Madden 17 (Xbox One)

Date Purchased: October 23, 2017
Date Completed: November 23, 2017
Price: Free - EA Access

Sports games, it's been a long time since I've given them any time...and as I learned after playing Madden 17, the first football game I've put any real time into since NFL 2K5, and first Madden since 03, that I wasn't missing much.

You'd think that these games would have evolved significantly in the last 10 years, but I was able to pick up and play on pro competitively with no problem at all.  I did appreciate some design changes, like the fact that you can resume a game from any point, no need to finish in one sitting.  I also really appreciated the "fast play" options where you can just play key moments, play offense or defense only, or jump in when you feel like taking control.  It's playing the game without playing the game, and as a guy with limited time, I found this to be the most enjoyable time to play.  Huge lead?  Sim it out.  Team far behind?  Let's make that comeback.

I jumped online to see if that' changed at all, after going up on my opponent.  He quit.  So nothing new here.

My season went well, the game has some nice visuals, and the commentary is generally quite fresh, well, except when they're dead wrong.  Check out this hot take on Tony Romo (who never returned to the NFL after losing his starting job to Dak Prescott).

I went 11-5 on my season with the Lions, winning the division but not quite good enough to earn a first round bye.  Seeing the Lions in the Super Bowl was something special.

Overall I had a good time with the game, but as the season worn on I cooled off on a bit.  It was a good return, but I'm not sure how quick I'll be to get back to it.  I'll play Madden 18 when it comes to EA Access, it has a neat story mode from what I here, but I don't know if I'll bother with a full season.  I can't recommend, nor say pass, let's just say if you have EA Access and want to try football again, it's worthwhile.