Madden 26 review

PC player 

Something is WRONG with the game this year... well, every year, but I've always managed to have fun otherwise. Exclusively offline, so I use sliders to mask issues. Are the sliders even working anymore? I swear, I've tried different modes, used sliders, it feels the exact same on every mode and difficulty. The only difference I've noticed is playing on rookie compared to tougher difficulties. Your options for play are to easily blow your opponents out on rookie. Or want to put a hole through your TV on any of the 3 larger difficulties dealing with cheating AI.

I call it the "any given sunday" program. Like ice tilt in the NHL series that absolutely exists even though they claim otherwise. 

How often do you lose against the AI and feel like they got it legitimately? NEVER! It's always some weird thing that goes down that changes the game. One or more linemen get sudden amnesia on a critical 3rd downs and don't even attmept to block. Your open receiver suddenly runs towards your own end zone as soon as you hit their button to pass (that has happened a few times now). Dropping wide open passes, but only if they'll move the chains, CONSTANTLY.

Don't even get me started on jump balls... ugh. I've never rolled my eyes so much playing a video game before. 

It's like you programmed the AI to have an ego and it can't handle losing so it'll cheat in attmept to keep the game close or something. Blowouts happen in the NFL, I've seen them. I shouldn't have to drop it to rookie to steamroll a team rated way lower than mine. What's the point of ratings and building you team up if the AI can just bypass all that and make the game "competitive?" Apparently there are NEVER blowouts in the NFL according to pro or higher AI. 

Fix this mess.

Oh, and why can't we edit player bodies like we used to yet? We can do even less this year! You don't make a product better by removing our ability to do things. You know that, yes? 

Just make a MUT only game already. Then get a second team to make an actual football sim that's fun. Best of both worlds, you get to keep ripping people off with digital nonsense, AND you put out a game that's enjoyable like you used to. It wasn't MUT that made Madden what it is... it was us old timers that want a decent franchise mode. WE made that franchise what it is. Feel free to show us just the slightest bit of respect, fix your game, and especially franchise mode. Bring back owner mode as well... like ASAP, patch it back in. 

Please?

Again, who decided that removing options makes a game better and have they been fired yet?