Madden 25 Ultimate Team

Ultimate Team takes on a different look in Madden 25 with the addition of Team Chemistry, Seasons, and a few others. These new elements may change the way users set up line-ups and plan their strategy for this game mode.

There are 4 chemistry styles for both offense and defense. On offense there is Short Pass, Long Pass, Ground & Pound, and Speed Run. On defense there is Zone D, Man D, Pass Rush, and Run Stuff. Upon starting this game mode you will have to choose a captain along with the play style that comes with him. Although you can change it later, it is better to try to choose one to build your team around. You will also be able to choose a 2nd chemistry (a defensive one if you choose offensive and vice versa) when you reach a team skill of at least 85. By increasing your team chemistry and starting players with the same style, you will be able to unlock team bonuses that will boost some ratings (for example, the run speed chemistry boost elusiveness and run blocking).

1st Ultimate Team Play Through

Head-to-Head seasons are similar to season play in NCAA Football 14. You play 10 game seasons to try and make a deep playoff run and win the super bowl (there are coin prizes for how far you go). I was able to make the playoffs in my first season with a 5-5 record (see photo). I will admit that I tried to

cheese and it didn’t work for me, also my defensive players were pretty crappy in the beginning (which led me to a pretty good pack opening). The best line-up button now looks in your entire roster (including reserves) to fill in players for your line-up. The only issue is that it ignores your team chemistry, so minor tweaks will still be needed.

Packs are set up the same as NCAA Football 14 as well. Bundles are not sold for coins which have been previously rumored and at the moment, All-pro packs (limit to 5) have been seen and along with a fairly cheap gold upgrade pack (limit to one). Getting the gold upgrade pack is essential to upgrading your team pretty early on but was pretty useless for me. If you have the cash open a pro bundle, it will help. If you are low on funds, auctions, trades, and doing solo challenges for coins will help you find the players you are looking for (I earned some special packs that landed me Barry Sanders and Walter Payton).

Here are some other tips to get you started:

- Hold off playing Head-to-Head matches unless you are really good or you are playing a friend with a similarly matched team. Most people have team skills in 80s already.

-Solo challenges are an easy way to earn currency and grab some better cards as well as game experience.

-Keep an eye out on the auctions. You might be able to land some cheap players and sell some of your own for coins. Don’t forget about trades.

Be sure to check out the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/gaming1hunnit for more updates.

Madden 25 - Run Free

Madden 25 releases today on current generation consoles. EA has brought in a few features like the return of Owner Mode. Some of the running game plays model that of NCAA Football 14 with option offenses and pistol formation. The new Precision Modifier allows users to pull off a variation of moves to trick and evade defenders. Sometimes moves get linked together and the ball carrier gains some extra yards. Option offenses and the precision modifier makes running the ball a bit easy, in fact maybe too easy (even on All-Madden). Even with normal run game, it can seem like cake to average 5+ yards a carry.

The Infinity Engine adjustments seem to flow a bit better (on current gen console, I cannot imagine the next gen experience) but there are still weird glitches the tackles look like a pile of players with epilepsy and on other occasions defenders glide across the screen like they have some gravitational pull to the ball. The inconsistency of how the game runs leaves a bit of parody which can either be extremely awesome or depressingly annoying but doesn’t take the fun out of the experience.

The re-vamped Owner Mode allows for a lot of options that effect how your franchise goes. It may sometimes feel like you are so buried in menus (dealing with contracts, prices, stadium upgrades, and the media) that you feel like you’re either missing something or you don’t care until it affects the franchise. Overall, there are enough things to do in Owner Mode to keep you busy (and you should be if you are going to run the NFL’s best team).

This 25^th anniversary edition of Madden still has a lot of the common Madden bugs in previous years but with the improvements to the run game they have gotten a step closer in mastering the real life action (although they probably will never get to that point). I will probably try to get my copy by the end of the week and get some more information to you on Owner Mode and Ultimate Team. Madden 25 gets a thumbs up from me so go out and grab a copy.

Madden 25 - Demo Impressions

After downloading and playing around the Madden 25 Demo, the game isn’t really how I expected it. It seems that the developers made a current gen build of a game gear for next-gen consoles (that’s a let-down). Despite that it seems to be an overall good game. I am interested to see what people will create in Madden share, how the Ultimate Team chemistry system will work (already got a few cards), and of course Owner mode.

