Madden NFL 25 is almost upon us, set to release this week with the same kind of thunderous impact you’ve come to expect from the premiere football simulator. There are a lot of features to try out this time around, including a deep Connected Franchise mode, as well as plenty of Ultimate Team cards to collect and plays to master.
All this may be overwhelming for some of you rookies out there, but don’t worry. Madden NFL 25 is a very user-friendly game, and we’ve got some beginner’s tips to help you get up to speed.
The first thing you’ll want to do is get accustomed to play types. On the offensive side, they mostly consist of pass and run plays. Pass plays are good for getting the ball down the field – provided that your receiver is open enough to catch the ball – while running plays can be surprisingly effective when it comes to getting the first down. Don’t stick to one particular kind of play. Mix things up.
If you’re having trouble finding the right play for the job, don’t be afraid to “Ask Madden.” You’ll find this option available in the play selection menu, and he’ll have three good ones to choose from, depending on the situation. This guy has years of football know-how, so pay attention to his recommendations.
When it comes to collecting Ultimate Team cards, you don’t always need to strive for the superstars first. Take time to build up a good, varied collection of cards. See what players you have to offer at first, then try to sort things out, selling the cards you don’t want in a virtual store and picking up ones that you consider favorites. Have fun with it – no one’s collection has to be perfect.
Which team should you start out with in Madden NFL 25? There are several contenders out there for championship glory, but when it comes to getting the hang of how the game works, there’s only one way to go – the All-25. Here, you’ll find the best hand-picked players that the game has to offer, from offense to defense to special plays. You can only use them in the “Play Now” mode, but their stats and skills guarantee you’ll get the hang of things very easily. Once you’re eased into the game’s rhythm, you can try out other teams and see how they fare on the field. You can learn more about the All-25 here.
When it comes to passing, your receiving lineman will have his route highlighted in red. Once the play commences, you’ll want to keep an eye on where this receiver is in the field. If you see the defense start to get in his way, hold off on the pass until he gets open again – or maybe dart your eyes around the field to see who could be open. Just because they’re the main defender doesn’t mean it’s your only option. Also, try not to stay in one place too long. You could be easy pickings for a defensive sack.
When it comes to run plays, try to keep an eye out for openings left by your offensive line. Sometimes a gap will open up right in front of you; other times, you’ll need to scramble left or right to get to running speed. From there, try a number of maneuvers to get around defensive tacklers, like a spin or a jump. You might be surprised just how far you get – maybe even in the end zone.
On the defensive side, if you’re nervous about which player you need to control, don’t be. Try to be one of the guys on the front line – you could push forward enough to get a sack. Once the play is in motion and the quarterback passes the ball, or gets a run going, you can switch players with the tap of a button and continue to stay in the play. It takes getting used to, but you’ll soon find that rhythm where you can tackle players with ease.
If all else fails and you think Madden NFL 25 is still too difficult for you to grasp, don’t worry. The game comes with adjustable sliders that you can tune any way you see fit. If your defensive guys aren’t performing up to caliber, simply bump up your team’s and lower the AI’s. If you want your quarterback to have a perfect passing arc, increase his passing skill t0 100. There are a number of things to adjust here, and no one will look down on you for making everything just right – except maybe when you get online. You have plenty of time to get there, though. Try these options in “Play Now” and see how they work for you.
Madden NFL 25 is available this week for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and coming later this year to Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
