Madden 25 Release tonight

[Mav]

Who is getting it?

I am picking mine up tomorrow morning from Best Buy, but my Xbox 360 GT is Maverick91579 if anyone wants to pound me.

I didn't play last year, and have been getting crushed by the computer on all madden.

Ill use the Browns.

[9er guy]

Originally Posted by Consistent1

I have noticed on All Madden that you can make 8 great plays in a row and get to say the ten. Then you have be be careful because crazy shit will happen like dudes making insane picks. And once you get inside the 20, it gets almost impossible to do anything but pass. I'm doing ok, but when it is tough to beat the Jags because of that, it kinda sucks. And receivers drop silly ass open looks. I think I'm just gonna set it to rookie for a couple games to run the score up.

Almost all my higher level games are within 10 points. Which is cool, it's competitive.

O-line adjustments are really important in the RZ trying to run.

Also, make sure you're getting yourself into good run looks against the d that you're facing. If you run a dive or a slam against against a 3-4 or 4-3 stack look, it's not going to work. But running a pitch or a counter against that same look and you could bust one.

[Aspengc8]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

I was finally able to steal my roommate's copy today. Ran three quick online games with the Chiefs and won all three pretty handily.

First thing I'd like to say is that the Chiefs are nasty as ****. We have a SHIT TON more speed at WR and in the secondary that we haven't had recently. The offensive line is just whatever but starting Schwartz at LG over Allen helps a bit. Also, Alex Smith is pretty damn effective. I like to run the read option from the pistol with him in goal-to-go situations. I scored 2 out of the 3 times I tried so that may be a go-to play from now on.

As far as the game goes, the physics feel different, particularly with cutting as the ball carrier. No more rounding out cuts and shit; the player will actually plant his foot and go. Sometimes it works to your advantage, sometime it doesn't; but I think it's more realistic either way. Also, the defenders don't react to the ball in the air like they probably should so passing seems easier. It really leaves it up to you to switch to the nearest defender and user control him. That'll quickly separate those that are good from those that aren't..

Last thing: has anyone actually used the LT button as the ball carrier yet? I literally didnt even touch it in 3 games and did pretty well. I was messing around with it in the skills challenges and it seems like it could be pretty lethal. Once I get that down I think I'll be pretty good.

yes, the LT precision modifier is insane with JC. I use the juke with it and sometimes spin. The juke is nuts. Knile Davis as decent enough truck to use it too.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Consistent1

I have noticed on All Madden that you can make 8 great plays in a row and get to say the ten. Then you have be be careful because crazy shit will happen like dudes making insane picks. And once you get inside the 20, it gets almost impossible to do anything but pass. I'm doing ok, but when it is tough to beat the Jags because of that, it kinda sucks. And receivers drop silly ass open looks. I think I'm just gonna set it to rookie for a couple games to run the score up.

Almost all my higher level games are within 10 points. Which is cool, it's competitive.

If I don't use the LT X button inside the 3, I cant score.

That's the hurdle. They stuff me every time.

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by Aspengc8

Are you using pass-commit? I played a bit during the pre-release and some yesterday. Right now I'm 13-1 online and about to break into top 300. This year's game is all about offense and it took me a while to get defense dialed in.

Let me throw out some stuff you will need to do if you plan on playing online and not getting smashed every game (if you only use KC like I do):

vs teams/kids that run a lot of option:
left trigger pre-snap, choose option commit running back. User the MLB/ILB or SS (i prefer berry) and scrape-exchange with the DE that is crashing on the RB. Nine times out of ten you will stop him for a loss or cause a fumble. Your basically playing the QB 1v1. Same holds true for speed option or triple, you got the QB.

play man defense:
get quick enough to make multiple adjustments on defense for man. There are so many options you can do now like disguise coverage, new man align feature and shading the receivers. You need to be fast enough to be able to shade all his outside (X/Z) receivers INSIDE, and shake his slots/wings OUTSIDE. I like to take away the middle myself so now im protected vs the deep outs/corner routes from the slots. If they throw it yourr guy will be in position every time to undercut the route if you shaded him.

mixing in zone:
throw man at him a whole quarter or half, now start mixing in zone WITH MAN ALIGN. I do this when blitzing and they get confused as hell. If you do play zone on passing downs, make sure to PASS COMMIT.

For run defense I've been ok with just playing gap control D. I like man coverage so I'll just use berry and come into the box if needed. If you use KC defense book, use 3-4 even vs I-form runners, stack or solid for ace/big/jumbo. 3-4 to me is like 3-4 over on steroids. It puts all your beef on the strong side, so all you need to do is user scrape/watch for counter or cutback with the weak side safety.

Send me a FR if your on xbox and we can play some unranked to lab. I need to work on some zone blitzes out of 2-4-5, none seem to get in.

GT: dirty trillo
send a message that your from CP

excellent.

Now, have you varied this at all with your nickel having QB responsibilities? Additionally, how often does PA out of the same alignment affect your effectiveness (really, is the run fake "hard" and does it look similar to the ZR play in the same alignment?)?

[Chest Rockwell]

I played a little last night and my biggest gripe so far is blockers failing to recognize/engage obvious blocks, especially on runs to the outside. Pretty much exactly what the Kotaku reviewer was saying in his piece.