Gameplays has so far offered what feels like true player motions and definition visuals. The game looks crisp and the player movements are pretty fluid (although it will probably be x2 better on the next gen consoles). I did like how some of the menus were moved around and provided a bit of a different look to the game. I feel like they over did the cut scenes a bit but that can be overlooked. Here are a few other things I noticed early.

The AI – I really thought they had fixed the blocking and the overall AI but I still go EAed. At one point, I had one guy to beat and one blocker ahead of me up field. I am thinking this block is going to happen and I’m headed to the end zone for 6 but no. My blocker ends up running out of bounds in the complete opposite direction (as if off field players were going to tackle me) and I was unable to pull off an effective move to get buy this defender. That is a pretty bad glitch and I hope doesn’t happen to often (we fixed the blocking to make it realistic they said).

Precision Modifier – The precision modifier was something newly added and I have mixed feelings about. It just seems like a mini-version of reaction time in NCAA Football 14. In some instances I was able to cheese and have defenders bounce off of me while in a juke animation (didn’t seem like it should happen). It makes the moves a bit more realistic in how they are timed to be effective and if that is fluid throughout the game, then thumbs up.

Overall I have mixed feelings about the demo. The gameplay and feel the game isn’t what I expected only because it looks and feels like a current gen build of a next gen game (and I know, it is) but it shouldn’t be that noticeable. I still have a hard time trying to figure out how I go up for a clear INT and the ball bounces of my defenders hands like it hit some invisible wall (that’s a swat in EA logic). I can’t wait to tackle playing in Owner mode (connect franchise) and Ultimate team. 

Madden 25 Expectations

After playing quite a bit of NCAA Football 14, I have some expectations for the new Madden 25. Madden 13 proved to be a minor improvement of previous installments but I was kind of disappointed. An overlook of what Madden 25 is going to contain seems to ease the annoying, disappointing or lack of things in the previous installment. You know how when you get a painful bruise and you put ice on it to make it feel better but afterwards the bruised area is still sore? Well I am hoping the difference between my Madden 13 disappointment (said bruise) and Madden 25 (the ice) isn’t like that. I took some time to overlook some of the features and hype of Madden 25 and I am pretty excited about what they have already revealed.

First thing that jumps out me is the usage of the Ignite 2 engine and True-Player Motions. If the physics are anything compared to NCAA 14, then I would be content. I have had a lot of fun with the way players move and the improved ball carrier cuts in NCAA 14 and I hope Madden  25 has a similar feel.

Another thing they mentioned is “definition visuals”. Which seems kind of useless as you wont really see this during gameplay. It is great to have the players look like the actual players but most of us just care about the gameplay. This brings me to AI improvements. I don’t know how many times I have played Madden and the AI doesn’t execute football common sense (slider adjustments help but don’t eliminate bone-head plays by the CPU). My experience in NCAA 14 has led to me believe that this system is slightly improved. I also stumbled upon a video talking about .  The Defense Gameplay Trailer restores some faith in this mentioning improved blocking and player intelligence (read & react) being better but I want to see it in action in the demo.

New Features & Modes that I am excited about:

Connected Franchise/Owner Mode – They have brought back and improved owner mode that is full of new options online/offline. From stadium, merchandise, and ticket management to scouting, it all looks intriguing. One new thing that seems cool is being able to respond to fans & media as owner. Also Fantasy Draft is back. You have the option of drafting teams from scratch before starting a franchise. I glad they are bringing this back because this was one of the cool and fun things that you could do in previous Maddens.

Ultimate Team Features – New Ultimate Team features look awesome. Chemistry is now a factor on how you form a team via your play style. I really like this idea but I doubt it will prevent people from tying to cheese online. The Head-to-Head Seasons will prove to be interesting as you will be able to take your teams against other players to compete for an All-Madden Super Bowl Championship.

Madden Share – Madden share is by far the best thing they have added this year. Now you will be able to share content with fellow members of the Madden Community. Some of the content you can share is custom playbooks, slider configurations, and hopefully rosters. If this is anything like how 2KShare is then the possibilities are almost endless.
 
Madden 25 is a big step in new generation of “the best” Maddens. Will Madden 25 be the best?