If a series hasn’t competed for more than a decade, it’s likely to stagnate as fresh ideas dry up and there’s little pressure to innovate. This resulted in EA Tiburon’s madden series that moves through the years (with moments of real inspiration like the Longshot story mode being a thing of the past), which is almost expected for an annual sports series, because it’s not like the studio is changing the game of American football . However, Madden NFL 23 offers the most meaningful gameplay overhaul in many years by changing the passing game in a way that is initially unpleasant, but also surprisingly rewarding.
Each annual installment usually has a gimmick that always falls into one of three categories: shockingly successful and a new series staple (this is very rare), another option that will fade into the background next year and eventually disappear (most likely ), or a misfire so bad that it’s rolled back in the next episode and never talked about again. This year’s big addition is called FieldSense, which is more of an extended gameplay overhaul than a specific element like passing targets or superstar factors. This will be introduced immediately as players will be offered a new pass system by default (although it’s easy to switch back to the classic pass that is madden players have become accustomed to).
Changes in the passing system are always accompanied by a healthy layer of skepticism in madden. For example, Madden NFL 06 introduced the Vision Cone, a feature that brought quarterback accuracy to the fore by letting players use the right analog stick to determine what the passer was looking at. It was a divisive feature, but one that worked well because it prioritized the user’s skill over just the player’s rating. Regardless of the quality, it didn’t last long (it may have been a year as an alternate pass scheme after being the vanguard of one game) and has since become a missing feature.
Due to the series’ messy history with gimmicks and additions, I’m usually hesitant to delve into the new features. The loss of the Vision Cone left me a crazy virtual football fan, one who didn’t want to get hurt again. So, after going through the tutorial for the new passing system, which adds a gauge to determine pass accuracy and gives more freedom when placing the ball, I promptly switched back to the old system. However, after playing a few games, I realized I was throwing a shocking number of interceptions. Part of that was probably the rust that builds up between episodes, but it was the nudge I needed to give the new pass one more try.
After redoing the tutorial, I started a Face of the Franchise mode as a quarterback so I could just focus on the new passing. While there is an option to enable delay for solo play, I chose to use the skill-based passing system at full speed. The actual relay is not much different from before, you still press a button assigned to a wide receiver, you release it just in time when a meter goes up. If you let go during the sweet spot, you will throw a powerful and accurate pass. However, there is so much more trifle to be found like holding the left trigger and then aiming where the ball is placed during this throwing motion. If you want to throw it high so your tall receiver can catch the ball that the shorter cornerback can’t intercept, it’s doable with the level of nuance this feature adds.
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These kind of great passing moments were always possible in the past madden games, but it was much simpler with the cool moments that felt more like a coin tossed in your favor rather than something really earned and chosen. Now, though, there’s a little more skill and a lot more user input to the case and that’s what makes these moments so satisfying. While it remains to be seen how widely this pass mode will be adopted by players, it deserves to become a mainstay of the series as an advanced control scheme (similar to how MLB the show has a large number of options to play). It’s a bit complicated and players will definitely have to keep going with it, but the new passing is more rewarding than before.
There are a few other gameplay tweaks and revisions that fall under the FieldSense banner as well. The redesigned defense controls are the second best addition of the bunch, and they give more reason to use the right analog stick to re-tack. Thousands of new tackle animations and situations have been added, most notably players can force their way into gang tackles and throw the football loose. Additional features include 360-degree cuts on the run, which allow for more diverse runs, and some added depth for wide receivers and defensive backs. Even if you’re not into every FieldSense addition, it gives the player more freedom in every facet of football, which can only be seen as a bonus.
For a series that has been so similar for decades, it’s refreshing to join a madden and master a real learning curve. As a result of the expanded FieldSense additions, especially the improved fit, Madden NFL 23 is the most fun American football game in years. There’s no exciting new mode to judge, but EA Tiburon put an emphasis on improving gameplay, which was much needed and the right appeal, even if it doesn’t have the sexiest feature set.
SCORE: 8/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 8 equates to “Great.” While there are a few minor issues, this score means the art succeeds in its goal and leaves a memorable impression.
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