NFL 16 is superior to its predecessor in almost every way

The National Football League (NFL) has just opened, but the game inspired by the popular American Sport has already drawn a huge crowd last August. According to Game Informer, the August 2015 NPD reported that 'Madden NFL 16' is the top grossing video game for the month despite being released late in the period, just barely two weeks ago. As pointed by Game Rant, although the games released in the "Madden NFL" franchise seems to be mere "roster updates," its massive sales every year is already an enough reason for Electronic Arts (EA) to continuously release a new game under the title. Hence, amid these massive sales, Madden NFL 16 is quick to release its first major patch in order to address the general gameplay and mechanics as well as the Connected Franchise and Ultimate Madden Team mode.

Visually, Madden NFL 16 is superior to its predecessor in almost every way. The faithfully re-created stadiums seem carry a kind of individual life to them, and the player models and faces are the best I've seen. Look closely, and you'll see just a little bit of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck's neck beard peeking out past his chinstrap. Cover boy Odell Beckham's arms are covered in his actual tattoos. The faces of most of the players I saw, especially the stars, also looked accurate and moved well without having too much of a spaced-out look. Madden's had a weird history with faces, with some players looking like they were restored by the same people who painted Beast Jesus or did the Tom Brady courtroom sketch. Some facial scans looked a little better than others. For instance, Peyton Manning at certain angles seemed to have black pupils, which means he was possessed by dark spirits or was actually a messenger from an alien race of quarterbacks.

You're given a base team of mediocre players, and over 15 rounds of drafting, you improve your team. You pick your head coach first, which will determine the style of your offense and defense. Then, each round you are given the choice between three players, with the final round being the choice between three legends from past NFL seasons. The best NFL player overall might not be the best one to fit into the style dictated by your coach, so it becomes an interesting balancing act. You also have to be wary of filling all the roles. If you pass on a decent quarterback in the hopes of getting a better one further down the line, you run the risk of never actually getting another quarterback selection in the draft. The draft where I was stuck with Matt Cassel at QB didn't go so well for me. Sorry, Matt.

Madden has always been that sort of pursuit for me. When you can measure your time with a franchise in decades, you can take from it a certain measure of comfort. Every year, when a new Madden hits the shelves, and I put it in my console, I know how to play without any sort of tutorial. I snap the ball, read the coverage, and throw the pass, with no instruction. Sure, there are changes, but the core of the formula hasn't changed in years. While some would call that complacency, and denigrate Madden for a “lack of innovation,” I've always appreciated that, unlike a lot of games, you always had a general sense of what Madden offered, and, since I liked that, I knew I'd be pleased (even with “bad” Maddens).

Madden NFL 16 rounds off the rough edges from previous efforts, leaving an insanely polished, wonderful experience of football. But this year's Madden is not simply sandpaper- some key changes to the franchise experience make it more addicting and fun, adding a distinct RPG element to that mode in a visceral way not done in any sports game I've yet experienced. In my experience with Draft Champions, I found it best to draft to fit a play style. You better draft some offensive linemen if you plan on running the ball, but at the same time you have to balance your offensive and defensive picks. The draft is aided by the inclusion of Legends, like Christian Okoye, Herman Moore and Rod Woodson. The new mode can be unforgiving: Lose one game and you are out, albeit with some Ultimate Team cards as your reward. I wish there was a way to save the teams you have drafted to play with them later, but its novelty makes it a welcome addition to the Madden family.