Playbook Madden15_1-2

New Orleans Saints Gameday HQ

For the past quarter century, the Madden series has become
an institution for both the gaming industry and pop culture.
Hardcore football fans patiently wait every August for the
simple pleasure of picking up the latest installment in hopes of
living vicariously through their favorite NFL teams. Coming off
its celebratory 25th anniversary, EA is back to form and all set for
kickoff with Madden NFL 15—creating a fresher virtual gridiron
experience highlighted by improved gameplay and graphics—on
new gaming platforms.
Looking at this year’s game, EA clearly set its marker on
enhancing the visuals, from live animations to the threedimensional
grass on the field. The depiction on player likeness
is insanely realistic to the point where you can practically spot
every one of Colin Kaepernick’s tattoos—a testament to the
game’s attention to detail and the superior execution. While the
previous-gen versions (PS3, Xbox 360) look solid, PS4 and Xbox
One owners have the luxury of basking in modern graphics,
which according to the developers is built on the foundation
of the next-gen consoles and delivers 10 times the detail than
its predecessor.
Piggybacking off the gorgeous presentation is the updated AI
system known as Player Sense 2.0, giving all players intelligence
based on their real-life football IQs. Seasoned quarterbacks
that know how to get around the pocket will read defenders
quicker and complete passes before hitting the grass. You can
expect guys like Peyton Manning to call hot routes or execute
“Omaha” audibles when under pressure, too. And with the EA
Ignite engine powering everything, it’s somewhat easier to
protect the quarterback thanks to the dynamic offensive line
sorting and shifting.
But don’t be fooled into thinking your defense will fold in
crunch time. EA’s intentions were to create the “most immersive
defensive gameplay control in history.” That’s exactly what it
did, as scoring is difficult—extremely difficult. The Ignite engine
actually favors the defensive line, introducing new pass rush
mechanics that triggers power moves when entangled with a
blocker, making it simpler to slip blocks and tackles. Speaking of
tackles, the new takedown system offers three different options:
PLAYBOOK
MADDEN NFL 15