Last week, I wrote up my early impressions of Madden 24’s franchise mode and the triumphant return of mini-games. And although I thought some minor changes were worth noting, like the coaching trees for coordinators, training camp, draft classes, and added sliders, it felt like much was just copy and pasted from last year. That’s not entirely the case regarding Madden 24’s gameplay. EA Sports has taken a significant step into the next generation of sports gaming, but how big of a leap is in the eyes of the beholder?
Well, after spending several days with the beta (and EA having now posted its gameplay blog), here are my early impressions of Madden 24’s gameplay and presentation.
Madden 24 Beta Gameplay Impressions
What I Like
Madden 24 Looks And Feels Much More Like A Next-Gen Game
One thing that has bothered me since Madden first transitioned to the next generation of consoles is that it never truly felt like a next-gen video game. Instead, it felt like what we’ve become accustomed to for so many years on previous consoles, with an upgrade in graphics and some other bells and whistles. But for the first time in a long time, Madden 24 looks and feels like a next-gen video game. Here are some of the things that stood out during my time with the beta.
Improved Offensive Line Play
The first thing I noticed after downloading the Madden 24 beta and starting my first game was the improved offensive line play, especially in the run game. My first play from scrimmage was a run up the gut, and to my surprise, a massive hole opened up. I watched guards open up running lanes, and my center got to the next level. Everyone seemed to know their assignment. It was something we’ve been missing in Madden. Unfortunately, the run game did seem a bit overpowered and will probably be tweaked with future updates — and of course, sliders. But to successfully run the football and, most importantly, watch as running lanes opened up was a breath of fresh air. It was the most fun I’ve had running the football in years, if not ever. The AI was inconsistent in terms of sometimes staying with the running game and other times abandoning it, so I’ll be curious to see how that continues to be tuned.
When it came to passing the football, the changes were also noticeable. Pockets formed, and for the most part, my offensive line blocked accordingly. Additionally, the interactions between the offensive and defensive linemen look closer to authentic. The tackle vs. defensive end battles still look very rough at times (especially the animations of the defensive ends and how they engage the tackles), and an interior defensive lineman breaking through seemingly untouched to put a punishing hit on the quarterback can still occur, but for the most part, the offensive line play was significantly improved from Madden 23 and could be a selling point for the series moving forward if certain tweaks are made.
Players Finally Move More Like Humans
Last season, one of the most significant issues I had with Madden was the wonky player animations. Sometimes, it felt like players were running in mud and didn’t move fluid or lifelike. I can say that is no longer the case and something you’ll notice from the very first snap. As mentioned above, running the ball is night and day from last season. Players cut more realistically and move from sideline to sideline, as you’ve come to expect when watching the game we love every Sunday. Even when the quarterback drops back to pass, things feel right. That’s not to say there won’t be the occasional jump-cut or hiccup from a ball carrier, but it looks good. Real good.
Another area where you can see improvement is how the receivers react after catching the football. Last year, receivers didn’t move naturally, and at times, this would result in a receiver running out of bounds or being unable to pick up additional yards. This year, there feels like there’s more control after a catch, which is a massive win. Making a reception and turning upfield with Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle makes a world of difference. And it’s something that players will come to love during their time with Madden 24.
More Personality Between Plays
Another thing I immediately noticed was how much time and effort EA put into making the game feel realistic both before and after the play. Part of what makes football so great is the extracurricular activities that happen between plays. In years past, you might see two players chirping back and forth or a player signaling for a first down, but things were always off. The ball carrier would be facing the wrong direction, or a defensive player would be talking smack after giving up a 35-yard completion. It didn’t necessarily make sense.
This year much more happens from one snap to another, and based on everything I’ve experienced, it fits. It adds a realistic dynamic to Madden that we’ve been missing for years. Seeing offensive linemen run to their quarterback’s aid or a defensive back properly signaling incomplete on a pass break-up can add more than even I realized. And let’s not forget the improved player models.
Players Look Authentic And More True To Their Real-Life Counterparts
Another improvement from years prior is the updated player models on the sideline. Previously, random players would be standing on the sidelines with the same numbers and generic names. The sideline is noticeably more lifelike this year, with players fielding realistic numbers and last names on their jerseys. Additionally, EA has put some time into their player models this year. A few times the camera would show Jalen Ramsey sitting on the bench or Tyreek Hill without a helmet, and both players looked photo-realistic. From top to bottom, players looked lifelike both on and off the field, and for a video game that prides itself on “if it’s in the game, it’s in the game,” this was something nice to see.
Not all players were perfect, but far more players looked realistic than in the previous installment.
Wide Receivers Vs. Defensive Backs Can Be A Battle
Earlier, I talked about the improved trench play in Madden 24. The same holds true this year for the wide receiver and defensive back interactions. These can feel like real battles at times and are much improved from years prior. Defensive backs play the ball fairly well, but what stood out most was how much ratings seemed to impact things. Wide receivers with better route-running would pick apart lesser defensive backs. The same can be said for the premier cornerbacks in the game. At times, the opposing quarterback seemed scared to test Xavien Howard or Jalen Ramsey. Interceptions didn’t happen on every errant throw, as we saw early on in Madden 23. This may need to be tweaked to suit each individual better, but I’m pleased with some of the changes I’ve seen in the beta.
