Sports games have always had a tenuous relationship with their players. While they are an accessible and enjoyable way to become immersed in a professional sport, their yearly release structure makes it difficult for developers to apply meaningful changes with each new entry. One of the biggest culprits of this trend tends to be the Madden NFL franchise, and fans have not been shy to voice their displeasure at lackluster Madden games in the past. Now, Madden NFL 22 is on the horizon with the promise of another year of football action.
While some fans may be quick to dismiss Madden NFL 22 because of EA's recent track record, it should be said that this year's game seems to be making worthwhile changes to the Madden formula. Many of them seem to be in the name of furthering immersion, and letting players feel like they are in more control of their favorite players or teams. It remains to be seen how these changes will actually affect gameplay when Madden NFL 22 releases, but EA certainly seems to be making an effort at showing players that this year's Madden is worth playing.
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The past few Madden games have done what they can to make dynamic adjustments, but Madden NFL 22 looks to make some serious changes that should make it unique. The most significant addition is known as Gameday Momentum. Through this feature, teams will gain momentum off of certain plays they execute just like real NFL teams.
With each great play a momentum bar is filled, subsequently giving players access to Madden 22's new perk system, M-factors. These perks vary depending on the team and stadium that each game is played in, but they offer a deeper layer of nuance that Madden has rarely seen before.
Madden's Franchise mode has routinely given players the chance to live out the dream of managing an NFL team and bringing them all the way to the Super Bowl. Some Madden games haven't shown a lot of care toward this fan-favorite mode, but Madden NFL 22 looks to change that trend.
Madden 22 is giving players an unprecedented amount of control in Franchise, allowing them to manage everything from front office staff to what the team's plan will be going into each week. This should allow players to really feel in control of their team from the ground up, and give Franchise a serious depth compared to previous years.
Madden's Ultimate Team mode is one of the most popular and controversial that the franchise has ever had. While it's ushered in the idea for other sports games to give players the option to put together fantasy teams with their favorite players, it's also cultivated aggressive microtransaction strategies that much of the industry has replicated.
Madden NFL 22 isn't dialing back on this strategy, but it is making some changes to Ultimate Team that should help players strategize without making the mode as dependent on pay-to-win mechanics. One of the most significant changes is Madden 22's halftime adjustments, which will allow players to change their x-factor abilities in the middle of the game in order to get an edge. It may seem like a small change, but it could help keep games from feeling too one-sided if a player makes the right decision at halftime.
This year, it seems that EA has really listened to players that want Madden to make some serious changes. Madden NFL 22 is directly responding to some of those requests with its Franchise features, and it's brought some pleasant surprise with its Gameday Momentum that should help make each game dynamic. The game has a lot to prove with it being the first Madden on next-gen consoles, so hopefully Madden NFL 22 will manage to show players it's worth picking up this year, and for more years to come.
Madden NFL 22 releases August 20 on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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