When you talk about football and about video games there’s only one topic of conversation that’s worth anyone’s while. Yes, I’m talking about the Madden NFL franchise. For years now, football and video gaming fans of all ages have created one of the most devout followings to EA Sports’ premier NFL themed video game. This game has become such a pivotal part of the football landscape that even Las Vegas NFL odds makers come up with predictions of who will be on the cover each year, especially since that’s one of the biggest honors any football player can have.
Now, while the love for the game is undeniable, as well as its popularity, it does not mean it’s a perfect game. No, no, no, no, Madden NFL is far from being perfect, but us fans who love the game, we put up with it. With that said though, here are three issues EA Sports, aka the company behind the Madden NFL franchise needs to get right for the upcoming Madden NFL 22 edition.
Have a Classic Teams Feature
Let’s start off light here. If there is one thing that the Madden NFL franchise should do, which other giants of the sports gaming industry do like FIFA and NBA 2K, is allowing fans to be able to play with classic legendary teams. Look at for example what NBA 2K offers its fans. In the basketball centric game, fans are allowed to choose from 60 legendary teams and are able to play with them. While you are able to play with Lebron’s Lakers, you are also able to play with Magic Johnson’s Lakers as well. How about pitting Jordan’s 96 Bulls against this year’s champions Milwaukee Bucks. All that sounds awesome, right? Well wouldn’t it be amazing if football fans could do the same with Madden? Yes, it would.
Allowing fans to be able to play with the teams they grew up idolizing, the teams and stars that probably made them fall in love with the sport of football would only make this game so much better. The problem here is that Madden already has a feature that makes it hard, yet not impossible for this to happen. If EA can let go of the idea of fans spending money trying to land the oh so coveted Ultimate Team cards, where players like Dan Marino and Deion Sanders are available, and open up to the idea of bringing back players and teams of that caliber but for free, this game would automatically be revolutionized for the best of it.
Blocking and Running Need Some Serious Fixing
One of the most ridiculous, and ridiculous in a bad way, features that Madden NFL 21 had that EA Sports needs to fix for Madden 22 is the way some actual in field plays are executed. For example, in Madden NFL 21 if you’re playing with a team that has a strong running game, for example Minnesota or Tennessee, then if you’re good with the controller it’s a given that you’ll be winning game after game after game. Why? Because the running game in Madden is so easy to accomplish, anyone can win games just on the back of a good running back or two. Madden NFL 22 needs to make sure that this feature is changed, for the good of the competitive spirit of the game.
The other in field aspect of the game that should definitely be fixed actually goes hand in hand with the first one. It’s actually the reason why the first one exists. Madden’s blocking and pass protection features are the closest thing to a joke that this game offers. While this game is set out to be the closest thing you can get to actual football but in video games, the blocking game, both for rushing and passing is abysmal. The blocking logic needs to be fixed, because in real life, linebackers actually do try and rush the passer, offensive lines do try and stop defenders from roughing up the QB and running a ball is never that easy. Come on EA Sports, get it right.
Fix The Franchise Mode Or Heads Will Roll
Here’s the thing, I can do without classic teams being in the game, while I would love to have that option, I’m ok with not having it just yet if given the choice to pick something else I would much rather get fixed. I would love for the game’s blocking and running game to improve and I seriously hope it does, but that still isn’t my main wish. What is my main wish? From the “Franchise Mode” of the game to actually work and be a success, not what we have to deal with right now.
It has been said that EA Sports has compromised to make serious adjustments to this feature of the game, especially after all the backlash and criticism they had to endure last season with fans of the game not being happy at all with what was going on. The potential for this to be fixed is there and if fans have to wait a bit longer for the fix, so be it, but it’s in EA’s hands to make this right.
Leave a Reply