Platform:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Publisher:
EA Sports
Developer:
Tiburon
Release:
Rating:
Everyone
Madden NFL 23 effectively pushed the ball downfield for EA Sports' long-running franchise. Though the implementation of the foundational FieldSense system, which revamped how the gameplay feels on both sides of the ball, was solid, much like any rookie, it was clear it still needed to develop in order to reach its full potential.
Madden NFL 24 carries forward the gameplay improvements from last year while adding some exciting additions to modes like Franchise and the single-player-focused career mode. I traveled to Electronic Arts in Redwood Shores, California, to learn about what's new in this year's game and get my hands on the most recent build of the annualized football title.
Laying the Groundwork
FieldSense evolves further in Madden NFL 24, with major improvements on both sides of the ball. A new contested catch tackle system provides defenders with more control when playing the receiver, and new tackle types offer up more ways to hit the player with the ball. To contend with this, the offense gets new tools and improvements, with the biggest leap ahead addressing a longstanding problem with the Madden franchise: the receivers' loss of momentum after they catch a ball. Now, if you hit a receiver in stride, they won't bafflingly slow down as they did in prior games. While I had my hands on this year's game, I noticed major improvements in how receivers behave after catching the ball, with crossing and streak routes playing out in a more effective manner. Receivers can also make diving catches, but now, QBs can also dive and jump into their passes, making for more dynamic plays. At launch, Patrick Mahomes will be the only NFL QB with the ability to dive into his passes, but you'll be able to unlock it as an ability in your career mode (more on that mode later).
Those holding the ball aren't the only ones who get hit on the field, and the Hit Everything system introduced in Madden NFL 23 expands to blockers in Madden NFL 24. In fact, blockers receive a huge boost in this title, including dynamic double teams, chip blocks, and the ability to branch in and out of double teams and go from defender to defender. Blockers now spot and lock on to their targets earlier, allowing players to commit to their running lanes sooner. While playing, I noticed major improvements to the running lanes; I'm typically a pass-first player, but I found myself relying more heavily on the run game.
With Madden NFL 24, developer EA Tiburon aims to make the experience of playing each team feel different. In addition to the continued use of authentic soundtracks for each stadium, as well as unique home-field advantages and the further expansion of each team's playbooks, the developers have improved the A.I. in various ways. Moving forward, the A.I. uses the skill-based passing introduced in last year's game, allowing for more precise throws based on the skill level you compete against. New A.I. logic gives the CPU-controlled teams more knowledge on how to avoid incoming pressure, as well as better awareness of the down and distance, plus the skills of the receivers and defenders. This was all done in service to the single-player experience, giving each team a different feeling to play against.
On top of that, ballcarrier A.I. has also received an upgrade, with a new vision and awareness grid from the Frostbite engine continually updating to make sure the man with the ball carries along an optimal path. Meanwhile, defenders also receive upgrades in the form of improved coverage positioning, new tackles to decrease the effectiveness of high-ball throws, increased break times, and new movements. Defenses also now react to repetitive play calls, meaning that your third time running the same offensive play is less likely to be effective than the first time you ran it. However, perhaps the biggest improvement to defense comes in the form of what the developer is taking away from their repertoire: their "psychic" abilities. In past games, defenders would magically swat away passes they weren't even looking at or preemptively run the receiver's route before the receiver himself ran it. Those A.I. anomalies are gone in this entry, making for more realistic defensive play.
Madden NFL 24 also emphasizes improvements in the times when nobody has the ball. These live-ball improvements add updated onside kicks with new bounce physics and animations to make for more realistic outcomes. When the ball pokes out of a ballcarrier's arms to create a fumble, the A.I. of the players has been adjusted, and the fumble recovery animations have been updated to create more opportunities where the players will dive on the ball or scoop and run. I didn't get a chance to experience any fumbles during my hands-on time, but when you add new logic for contested fumbles, I have high hopes that these rarely-used but ever-important scenarios will play out better than they have in past years.
A Good Look
These gameplay improvements are made more effective by the presentation, which again receives a boost from last year with raytracing added to the entire stadium and new details like relaxed jersey number rules, rear hand warmers, and new equipment additions. A new gameplay emotion system aims to make big-play moments feel even bigger. As the development team puts it, they want the emotion you're feeling on the couch to be reflected by the players on the field. During my hands-on time, I notice better and more appropriate post-play animations, with the teammates of the celebrating player sharing in the emotions. That means that whether you score a crucial touchdown during a close game or a massive sack to force a fourth and long, you'll see noticeable differences in how the teams behave following a big play.
Speaking of how players look, Madden NFL 24 overhauls all of the franchise's character models by replacing the skeletons inside of each character on the screen. Named Sapien, this next-generation skeleton rebuilds all players, coaches, fans, and referees (who return to the field of play) from the ground up. Players are built from four archetypes (standard, thin, muscular, or heavy), then tweaked to look more realistic. While I didn't notice a huge difference during my hands-on session, seeing the side-by-side comparison of how the players look makes it obvious that this system is a huge step forward. Tiburon claims Sapien's improved proportions will affect every aspect of gameplay, but the biggest change during my short time in the game came in how the players looked when they walked; since the game went to 3D models, every player kind of waddled around after the whistle. Now, they stand upright and walk more like humans. Sapien introduces various subtle improvements, but ultimately, it makes the experience of playing a game look and feel better. Madden NFL 24 is the first game to use Sapien, but the plan is to expand the skeleton to the character models across all EA Sports titles.
The (Mini) Game Within the Game
Many years after their disappearance, the popular minigames from previous iterations return in full force in Madden NFL 24. These games allow you to focus on specific areas of the game of football to try and achieve the highest score. At launch, Madden NFL 24 will feature at least 25 minigames, with more to come through the game's live-service roadmap. At launch, players can compete in games like Target Passing, Rushing Attack, Close Quarters, Option Attack, and my personal favorite, Survival.