There is a perfect word to describe Madden NFL 22. Frustrating. That’s the feeling I’ll remember when I stop playing this game. There are too many mistakes and a badly prepared football experience. I was lucky (or unlucky) to test both versions of the game for the previous and current generation of consoles. And I find it inconceivable that the PC version is identical to the PS4 and Xbox One and that all new features are left out. And yes, the added features and EA trumpets are things that were in previous games and have returned years later.
For this review, I’ll be focusing on Madden NFL 22 for PS5 and Xbox Series X | S. Although I’ll mention the versions of the previous consoles and PC if necessary.
I mentioned earlier that the game has problems, and serious ones. They’re the kind of thing that takes the fun out of a game that would otherwise have been good. Let me name a few accounts.
There are videos online that you can watch if you have any specific aspects of Madden NFL 22 to study. And that’s fine, but when it comes to bugs, it’s time to talk about players getting stuck on a move and getting frozen. I also had a touchdown in an Ultimate Team challenge, and I did, but at the same time the opposing team raised the yellow flag. Of course, I refused the penalty and made my touchdown, but the challenge failed because, according to the game, I hadn’t done it. I’ve even seen machine-controlled players throw the ball the wrong way.
In the picture below you can see an opponent making an interception. With one hand. Pierced my player’s head. On top of that, what has perhaps frustrated me the most and almost made me scream, some really stupid and incompetent players. Open wings do not catch the balls, and if they do, the ball will fall towards them the moment they have the slightest contact with an opponent. There are players who are not interested in blocking their opponents even when they have it in front of them. Others don’t bother raising their arms to catch the ball that ends up hitting their head. And then we have a lot of other things that no football player with the worst hangover would do, tactically or in execution. The game has problems.
At least the new generation has some small improvements. Or changes as you like. There’s a new “Momentum” system that fills an indicator at the top of the screen during games when you perform well, or even make a touchdown or interception. There are also two other “features” that each team can unlock during a game and that depend on each game. Your players may never get tired, or the arrows pointing your players’ path may get “restless” (see picture below). A novelty that is not included in the PS4 or Xbox One version, nor in the PC version.
On the flip side, the public has more detail, new animations, and good news, but they still don’t cover up how boring it is to see the same fans on the field over and over again. Not to mention those who wear the colors of one team but cheer on the other. Jackets.
The game modes available are exactly the same as we had last year. The Yard, the equivalent of FIFA’s Volta in Madden, is back. It’s an attempt to make the sport look more attractive, but with brightly colored and neon colored suits. Its different rules make it faster and more fun, but after a few games it doesn’t get that interesting anymore. Additionally, it has become another window for EA Sports to make money beyond Ultimate Team. COURAGE, as they say, is of course there again. Why should you remove this game mode? And yes, it’s like last year. Exactly the same: complete challenges, unlock players, buy trading cards and hope to make the best players build a dream team.
Face of the Franchise, Madden NFL 22’s career mode, isn’t exactly a Christmas present. It’s the same show where you play as a promising young soccer player (now you can choose four different positions on the field) and face all sorts of challenges in your career to become a star. It’s a pretty short mode that sometimes looks more like a very long advertisement for a clothing brand. If you’ve played this modality before, it’s the exact same experience. Improvements are needed as it is very far from what similar ones offer in NBA 2K or FIFA.
Franchise, on the other hand, has finally seen improvements, albeit with mixed results. It is the way most hours are invested, and it has certainly always been regular. Now we can hire and fire coaches even though there is no offer
Role play style skill tree for each trainer. I want different coaches who are good at different things. Also new are the weekly strategies and tactical plans for each game to help you spot the weaknesses of your opponents and your own. You can change your tactic in the middle of the game if it doesn’t work well and you may need to explain this in a press conference later.
We’re sorry. The new generation brings some innovations, but they can’t save such a frustrating game because of its problems. The hint you have is based on the new generation version. So if you plan to buy it in the previous one or on the PC, keep in mind that the absence of the messages will decrease the note by about a point. It’s daunting not to see any noticeable improvement. Additionally, EA has made an agreement to extend its exclusivity and have the rights through 2026. You need something to wake her up.
