I then created a new player with the same ratings at Thielen, but without the Superstar X Factor development trait or any extra abilities. I am targeting Slot-O-Matic, which increases the receiver’s ability to make faster cuts and have better hands on short routes when lined up in the slot. To test this, I chose Adam Thielen, wide receiver for the Vikings, who comes with the X Factor and abilities listed in the image above. In arcade mode, I noticed X Factor players doing better than the others, but how much of that was simply because they’re rated higher than the rest of the guys on the field? I spent a good amount of time trying to determine exactly how the X Factors and abilities can impact a game. EA did a good breakdown of the many abilities and X Factors earlier. The same is true for several other well-known players. He also has five abilities that make sense if you’re familiar with his style of play.
HOW TO BE PICKED BY A NFL TEAM MADDEN 20 PRO
But now we know exactly what it does and how it’s activated: It kicks in halfway through the fourth quarter in close games and prevents players who are “in the zone” from being knocked out of the zone for the remainder of regulation.īen Roethlisberger has Pro Reads X Factor, which highlights the first open receiver. Before, it was more of a nebulous trait that was harder to define. The lesser abilities are similar to traits that have been in the game previously, but there are quite a few new ones. There are many of them in the game, and they’re built into the other modes, including Face of the Franchise and the classic Franchise mode. The X Factors require meeting specific criteria to activate, be it completing consecutive passes or defending two passes on one drive. Players with Superstar development can still earn new Zone Abilities, but not X Factor abilities. The latter is the highest level of development for a player that includes one game-changing X Factor trait, in addition to multiple lesser Zone Abilities. Players can now be defined as Superstar or Superstar X Factor. In either setting, I think this year’s game feels great to play. Simulation is more methodical, and that leads to fewer bigger plays. Sometimes you just want to sling the ball around, and the “arcade” setting helps with that.
I play on “simulation,” which for some people is too slow, and I get that. EA changed some of the terminology to make it clearer what types of pass-rush moves you’re using and are appropriate for the situation. On the defensive side of the ball, the on-screen prompts for jumping the snap and rushing the passer have been tweaked. Stick moves feel better than ever, and I’ve noticed many new unique animations in tackles and catches, along with more signature celebrations for star players like Patrick Mahomes (the cover athlete).
With the ball in your hands, everything is smooth. Still, players in the mid-to-high 70s don’t feel worse than they did in previous games, though the AI does feel worse in that regard.Īs far as the on-the-field action, I love it. It can look alarming to longtime Madden players, especially fans of teams who aren’t particularly good, like me (hello, 49ers). The result is that more players are rated in the 60s (out of 99), while many starters don’t even break 80. EA drew criticism in the past for big-name players being too easy to replace with lower-rated backups, and tackled that this year by creating a much bigger disparity in the ratings.
The biggest difference that will affect every mode is the sweeping changes made to Madden’s ratings. It’s a noticeable difference, and now EA has added development traits like Superstar X Factors and Zone Abilities, which elevate the highest-rated players beyond mere mortals.įrom the new Face of the Franchise story mode to the graphic upgrades, I’ll run you through all you need to know about Madden NFL 20. “simulation”, which aims to create a faster-paced game with more big plays. There’s a growing disconnect between fans of the more realistic, almost sanitized Madden of today, and fans who prefer the minigame-packed, looser-feeling Madden of yesteryear.ĮA has tried to bridge that gap in recent games with the introduction of “arcade” style play vs. That said, Madden NFL 20 is not without its flaws. 2, I can again say that EA is getting pretty good at making tangible improvements that go beyond a simple roster update. After spending time with Madden NFL 20, which releases for all major platforms on Aug. Last year, I recommended the latest iteration of the Madden NFL franchise, calling it the first one in a long time that I could recommend as a complete $60 package.
0 kommentar(er)
