Madden NFL 23 Review – A Short Gain To Start A New Drive

EA Tiburon, the Madden NFL 23 developer, focused on fundamentals. This included authentic 11v11 soccer and fixing many bugs from previous Madden versions. It’s a modest step in the right direction for the franchise, but it provides solid groundwork to continue building on.

Madden NFL 23 is a game with significant subtle changes. EA’s FieldSense is a shift toward more physics-based interactions. In practice, it’s a mostly positive change. The real game is violent and chaotic, as the ball moves between people. Sometimes there may be issues. Would-be tacklers will often slide off of the one running it, as though they’re covered in Teflon. Although the ball carrier’s fight for extra yards and how they wrap opponents up feels natural, there needs to be some adjustments in terms of the frequency of these fumbles. It’s imperfect but a solid first implementation of a system that should improve in future iterations.

It is an improvement in overall appearance. From boot up, everything is awash with the legacy of the late John Madden – a fitting tribute to the man behind the name. New scans of players and equipment look great. The gameday presentation has more vivid graphics and cinematic cameras that make it feel like an NFL broadcast. It is authentic and I enjoyed the presentation.

Skill-Based passing, much talked about and a fun way to throw the ball is Skill-Based. It takes some time to get used to having a target and an aiming reticle, but it does help with avoiding opponents while throwing the ball over the middle. The fine controls for aiming were easy to forget, so I was able to quickly master them. On the other side, I find that the passing meter doesn’t matter. Generally, my muscle memory for how long to hold a pass button lined up with perfect passes and turning the feature off or on didn’t make a noticeable impact on the field.

Madden 22 was the birth of Connected Franchise. The system featured an improved scouting system as well as a revamped interface. This year it’s more of a refinement. Players feel more human with the addition of Tags and Motivations. Some motivations are the desire to be with a professional quarterback, or at a stadium that is suitable for all weather conditions. A team-friendly agreement may work if your offer is appealing to the free agent. To land your man, you might need to pay more. I worry how that will play out in competitive leagues; it won’t be clear if it creates a significant imbalance immediately, but the potential is there.

Rarer tags reflect the role of a player and their impact on the team. Although a Mentor tag won’t make you the greatest player on the field for your position, it will help to accelerate the growth of the younger players. It’s the sort of off-the-field factor that NFL GMs consider, and I enjoyed the added element when I constructed my team. After I had drafted my star safety, I felt compelled to find a veteran to help them learn, which is something Connected Franchise lacks.

The Face of the Franchise is still a mixed success. It can be enjoyable to play only as a linebacker or quarterback. Corner, which is the new Face of the Franchise position, was a bad experience. It was disappointing to lose out on tackles and stop drives due to things beyond my control.

Madden NFL has had a strong gameplay foundation for years, which is maintained year after year. Madden NFL 23 is the first iteration in a long time that rebuilds that foundation, and that’s where this year’s greatest success lies. Although there were some slippages in the collisions, this is an improvement. Skill-Based passing gives you more control over the placement of the ball and allows for more physics-based actions. While this means that there are only minor improvements to core gameplay modes and Madden still has a superior game, it was the right choice.