Nerds That Geek Game Review: ‘Madden 20’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

You know, I have to admit that I write myself into a corner when it comes EA Sports’ annual release of Madden. Because once I get my hands on the game, I’m immediately in bliss mode, and I play it incessantly and fall in love with it, without really taking notice of the little things that simply don’t work within the game itself. Take for example last year’s release. For while EA was able to finally provide fans everywhere with an ample and realistic running game, something went awry with the passing game and I quickly found myself irritated at the fact that I gave it such a glowing review without realizing that Cover 3 was now an invincible play for the AI in this game and that defensive backs and linebackers could magically fly five years to the ball and put an end to a perfect pass.
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Which quite frankly, prompted me to take a moment and really dive into Madden 20 before writing about it. So that this time around I could truly see if EA had done a better job with creating the realistic football environment they’ve been working toward for decades now and well, after toying about in this world for a couple of weeks now, I have to say, that I’m impressed with what EA has to offer. For starters, this year’s game does indeed fix the passing problems that were present last year, and while DBs and LBs can still make life hell for you in the passing game, they can no longer fly to the ball like a superhero and stop the play, and the wonder of this game doesn’t quite end with its newly modified passing game.

Because I have to admit that I am quite intrigued and quite impressed with the addition of Superstar X-Factor Abilities since it’s a feature that definitely mirrors the real-life game. After all, there are indeed some genuine superstars in the NFL, the kind of guys that can take over a game and make life hell for either offenses or defenses, depending on which side of the ball they play upon. And plunking this into the game adds a new layer of difficulty and surprise because once a superstar gets hot they do their thing and you have to react quickly to stop them before they do some serious damage and well, I love this feature, it’s way overdue and I cannot wait to see how it enhances the game further once I get to the playoffs and the Super Bowl. 

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Plus, there’s also the arrival/return of what is in essence a personal career mode, named ‘Face of the Franchise’ in this year’s edition of the game. It’s basically your opportunity to take control of a player that you can model after your likeness or a likeness of your choosing before you guide their career from the college playoffs to the draft and their first NFL team and this is actually pretty slick. It has the feel of Longshot in the college segments and grows more business based as the NFL comes into play. But I dig how you’re privy to more private conversations from teammates and coaches once your character gets into the league. Because that adds new depth to this game since normally one is relegated to franchise mode’s faux Twitter feed in order to get any feedback on their respective team or player.
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However, while these features are indeed cool in their own right, presentation is something that is paramount to me. Because we play this game to feel as though we’re diving into the game itself and Madden 20 does a fine job with that as well. For not only does it feel like you’re watching a genuine television broadcast since the pre-game stuff feels like you’re tuning in, you also feel as though you’re at the stadium itself. Because this year’s game takes full advantage of surround sound technology and loud stadiums are loud, and for the first time in a long time you can hear the announcer speaking over the intercom as he breaks down what just happened and what the fans can expect next and that’s just a real treat when all is said and done. Because there’s something special about hearing the roar of the hometown fans when you score a touchdown or make a big play and that just makes for an immersive and fun experience.

But everything we’ve covered here, speaks volumes to the details that only hardcore football fans love and demand, which begs an important question; is this game worth it for the casual player and fan? Absolutely. For there’s the still the option to just assume the identity of your favorite quarterback on your favorite team and let it rip all day long. Or just put on the headset as a coach and make the play calls you think are best for your favorite franchise and well, in the end, this is just another magnificent addition to this storied gaming franchise. Which is something I feel I can say with confidence because after two weeks of playing it, I still find myself coming back for more and that’s really the mark of a good game, when you simply cannot put it down. 

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