I've never played franchise mode before, but am thinking about starting one tonight. Chest Huntwell's first order of business will be to package Alex and Fisher for Geno. Second to hire GoChiefs and Sweet Daddy Hate as hype men/fluffers dressed like Flavor Flav to accompany him everywhere yelling "Bow down before the magnificence of the Chococawk!" Third, have a poster made of him with a rocket launcher for an arm and a giant black mamba emerging from his shorts and curling down around his leg. Every player will be required to hang this in their locker. Hopefully that will stroke his fragile ego enough for development.

If I can't do that, then EA's franchise mode sucks.

[Consistent1]

Another funny thing is that if I play certain defensive formations I can get 5-6 sacks with some noname dude coming off the left end. I tried to play Watt thinking I would kill and he did nothing.

[KCrockaholic]

I'm pretty damn good. But I don't know how to shade my corners to a side like the dude was talking about a few posts up.

Haven't lost online yet btw.

[Aspengc8]

Originally Posted by Sorter

excellent.

Now, have you varied this at all with your nickel having QB responsibilities? Additionally, how often does PA out of the same alignment affect your effectiveness (really, is the run fake "hard" and does it look similar to the ZR play in the same alignment?)?

Not yet. At first, I was manually creating the scrape-exchange by usering the LB. Now I found some zone blitzes that have the exchange built in, so I can use berry to come down a bit and watch for the play action, or clean up if the QB gets past the exchange.

Its a work in progress and depends on the formation they use. Some of the pistol heavy sets are a ****ing pain to deal with cause the TE & Tackle go right to the second level.

Pretty much, I'm trying to mimic this:
http://smartfootball.com/defending-s...crape-exchange

Originally Posted by KCrockaholic

I'm pretty damn good. But I don't know how to shade my corners to a side like the dude was talking about a few posts up.

Haven't lost online yet btw.

To shade man covereage, press coverage audiable-> A button-> button of reciever you want to shade-> then left or right on the stick to shade. This is for 360 BTW. I have it down fast enough that I can shade 4 receivers before he gets the snap off.

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by Aspengc8

Not yet. At first, I was manually creating the scrape-exchange by usering the LB. Now I found some zone blitzes that have the exchange built in, so I can use berry to come down a bit and watch for the play action, or clean up if the QB gets past the exchange.

Its a work in progress and depends on the formation they use. Some of the pistol heavy sets are a ****ing pain to deal with cause the TE & Tackle go right to the second level.

Pretty much, I'm trying to mimic this:
http://smartfootball.com/defending-s...crape-exchange

.

It's a pretty good article. Most of the stuff Chris writes is worth reading.

Additionally, the pistol sucks (for defenses) because you can still get blocks from the backs (especially in Diamond alignments). I haven't played it yet but if there are some ZR plays with power concepts built in...that's going to be fun to try and figure out.

I really think it's weak as **** that the game boxes the read defender. People should have to learn some football instead of having it mapped out for them.

[Ceej]

I'm off tomorrow.

Might rent this game today and play online all day tomorrow.

[KCrockaholic]

Playing defense on all-madden is gonna take some practice. My scores are typically something like 42-30. Offense is easy as hell. It feels like defense hardly exists. Not saying I hate the game this year, but god dammit, I can't wait to see what happens when another company gets in on a NFL game for next gen.

[Thig Lyfe]

This ****in game is way too overwhelming for somebody who hasn't owned Madden since 07 for the PS2. Takes a goddamn hour to just start playing the first regular season game. Too many bells and whistles. And then when you finally play the game, it just doesn't look or feel right.

Meh, man. Meh.

[Hammock Parties]

Welp, **** you EA.

I'm going back to Madden PC. GENO WILL RISE.

[KCrockaholic]

Originally Posted by Thig Lyfe

This ****in game is way too overwhelming for somebody who hasn't owned Madden since 07 for the PS2. Takes a goddamn hour to just start playing the first regular season game. Too many bells and whistles. And then when you finally play the game, it just doesn't look or feel right.

Meh, man. Meh.

It feels like refurbished chaos. But there are no "new" features. We've seen it all before, and they really aren't even upgrades of the old features. The gameplay feels different, and there's part of it I really like.

But attempting to shed a block in Madden realistically has still never been in the game. Once you're suctioned onto a OT, you're pretty much done unless it's a coverage sack.

Just once, I want to see Hali do his duck and shed move with his hands and get around a LT. And I want to see Houston bullrush a RT back into the QB. The shit doesn't happen.

And Madden still doesn't know how to use defenses correctly. A 1 gap and 2 gap are all the same in Madden.

And I didn't even like the gameplay in 2K. But damn I've grown to hate EA more and more each year.

[Thig Lyfe]

Originally Posted by KCrockaholic

It feels like refurbished chaos. But there are no "new" features. We've seen it all before, and they really aren't even upgrades of the old features. The gameplay feels different, and there's part of it I really like.

This is a good way of describing it. It all seems familiar, but it's all just busier and lounder and bullshittier. The menu screens are overwhelming and the game itself is tweaked and shiny in mostly meaningless ways.