Madden NFL 17 Reviews
Madden NFL 17 isn’t leaps and bounds ahead of what EA Tiburon was able to accomplish last year, but it builds on a very solid foundation with only a few hiccups and annoyances to speak of.
Good gameplay improvements and a much needed change in commentary have made the in-game experience feel fresh, but the offline game modes have largely been ignored with the same boring options except for the minor inclusion of game planning that is generally determined by the CPU anyways. Madden is fun, but running game improvements aren't enough to suggest that this is worthy of another $60 purchase.
Madden NFL 17 certainly isn't a release for the series that introduces sweeping changes for the annual franchise. Smart tweaks to familiar modes, a slew of accesibility features, and a presentation that continues to impress, it's hard to knock this year's package for what it contains. NFL 17 builds off of the base that we've seen established over the last couple of years, for better or worse.
Of course, all stories need an ending. To the point, Madden NFL 17 is a quality Madden game. It does a lot of things right, and fixes most of the major shortcomings of previous editions. If you’ve lapsed in the series or just want to know if you should grab this year’s game, go forward knowing that you will get a lot of mileage from it. It’s good. At the same time, however, it is still absolutely a Madden game, and in the 12th year of EA’s exclusivity deal with the NFL it’s hard not to pine for a little competition. Sunrise, sunset.
Overall, the game is very fun and has a lot of positives, but it's clear that the developers tried a little too hard in some areas and made things a tiny bit worse. Overall, very solid game, but I still can't say it's "great" or the "best Madden ever" because it isn't. It will go down as one of the most game changing Madden games I'm sure though for its additions of updated commentary and defensive play making. Madden 2005 was easily the best Madden game to come out in the history of the franchise and it's not even close. I'm still not sure why they aren't bringing a lot of that stuff back!
With Madden as one of the longest running franchises in the gaming industry, coming this far from such modest beginnings proves that it has a great team behind it. The directive seems clear in Madden NFL 17 as MUT sees the smartest enhancements this year, but gameplay isn’t far behind either. The trenches have never had this level of attention, so the hard-nose side of the game holds proper presentation alongside its vertical counterpart.
It's icky at times, but Madden 17 is definitely a step up. If you skipped a year, now is probably the time to come back around. Coming back around? Kind of like the Ravens, who have an open path to the playoffs again with a healthy Flacco. You heard it here first, folks.
On its own Madden NFL 17 looks great. Everything from the stadiums to the players, Madden NFL 17 does an excellent job at capturing the NFL experience.
Madden 17 scores in many ways, and there’s more to like than there is to hate, but we can’t ignore the flags on the field. Gameplay, presentation and customization have taken strides, but there’s still work to do.
Madden NFL 17 gives fans what they have been asking for and more, including an expanded Franchise Mode and smarter more accurate AI. This is a love letter to any die-hard football fan.The gameplay is solid and more accessible. Sports games have never come this close to making you feel like you were running on the field.
So at the end of the day, is Madden NFL 17 worth the upgrade from last year’s solid entry? The gameplay received just the right amount of polish, Franchise Mode has gone through some long-awaited construction, and the presentation has been enhanced tenfold, so I’d say yes.
Madden NFL 17 is not a perfect game. You still have a handful of oddball AI and animation moments, but they are far fewer between than in years past and this year's iteration delivers a much more authentic experience than any football game has to date. Is Madden NFL 17 worth upgrading to if you already own last year's version? I believe so as it is a step forward in just about every area and there were no discernible steps backwards.
Whether a seasoned pro or a first time player, Madden will guide you in the right direction to fun.
Refinement brings excitement, for newcomers and pros alike. Madden NFL 17 has the stride and the force - it's just a few minor quibbles that stop it becoming legendary.
Madden NFL 17 isn’t perfect, but it’s a damn fine football simulation that puts the game first, and then gives you lots of ways to play it. There’s teaching tools to whip even the most noobish of newbies into Football Gods, and the strong core gameplay and large variety of modes should please longtime fans. If you’re a football fan, it shouldn’t be missed.
Madden 17 meets expectations handedly and is poised to break out as one of video game's most elite (sup, Joe Flacco?) simulation titles.
By focusing on improving the minute that matters on and off the field – EA Tiburon have created an experience that is a phenomenal triumph.
While not without its flaws, Madden NFL 17 is still a very enjoyable experience. Enough changes have been made to the formula to make it a more interesting and realistic experience, which in turn makes it more enjoyable to play. While minor gameplay and menu problems do hold it back from greatness, most of the game is very well made. Fans of the series have no reason not to pick this up, and this is also a good starting point for those who want to jump into the series. It will be interesting to see where the series goes from here, as this game sets a high standard for future entries in the series.
Madden NFL 17 is all about not fixing what isn’t broken. Unlike last year, not a whole lot is radically different for better or for worse.
Overall, Madden 17 could use some more fine-tuning – be that in the number of catches or injuries that happen in an average campaign – but it still sits at a very high level, just like its predecessor.