Madden NFL 19

The best Madden NFL for experienced players.

EA hit the mark in trying to renovate its football sim: graphics, gameplay, atmosphere and game modes are all in their best shape with the only exception of the Longshot mode, a bit too repetitive. If you skipped some Madden NFL games in the past in fear of the usual "more of the same", this one will definitely prove to be worth the buy.

Madden 19 returns the primary focus where it belongs: that moment-to-moment gameplay between the end zones. It’s only true stumbling point is the lackluster story mode that fails to recapture the magic of the first, but that's entirely offset by the new player handling that once again leverages the power of the Frostbite engine.

Whilst the gameplay is drastically improved to give the best Football yet, some technical issues in the story mode, along with repetitive practice scenarios mar the overall experience.

Is it better than last year? Theoretically yes. The visuals are improved, so is the running game. But there are also still some old problems left to fix, while the continuation of the Longshot story mode suffers from an irrelevant script.

Madden NFL 19 certainly hits all the right notes. It builds and improves on the groundwork that was established when Madden NFL 18 made some bold changes last year.

EA's touchdown sim gets plenty right, and leaves behind some fallow seasons. [Nov 2018, p.83]

Madden NFL 19 isn’t exactly breaking new ground when it comes to EA’s football franchise, but it is a step in the right direction. The additions to Franchise and Ultimate Team modes provide a more complete experience that appeals to more players, and versus play is more seamless this year.

It all adds up to another edition of the best Madden yet, but that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Yearly sports video games have long had a challenge with their year-to-year progression, battling to find ways to make their games fresh. Madden seems to have cracked that code.

If you're looking for something that massively overhauls the Madden experience, you're probably not going to find it in Madden NFL 19. Instead, I see it as a generally solid dose of improvements and consistency, with an emphasis on tightening up the on-field product for better, more natural football action. It's got me looking forward to binging the next season, at the very least.

This new edition has improved in many ways with very significant changes in almost all aspects of the title - fans will find in Madden NFL 19 the best American football’s simulator to date.

Madden NFL 19 is more of an evolution than a revolution then, but what else did anyone expect? It’s a refinement of last year’s effort with further graphical prowess, more fluidity and a sprinkling of new features. It’s just a shame that its Longshot Homecoming mode is such a let-down.

It's an incredibly solid game of football that hasn’t done a great job of putting it all together. I really like the tightened up player movement and all quality of life improvements in the franchise mode. But I can’t help but feel like the best of this franchise is still ahead of it. Madden NFL 19 is a fully-featured and well-playing enough and if you’re in the mood for some football, it's still the game to get.

Madden 19 is an excellent football game that improves on last year's entry in almost every way. There are problems, but there has never been a football game that more authentically represents the NFL than this in terms of presentation, controls, and depth.

Madden NFL 19 is a game not unlike what we saw in other years, but it's also the best football game of the franchise. It is a must-have game for all football fans.

The changes this year might not be exciting on the surface, but the longevity of the game could benefit greatly from what they provide — more strategy in building teams and more control of players on the field.

This year, Madden doesn't break any new ground or fix all or most of the nagging issues that have impeded the series in the past. However, it does deliver an absolutely stunning visual experience, decent gameplay and enough options to keep most fans occupied.

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.

If you're an absolute die-hard, I guess you’ve already picked up Madden NFL 19, but otherwise I'd warn you to hold off and continue playing last year's version. There's nothing special about this year's edition, and with all of the technical issues, it's a major bummer.