism shines through in every detail. One standout enhancement is the introduction of FieldSENSE technology. This cutting-edge feature transforms the tackling mechanics from the simple collision of a ball carrier and a defender into a dynamic, physics-based experience. Instead of merely watching your player crash into an opponent, you now witness them strategically preparing for the hit, adding a new layer of depth and authenticity to each play.

EA Studios didn't stop there; they've also redefined the draft experience, making it feel more like a live event. The improved draft presentation immerses you in the action as team choices are displayed on a big board, with Roger Goodell announcing each selection. The realism is palpable as newly drafted players walk up to the podium to receive their team jerseys. For those awaiting their fate at home, the game delivers an emotional touch with cutscenes of them receiving the life-changing call. It's these subtle details that set Madden NFL 25 apart.

Beyond the visuals and presentation, Madden NFL 25 boasts several gameplay enhancements. Refined passing controls, improved pre-snap adjustments, more dynamic offensive line play, and an evolved hit-stick mechanic all contribute to a more engaging and realistic football experience. 

Wrapping it all up in a neat bow is the UI/UX presentation. The menu's design is organized, intuitive and fast. Using the right thumb stick, you can easily preview team, player, or league stats from the franchise mode. The best part is you don't have to enter or exit a menu for additional information. It's all responsive. 

The Bad

It's rare for new and high-quality games to launch without some imperfection. Unfortunately, Madden NFL 25 is no exception. While the game does attempt to exceed expectations in its presentation, it needs to catch up in some areas. For instance, despite adding two new commentary teams, the halftime highlights fail to capture the excitement and drama in real-life games. And don't get me started on the injury presentations. They lack a degree of realism that, if present, could transport you right onto the pitch.

In a more realistic presentation, injury scenes would receive various responses and reactions. The reactions stem from players, coaches, and medical staff. Instead, the game applies a diagnosis hat trick that is over even before the fat lady can take a breath to sing. 

Moreover, the game also tries to mimic real-life football scenarios by relying heavily on playbook logic. While the intention behind this approach is clear, it often leads to odd situations that break the immersion. Instead of fluid and believable gameplay, you're left with a jarring experience that constantly pulls you out of the game, reminding you that it's just a simulation. What should have been a seamless blend of strategy and realism ends up feeling half-baked, leaving you craving a more authentic football experience.

Verdict

So far, Madden NFL 25 is the best Madden game on new-generation consoles. The various improvements to controls and physics almost feel like taking back control of the player. Seeing all this come together is highly satisfying since previous titles certainly brushed over it without paying meticulous attention to sportsmanship. 

Although glitches can bog down the game's overall experience with sound balance problems and quality-of-life issues, it is a solid entry into the series. Sure, we could be in for a bit more, but the game checks most boxes and the improvements are crystal clear. EA Studios has raised the bar, ensuring every moment on the field feels authentic and rewarding.