Favorite version of Madden

[RicoLaguna]

now that we have several months of Madden 21 under our belt, i wanted asked everyone to rank the best 5 Maddens of all time and why

For me its still Madden 10 and Madden 12......I think Madden 08 is also on my list as well.

[The Senator]

Re: Favorite version of Madden

Without really taking time to sort things out, I'd probably list these four, since I can't really figure out a clear cut fifth selection:

Madden 95/96: A more expansive fieldview, the wonderful training games and presentation upgrade with full licensing that had progressively been added through the last few years. Being able to create players was amazing at the time, and I know I went crazy with that feature.

Madden 05: A full package, 2004 was the apex of NFL gaming with 2K5 at a discount, and one of the best Madden installments ever released. Franchise was at its best, as immersive as it would ever be, and the gameplay was well balanced compared to recent years and their offense heavy approaches.

Madden 10: As I recall, the best of the PS3 generation of the series, and fairly well balanced all around.

--

Honorable mentions, Madden 94(lots of gameplay upgrades, was extremely fun at the time), Madden 04(big time upgrade over 03, graphically, the big headed players from the early PS2 era were finally proportioned better, franchise got huge additions, now if only you didn't have Vick enter the Bo Jackson zone...), Madden 08(Weapons were fun as were the hit stick improvements, and I seem to recall it played well), Madden 20(Although there's plenty of issues with it, the X-Factor stuff attempted to pick up where Weapons left off in player differentiation, and it was likely the best of the PS4 era, despite my general disdain for the XP CFM era of Franchise)

[underdog13]

Re: Favorite version of Madden

Madden 04 on PC. Best total balanced from a game. Especially with sim stats and cpu vs cpu

[Armor and Sword]

Re: Favorite version of Madden

1. Madden 16 (PS4)

2 Madden 11 (PS3)

3. Madden 2005 and 2007 (PS2)

4. Madden 25 (PS3)

5. Madden 99 (PS)


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[stp2081]

Re: Favorite version of Madden

Just ranking the #1 for me: Madden 2008 - last year of training camp, position battles, role icons, vision cone, chain gang measuring, and so much more.

[Von Dozier]

Re: Favorite version of Madden

21 before the patches.

[EarvGotti]

Re: Favorite version of Madden

1) Madden 2005

2) Madden 12

3) Madden 25

4) Madden 21

5) Madden 18


I still reminisce about the Tony Bruno show when did my franchises back in Madden 05. The glory days.

[JoshC1977]

Re: Favorite version of Madden

My favs...

1. Madden 21
2. Madden 20
3. Madden 16

It gets REALLY dicey after those three and we're probably diving back into the 1990s.

My contenders for least favorite:
1. Madden 12
2. Madden 05
3. Madden 25 (PS4)

[ripcandlestickpark]

Re: Favorite version of Madden

Madden NFL 10: Gameplay-wise, this one hasn't aged particularly well (though it was quite fun at the time). But, it contained a number of presentation elements that haven't really been duplicated since. Such elements include fan cutscenes, Weather Channel integration, and the Extra Point weekly wrap-up show.

Madden NFL 12: For me, this is probably the peak for Madden on the 7th generation of consoles. Though certain aspects of gameplay, such as player movement and physics, would improve with the shift to the Infinity Engine the following year, I felt gameplay was still quite strong. A big part of that was the fact that the CPU was able to give you a pretty good challenge, even on All-Pro. And, with the exception of the infamous super-jump LB's, they were able to do so without too much cheese. Also, this is easily the peak for Franchise on the 7th generation. The mode mode includes some things we just got back (proper stat-tracking on player cards, for instance) and features we're still asking for the return of (coordinators, a better way to control all 32 teams, coach tendency customization, etc). I was compelled to revisit this game over the Summer after watching some of Mr. Hurricane's streams, and I was reminded of why I loved this game so much at the time. I'm even in the process of starting up an old 49ers Franchise and seeing if I can rewrite the history of the Harbaugh era. One last thing I'll add is that the Gus Johnson/Chris Collinsworth commentary was absolutely atrocious. No amount of nostalgia can make me think otherwise in that regard, haha.

