EA Sports has been making Madden games for close to forty years. From the mid 90s up until the late 2010s I probably owned every yearly release of Madden. During my final years as a “Maddenite” — if that’s not a word, it should be — Best Buy had a program where you could trade in last year’s game towards the upcoming release, paying only about half the price. I took advantage of this for too many years — paying $25-30 for the new Madden game. Once the promo was taken away I started to rethink my choices. After EA Sports Madden 20 I finally ditched the series altogether and have been Madden-free for the past few years.
After the NFL season ended, I decided it might be the right time to get back into Madden. After all, this is the year I decided to get back into other popular EA Sports titles after long breaks (NHL 25 and EA Sports FC 24). I emailed my contact at EA and was granted a review code for EA Sports Madden 25. This exchange sparked my return to the series.
I came in with high hopes. I wasn’t planning on going back to my old ways. My goal was to try out some new game modes. I thought I might even give Ultimate Team a go. I did none of that. As I stated in my last post about the Game Changing PlayStation Portal, I fell into my old habits. I started a franchise with “my” Miami Dolphins.
I didn’t have a chance to re-download and boot up Madden 20 beforehand, but I immediately spotted some big changes in the gameplay physics in Madden 25. I really felt the difference in player movement. This could also be due to being away from the series for about five years. My Madden muscle memory kicked right back in and I was quickly familiar with the controls and mechanics — I did have to look up how to pump fake (which is now done by double tapping the receiver’s button).
Difficulty + Game Style
There is one big change that has continuously evolved during my five year absence. I remember the introduction of Arcade vs Simulation vs Competitive game modes in the Madden series.
ARCADE boosts the chance of big, highlight reel plays.
COMPETITIVE allows opposing players to adapt to your skill level.
SIMULATION offers that classic, real-life Madden NFL experience.
For Madden 25, I have chosen to play my season (and all games) in Arcade mode, which it has been enhanced drastically.
*Side Quest:
Back in college, my roommate would sometimes watch me play my Madden season as the Dolphins —
I have always been an All-Pro difficulty player. Many of these games ended the same way — me losing
in the final seconds. The game would practically be over with the Dolphins on top. All I had to do was
run out the clock.
My roommate would urge me to run or kneel the ball, and I would tell him, “That’s the Loser’s Way of Winning.”
I wanted one final touchdown drive. I’d use a very specific play rundown, which I thought to be brilliant:
FIRST DOWN – Run up the middle
SECOND DOWN – Run up the middle
THIRD DOWN – Trick ‘em with a Play Action Bomb for the TD!!!
In reality it went more like this:
FIRST DOWN – Run up the middle [STOPPED]
SECOND DOWN – Run up the middle [STOPPED]
THIRD DOWN – Play Action Bomb [PICK 6, FOR THE WIN!]
I’d end up losing and either decide to quickly turn off my console (before saving the disappointing result) to later
replay the same game without my roommates judging eyes upon me, or I would take the loss and be upset
for part of the day.
I guess it ended up being “The Winner’s Way of Losing.”
The new version of Arcade mode has revived my Madden career — and saved me hours of frustration. This season, I have won one game (after trailing by less than a touchdown) with a big bomb in the final seconds. I stopped a QB scramble (that would have defeated me) with a big hit, causing a fumble on the goal line.
Thanks to Arcade mode “my” Miami Dolphins are finally at the top of the league, and not fighting for a Wild Card Playoff position (like in real life, and my former Madden seasons).
Hit the Sticks
Another exciting tweak in Madden Arcade mode is the way the “Hit Stick” actually works. Back when it was first introduced, I remember the “Hit Stick” having about a one percent (1%) success rate. Still, I’d use it every time — and fail pretty much every time.
This led to so many unnecessary touchdowns by my foes on the field. By running into them or using the simple tackle button, it would have saved me from a lot of heartache — and losses.
Playing EA Sports Madden 25 things have been different, thanks to the revamped Arcade mode. The “Hit Stick” now has a ninety-nine percent (99%) success rate and has helped me win every game. I’ve had a few misses, but for the most part the “Hit Stick” in Madden 25 is a beast!
I’ve caused so many forced fumbles — like an insane amount. I’m halfway through the season and I have most-likely broken the NFL season-high record for forced fumbles by a team (and single player). I’ve forced over ten fumbles in multiple games — the real life single game NFL record is four total. I’m pretty sure I’ve forced more than four in a game with one player. It’s like playing NFL Quarterback Club 96 with fumble mode on (or as we called it “fumble-its”). This is madness!
Arcade Sports Revelation
My video game dream has always been to see a comeback in arcade sports games, but I’m now realizing that maybe they wouldn’t work in today’s gaming landscape. NBA Playgrounds 1 & 2, the spiritual successors to NBA Jam, totally bombed. Maybe a new NFL Blitz wouldn’t work today either. Now that our games are made up of an endless number of gigabytes, some of these arcade sports experiences have been baked into our high-end sports simulation games.
NHL 25 introduced me to NHL Threes, which is basically an upgraded version of Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey. The NBA 2K series features a blacktop, streetball mode. Even FIFA (now EA FC) has added their own “street” mode, Volta.
Today’s version of NFL Blitz is playing Madden in Arcade mode. The “Hit Stick” finally reigns supreme, long bombs end with spectacular catches, one-handed picks are the norm, penalties are limited, and players are rarely fatigued. When the focus is less on realism and more on big play, highlight reel football, Madden 25 (in Arcade mode) may be the new version of the big arcade sports franchises we’ve been missing since the early 2000s.
Back to the Show
Am I once again a follower of the Cult of John Madden? Have I been re-indoctrinated as a Maddenite (second use makes it official)? I’m not sure, but I will continue my franchise with the Miami Dolphins and hopefully take us to the Super Bowl.
*myVGBC.com was given a review code for EA Sports Madden NFL 25 by the publisher.
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