Madden NFL 19 (XB1) Review

The rules have not changed much.

It is once again that time. Madden NFL 19 is upon us, which means a slew of big-budget titles is right behind it. It is amazing to me that I just played my last game of Madden NFL 18 a week before the release of this year’s title. I rarely play past February most years. Still, something about the previous entry of the game resonated with me longer than most outings.

Madden NFL 19 feels like a polish year. Sure there are new features, a new story mode, and of course new rosters, but this game simply feels like a better version of last year’s game. Only time will tell if that is enough to keep me playing another 11 months, but for now it is satisfying my need for some pigskin action.

MSRP: $59.99
Platforms: XB1 (reviewed), PS4, PC
Price I’d Pay: $49.99

One of the biggest changes to this year’s edition was touted as being the franchise mode. This is the mode I certainly spend the most time with. There are definitely some updates, but there are also some drawbacks. The new UI is fantastic. Everything is easier to find and it is laid out in a way that makes more sense. Coach and player upgrades are still available, and I could opt to do them individually or let the computer handle the process. Everything underneath though still feels the same. Again, this mode feels like refinement more than progress.

The on-field action feels the most improved for me. Running backs have better locomotion this year. Hitting gaps and shooting through their offensive line holes feels more natural. Defensive backs play the ball more realistically, but there are still exploit plays that work far too often. I love that sliders exist, as the default difficulty feels marred by bad AI. I also enjoy the return of Arcade mode from last year that adds an emphasis on big plays. These make the game more exciting for those not wanting a full simulation experience.

Presentation repeats the refinement process. The new pre-game and halftime stuff is cool, but limited. Post game remains exactly the same. Camera angles also feel pretty much lifted from the previous game. The biggest sore spot though is commentary. Last year’s addition of Charles Davis and Brandon Gaudin was fantastic. This year though they repeat a TON of the same lines from last year. Player specific lines as well. Playing as the Raiders I hear the same line about Amari Cooper over and over and over throughout my franchise. It is exhausting. The Live commentary returns, which is cool, but it is only for moment gameplay sessions which are updated weekly. There are also a lot of times where the commentary was completely wrong in regards to the play I just ran, which is simply unacceptable.

Visually Madden still looks great. The new Frostbite engine does the game well. There are still weird animations and player clipping that results in hilarious video captures. The implementation of HDR on Xbox One X is outstanding though. I really wish game transitions were more realistic though.

Longshot returns with more of a focus on the secondary character from last year. This is a continuation of the story, but it feels like it lost a lot of what made last year’s interesting. It is a cool addition, but this year’s outing feels more like an obligation for a back of the box checkmark than something the team put a ton into.

Madden Ultimate Team returns and remains a neat feature that I rarely spend time with. Mostly due to the monetary cost it comes with. Earning packs and leveling up is neat, but if I wanted to compete online at any capacity I would have to invest some serious money to get better players. The new feature for this year’s mode is the ability to upgrade individual players to fit your team’s design. This is a cool feature I would like to see expanded upon, but I am still not sure it would drag me into the fold.

Madden NFL 19 is a solid outing this year, but again it is more a refinement than anything else. It feels like a game targeted at the usual players and not bringing in anyone new. I hope that the series ups their game next year and really brings back the thunder it can certainly have. I still have issues with some of the AI, and the commentary really makes me feel like I am playing last year’s game at times.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.

Good
  • Engine still looks incredible
  • New locomotion in running game
  • Better DB coverage
Bad
  • Commentary is a mess
  • Minor improvements abound
7.5
Good
Written by
Ken is the Editor-in-Chief of this hole in the wall and he loves to troll for the fun of it. He also enjoys long walks through Arkham Asylum and the cool air of Shadow Moses Island. His turn-ons include Mortal Kombat, Metal Gear Solid and StarCraft.