Madden NFL 16: Gameplay-wise, this is probably the series' peak on the 8th generation of consoles (however, M21 has the potential to match or even surpass it, depending on how the rest of the patch cycle goes). Players had a good amount of weight to them and felt rooted to the ground in a way that they really haven't before or since. Certain systems like fatigue and CPU QB AI just worked for the most part, and the CPU was a formidable opponent. Perhaps most importantly, this was probably the most balanced Madden of the 8th generation. Neither offense nor defense felt too overpowered, and I felt that I was able to have a variety of game types because of it (blowouts, shootouts, defensive struggles, etc.). While I would prefer the Gaudin/Davis commentary that we have know, i do appreciation the commitment they had at this to time to mimicking the CBS presenation style.

Honorable Mentions: The 6th generation versions of Madden NFL 2005-08 (I was too young to get the most out of them, Franchise-wise), Madden NFL 17, Madden NFL 20

[JoshC1977]

Re: Favorite version of Madden

Madden NFL 16: Gameplay-wise, this is probably the series' peak on the 8th generation of consoles (however, M21 has the potential to match or even surpass it, depending on how the rest of the patch cycle goes). Players had a good amount of weight to them and felt rooted to the ground in a way that they really haven't before or since. Certain systems like fatigue and CPU QB AI just worked for the most part, and the CPU was a formidable opponent. Perhaps most importantly, this was probably the most balanced Madden of the 8th generation. Neither offense nor defense felt too overpowered, and I felt that I was able to have a variety of game types because of it (blowouts, shootouts, defensive struggles, etc.).

If someone were to ask me why I'd include M16 near the top of my list; I don't think I could articulate it any better than you did right here.

[warren_playa]

Re: Favorite version of Madden

Madden 05

Madden 04

Madden 08

Madden 18

Madden 21

For this old guy

Been playing since the 1st madden on sega


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[ripcandlestickpark]

Re: Favorite version of Madden

If someone were to ask me why I'd include M16 near the top of my list; I don't think I could articulate it any better than you did right here.

Thank you! Out of curiosity, I'd love to know more about why you're so low on M12. It's definitely not a perfect game as I alluded to in my post (not the most realistic player movement, super-jump LBs, etc.), but I still hold it in pretty high regard.

[mestevo]

Re: Favorite version of Madden

It's just 21 for me. No interest in the older games, especially across generations.

[Armor and Sword]

Re: Favorite version of Madden

Thank you! Out of curiosity, I'd love to know more about why you're so low on M12. It's definitely not a perfect game as I alluded to in my post (not the most realistic player movement, super-jump LBs, etc.), but I still hold it in pretty high regard.

I can tell you why it is not on my list. Those Super LB’s were god awful, the passing game was god awful, and the announcing team was god awful, and for all the applause franchise mode get’s on 12....I found it extremely sterile. Now I loved the stadium overheads and some elements of the game....but to me it simply could not hold my attention with the sub par gameplay.

For me it was a highly overrated game. The gameplay was simply not good enough to hold my interest...couple that with a lifeless franchise mode and the UDFA feature being buggy as hell. Just meh.

I still play Madden 25 on the PS3....that game is an absolute blast, presentation is excellent compared to Madden 12 and gameplay is far better. Worlds better actually.

I failed to mention Madden 93. That game was a staple at my apartment. We are talking 5-6 hour sessions of head to head games with my then roommate and drummer in my rock band.....we had seasons we would track, keep stats in a notebook....have major rivalries and going to bed pissed off after tough losses. Great times.

And to add onto Madden 16.....the penalty system works amazing as well. Great variety. Also the soundtrack was the last great one for Madden.

Madden 16 is still a great game and I play the classic rosters on it to this day (86,90,99)

[sportomatic75]

Re: Favorite version of Madden

Madden 05, 06, 08 and 2016 stand out the most to me just because of the history. BRING BACK THE TONY BRUNO SHOW TO MADDEN