Madden NFL 18
Madden NFL 18 | |
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multiplayer |
Madden NFL 18 is an
It was released worldwide on August 25, 2017, while those who pre-ordered the "G.O.A.T. Edition" were able to play it three days earlier and access their copy on August 22, 2017. It is the first game of the series since Madden NFL 06 not to be released on Xbox 360 and the first game since Madden NFL 07 not to be released on PlayStation 3,[1][2] and also the first game in the main series to be available on only two platforms since Madden NFL '94.
Gameplay
Madden NFL 18 is the first game in the series to use the Frostbite engine.[3]
While the Madden series has typically featured a Superstar career mode, Madden NFL 18 introduces a story mode known as Longshot, the first such mode in the series.
Madden NFL 18 also included many subtle game-play changes. One of the major changes was a new element to the overall difficulty of a game, introducing "game styles".[9] Game styles were an attempt to create a more enjoyable experience to the player, allowing them to choose (excluding Madden Ultimate Team solo challenges) one of three game styles to fit their enjoyment. The first game style was arcade mode, which was made for players who like an easy experience. Arcade mode made the game much easier for the user. The second game style was simulation mode. This game style was an attempt to make the game-play feel like an authentic NFL game.[9] This brought the difficulty up from arcade mode but wasn't as intense as the third and final game style, competitive. This was created for the hard-core Madden players, making the AI incredibly skilled, and making game-play incredibly difficult.[9]
More minor game-play changes included the addition of Target Passing, a new game-play element when attempting a pass. The goal of this new feature was to give the user more control over the game and have more confidence in the pass going where it was intended to go.[10]
Other changes/additions included the creation of MUT Squads,[11] and coaching adjustments in-game.[12]
Longshot plot
Quarterback Devin Wade, along with childhood friend and wide receiver Colton "Colt" Cruise, visits
Annoyed by what he considers boring television, Ross arranges an exhibition game for Devin in front of NFL scouts, scheduled to take place in two weeks. Devin is worried about the game, but Colt, who has been invited to the NFL Super Regional Combine, decides to join the show and help him. At a press conference the day before the game, Devin's confidence is shattered by questions about where he had disappeared after his Texas career. Devin asks Ross to postpone the game, but he and Julia are fired. Jack attempts to persuade Devin to stay, but he and Colt drive home.
In Texas, Colt tells Devin he is tired of helping him only for him to quit whenever the situation proves to be too difficult, sparking an argument. Devin starts working at his friend's construction business, where his coworkers and former Mathis teammates remember their high school days. That night, Devin is still working against his friends' interests as a Mathis High School football ceremony is taking place. Colt arrives and makes amends with Devin. After the ceremony, Julia visits the two and convinces them to rejoin the show.
Returning to the Longshot studios, Devin reunites with Jack and apologizes for leaving, while Jack does so for failing to properly train him. At the meeting, the president of the TV network that Longshot is on declares Ross' onscreen behavior inappropriate and leaves his fate in the hands of the player. Following said meeting, Jack introduces Devin to his good friend, former Miami Dolphins great Dan Marino, who further coaches Devin. The two visit a military base in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where Devin was stationed after enlisting in the Army following his time at Texas. There, Captain McCarthy explains how he helped Devin rediscover his love for football.
For the Legends Game, Devin's team is to progress through five challenges, with the first three based on moving the offense downfield from certain starting yard lines in an allotted time frame. In the fourth, Devin has to complete a scoring drive without throwing a pass to Colt. For the final challenge, rain falls on the stadium as Devin faces a 3rd and 15 situation, an atmosphere resembling his final game at Texas. After scoring, Devin is greeted by the cheers of Longhorn fans, having finally redeemed himself.
Devin and Colt's NFL futures vary based on the player's behavior in the Legends Game.
In the undrafted ending, Colt is drafted in the sixth round but apologizes to Devin out of disbelief. As the seventh round concludes, Devin is not drafted and leaves the house, where he vents his frustration and sits on the porch. A flashback to his childhood days with his father takes place, where Cutter tells him while victory does not always occur, if one gives it their best, they have the right to feel like a winner. However, Dan calls Devin to announce two teams have expressed interest in signing him as an undrafted free agent: his favorite team and Colt's team. After telling Colt of his new team, the two celebrate.