What I Dislike
Defense
Maybe it’s my fault or how the NFL game has changed over the years, but the defense always seems to be playing behind the 8-ball. That’s not to say that there isn’t some good stuff with how the #elite defenders play stud wide receivers or the improved pass rush and trench play. But for the most part, it always felt like the good quarterbacks in Madden could pick apart my defense. The same could be said with the rushing attack. Sure, there were times when I’d miss with my user-controlled linebacker or take a bad angle, but much of the time on defense it felt like I never had a chance. Running backs would find the open running lanes, and with the improved running blocking, it felt like I was getting worked.
Robo-quarterbacks might be a thing of the past for some lesser QBs. For example, Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith was missing left and right. I saw something similar with Desmond Ridder of the Atlanta Falcons. But for the game’s top-tier quarterbacks, they still rarely missed or made a wrong decision. Thankfully, there will be a plethora of tweaked sliders on Operation Sports that will surely tone some of this down and make the game more fun from a defensive standpoint. Tackling animations are also much improved from previous installments, but you’ll still see the occasional head-scratcher.
The defense could definitely be worse, but for a guy who once took pride in playing defense, it feels almost like busy work at this point. And if the offense needs a score late in the game or a critical drive, they’re going to get it. Unless, of course, the pass rush gets there before the quarterback can make a ridiculous play.
And to that point, I need to make it clear that as always in Madden, if you don’t get a good pass rush then you’re screwed for the most part against the AI. Along those same lines, QB scrambling is “improved” in a way in that it’s easier to do now, but I think EA has it wrong to some extent right now. It was too hard to scramble last year, but now it’s too easy, specifically in terms of breaking the pocket outside the tackles. The game should reward you more for your pocket presence and being able to escape up the middle or even outside the tackles once plays go into chaos, but not finishing your drop and just sprinting outside the tackle box is garbage and should not be rewarded as often as it is so far.
Lastly, I think what also adds to the defensive woes is that there are not a ton of ways to play defense in general. Match coverage still sucks, and so trying to mix Cover 4 or Cover 6 — or just zone defense in general — with man align means you’re just ruining yourself. There’s no real ways to “fool” the offense pre-snap, and this adds to the cookie cutter feel on defense where it just feels like you have to get to the QB or pay the price.
Presentation Still Does Not Blow Me Away
I hate that it’s 2023, and we continue to compare football video games to NFL 2K5 in any way but when it comes to presentation, it’s still somehow a comp. And while that game holds up nearly 20 years later in the presentation department, there are still areas that EA could pull from that iconic football game. Besides a few cutscenes showcasing players on the sidelines and refs returning to the field, the presentation doesn’t feel wholly different.
The better animations at the end of plays and the variety of cuts before the snap are better, and the presentation team should get credit for that aspect of things, but a lot of the “sweeteners” and cool stuff beyond that just doesn’t really seem like it’s here in the beta at the very least.
Online Play Was Rough
When I was younger, online play was the only thing I’d play. Being part of a community of 31 other owners battling tooth and nail to build a better roster and win head-to-head matchups was life. But now that I’m older, I play offline significantly more. Still, despite taking a step back from online play, I’ve always been happy with EA’s servers and how smooth the gameplay was — for the most part. So, I was disappointed when I booted up a head-to-head game in Madden 24 and saw it was filled with sluggish gameplay and delayed responsiveness.
It was unplayable and not a representation of what I remembered from the Madden games of the past. Thankfully, EA was aware of the issue and doesn’t foresee it being a problem when the game officially releases in August. Whatever the case, it was unplayable and highly frustrating.
Bottom Line
If you enjoyed Madden 23 gameplay, you will love Madden 24. The gameplay improves in just about every area that ’23 fell short. Furthermore, the new offensive line play and the improved run game are a thing of beauty and something that I have come to admire. New interactions between wide receivers and defensive backs bring a new challenge to experienced gamers, and the new tackling animations are also an improvement. Overall, it’s not perfect, but Madden 24 is a step in the right direction, and for the first time, it feels like a next-gen game to me.
To put it another way, I love a lot of the “user” inputs that have been added this year where now it feels like “clicking on” to make grabs or make plays on the ball feels great and adds another layer of input that makes you feel like your skill can impact the game. It still doesn’t always feel great in the “sim” respects where you have to watch defensive ends take on offensive tackles and wince when seeing some of those DE animations (plus we’re pretty sure fatigue in general is broken in the beta so there’s next to no subbing).
All that said, as someone who has played Madden for the better part of the last 20+ years, I know I’ll get my money’s worth with ’24. I’m not sure I could say the same about last year’s game. But for those still on the fence or upset with previous installments, I recommend playing the early trial. If you still aren’t sure, there will always be plenty of deals this holiday season.
