After playing the beta since its initial release and witnessing multiple patches and tweaks, I have seen fantastic new additions and enhancements, some odd happenings, a large number of glitches, and enough to know that it is still Madden, but a different style of Madden than we have seen in some time. While Josh gave his gameplay impressions from earlier in the beta, I’m here now to give some more Madden 23 beta gameplay thoughts as the beta winds down.
Madden 23 Beta Gameplay Thoughts
Presentation And Graphics
Playing on a PS5, the graphical improvement was instantly noticeable, and as I spent more time with the beta, the presentation style for the game both on and off the field started to work more for me. From different wipes and dissolves that mimic an actual modern broadcast to new intro screens and flyovers, the presentation did exactly what I have wanted for a long time. It brought the venue to life in a way that makes it feel like a living and breathing atmosphere full of authenticity.
Is there more that can be done? Of course, but this new direction is a significant step in the right direction, and the new inclusions do an excellent job of pulling me into the world of Madden and making me feel like I am part of something rather than just standing idly by as a witness. Not to be outdone, the developers at EA have also done a commendable job bringing the real-world venues to life and adding a high level of depth to the stadium atmosphere. This includes things like detailed sidelines where players look to have a purpose to catwalks and concourses full of fans walking and migrating.
The exterior shots of each stadium also add that extra bit of flair for me. Seeing Soldier Field with the skyline nestling just off in the distance really hit home for me.
Quarterback Play
During my time behind center, I needed to read a defense and understand what the matchups were in Madden 23 — knowing which wide receivers could evade the press of the defensive back and find space for an easy(er) throw-and-catch scenario. That already feels like an excellent step forward. I felt less inclined to resort to “money” plays and instead started thinking about football again.
Trying to play the Madden 23 beta like prior Madden games ended with catastrophic results. Instead, I was forced to look over the line, scan the field, and think in terms of actual football to find some success. However, that success was still hard to come by through the air, at least on a consistent basis. I would even say I was frustrated at times, but somehow that frustration was welcomed. It created a feeling of excitement and freshness. Sure, maybe the interceptions were over the top, but it is a beta, and I’m sure the interceptions will be toned down by the time the game hits retail — or I need to get a lot better at passing the ball.
Lastly, while this is less about quarterback play, it is nice seeing both the defensive back and the intended receiver recognize the ball is in the air and make adjustments to put themselves in the best possible position to make a play.
Player Models
This is not something you will find in a tagline or in many reviews, but the subtle changes to the player models made an immediate impact for me. I have always felt like Madden player models looked good in a way that was aesthetically pleasing but seemed to lack an authentic look compared to what we see on TV.
While the changes aren’t drastic, they’re enough to warrant a mention and a show of appreciation. Player models now feel a bit more realistic looking for each position on the field, and each player looks slimmed down, yet toned up in the right areas. When you see the changes combined on the field, it delivers enough of a visual improvement to raise the game another notch for me.
FieldSENSE
FieldSense feels like another buzzword that is commonly used and quickly forgotten in many sports games. Still, if you listen to EA, it equips players with more control at every position in every mode and is a new foundation for consistent, ultra-realistic gameplay. That’s a hefty statement, and forgive me if I still remain a bit skeptical.
That said, while it’s still early, I am willing to eat a bit of crow here and admit that while the description of FieldSense is a bit too all-encompassing, its implementation can be felt all over the field. From seeing it visually when utilizing my running back to participating in mid-air collisions, the new gameplay interactions incorporating new physics and branching animations add a new layer of excitement to the game.
I have seen some wonky stuff happen while playing, and that is to be expected with a new system during a beta, but consistently seeing players on the field act and react in ways that make football sense is a welcomed addition.
Yes, a game that describes itself as a football simulation should have this type of play at its foundational core, but that hasn’t been the case as of late with this franchise. Regardless, my early impressions are that FieldSense could be huge if the system just goes through a bit more refinement. Seeing players spin, bounce, and collide in mid-air while seeing a high level of natural physics take place is an extremely nice touch that can be seen visually and felt through a controller.
It almost feels like Madden borrowed a bit from a previous title in Backbreaker and combined it with an already existing physics system, and fans may be the biggest benefactor. This system comes through the most when utilizing a running back sneaking through a hole while getting skinny and feeling the paws of opposing players trying to grab you. The running lanes no longer feel linear but more like a jagged path that you navigate with the right combination of moves and jukes.
Speaking of jukes, seeing a player do a tight 360 spin looks much more realistic now, and during mid-air collisions I can almost feel the impact being made during the action.
The bottom line here is that, while it has some issues that need to be ironed out, FieldSense does seem to be changing the game and adding a new level of authenticity to the football action. It will be interesting to see how much they can tune FieldSense between now and release to ensure the action remains fluid and somewhat physics-based while still giving the player a true sense of control.
What’s Next
There were multiple issues with the Madden 23 beta, which is expected. The real key is, can the developers tweak the game enough to clear them up while maintaining the integrity of FieldSense to have it continue to make an impact at a high level?
Even with the beta’s issues, there was an awful lot to like. However, for everything I loved, there are still concerns. I loved the noticeable differences between good NFL quarterbacks, and quarterbacks still finding their way, but the inconsistency felt a bit over the top at this juncture. Along those same lines, I loved the aggressive nature of defensive backs in certain situations, but I wanted to see more knockdowns and fewer interceptions.
I loved the new physics system and how it delivers some incredibly realistic interactions at the point of contact, but a lot needs to be cleaned up and ironed out in these areas as well in terms of game balance. I want to feel the disappointment of making a lousy read when throwing the ball or the frustration of making the wrong cut with my running back because I was simply not patient enough to wait for the block ahead of me. I want to get burned when I make a bad read on defense or miss a tackle. That is football to me. It is a game of inches, luck, and playing smart. So let the game reward and punish me in ways that seem fitting rather than cheap. Again, this is a beta for a reason, but I hope the development team doesn’t swing the pendulum too far back towards an arcade-style game while trying to find that balance.
Madden 23 is set to be released on August 19, with a three-day early access for specific purchases. Check back on OS closer to release for our final review of Madden 23.