The third secret ending can only be achieved if one plays out the story with the aim of improving Colt's draft stock as well as Devin's and plays out similarly to the undrafted ending, but instead of Colt being drafted by Devin's favorite team's rival, he is instead selected by Devin's favorite team outright, and instead of Devin leaving at the end of the seventh round, he leaves after Colt is drafted, and after the flashback, instead of Dan Marino calling Devin, Devin is called by his favorite team asking him if he'd like to join Colt on the team. Devin accepts, and he and Colt celebrate.
Standing on his porch, Devin receives a text from Jack, who congratulates and thanks him for allowing him to be his coach. Devin returns to his room and looks at his Texas cap on the desk, telling his father he finally had something to be proud of before placing his NFL team's cap with it.
Development
Like Madden NFL 17, EA did not hold an open vote for who would appear on the cover, but personally selected and announced
Written by EA Sports creative director Mike Young,[13] Longshot is split into three acts, the first discussing the Regional Combine, while the second and third follow the Longshot TV show and Devin's return, respectively.[20] While Longshot is comparable to story modes in other games like NBA 2K's MyCareer and FIFA's The Journey, Longshot is different in that the protagonist is not a rising star in their respective sport, but is instead a fringe player. Young described the story as like a "playable movie", rather than a "career mode with cutscenes".[4]
To develop Longshot, EA Sports used
NHL player Theoren Fleury and Phil Deschambault wrote the song "Longshot" for the story.[25] Colt also writes and performs the song in the game.[8]
Reception
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
Metacritic | (XONE) 82/100[26] (PS4) 82/100[27] |
Publication | Score |
---|---|
Destructoid | 7/10[28] |
Electronic Gaming Monthly | 7/10[29] |
Game Informer | 8.25/10[30] |
GameRevolution | [31] |
GameSpot | 9/10[32] |
GamesRadar+ | [33] |
IGN | 8.6/10[34] |
Polygon | 8/10[35] |
On Metacritic, Madden NFL 18 received "generally favorable" reviews from critics for both the Xbox One and PS4 versions despite also receiving "generally unfavorable" ratings from users.
The new game mode Longshot, however, was met with a mixed reception, with some calling it "game changing" and praising the story, while others referred to it as an "ambitious disappointment" and criticized the lack of actual football gameplay in the mode.[31][33] In its 8.6/10 review, IGN wrote: "The shift to Frostbite doesn't refresh Madden NFL 18's gameplay much, but Longshot is a memorable single-player mode."[34] EGMNow gave the game a 7/10, writing: "Although the new Longshot mode shines, Madden misses the mark with a few of its gameplay additions this year—so if you don't immediately take a liking to them and choose to ignore them, the experience will feel a lot like last year's."[29]
Accolades
References
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- ^ a b Sarkar, Samit (June 10, 2017). "Madden NFL 18's story mode is designed to be a 'playable movie'". Polygon. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
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- ^ a b c "Madden NFL 18 Game Styles". EA SPORTS. October 19, 2016. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
- ^ "Madden Mechanics: Target Passing". EA SPORTS. October 19, 2016. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
- ^ "MUT Squads – Madden NFL 18 – EA SPORTS Official Site". easports.com. October 19, 2016. Archived from the original on January 6, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
- ^ "New Features and Modes – Madden NFL 18 – EA SPORTS Official Site". easports.com. October 19, 2016. Archived from the original on January 6, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
- ^ a b c Lilley, Kevin (August 18, 2017). "Army plays supporting role in 'Madden 18' story mode ... and so does a former Green Beret". Army Times. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
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- ^ a b "Meet the Cast of Longshot". EA Sports. August 16, 2017. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- ^ Good, Owen (August 27, 2017). "How Madden's Longshot turned down a future Hall of Famer, and got its best character". Polygon. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
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