It's an age-old tale in the world of sports video games: Every year we get a new version of an old game that makes small changes from the previous year to get less fake and closer to the actual game. One of the biggest sports games on the planet is undoubtedly EA Sports' annual "Madden" offering. I've been playing "Madden NFL 16" for a few days now, the latest of the bunch, and for once I have to admit that everyone who is into sports games should pick this up. I don't normally say this about sports video games. That's a far cry from some of the feedback and scores the game has received in the past. I rated Madden 16 an 8.4 and acknowledge that it is the best in many years. Visually, it's stunning, and the gameplay has taken a huge step forward.

 

Coverage has also taken an overhaul. Players can opt to be aggressive and go for the ball, or play it safe and cover the receiver. This leads to some excellent scenarios. Playing the ball can sometimes lead to missing the tackle and giving up big gains, and all of it is based around position, just like in the NFL. If your corner is inside the route, it is easier to get a jump on the ball, but if their position is off, then the receiver has the advantage. It is a great game of chess, and makes playing coverage even more fun. In his rookie year, Odell Beckham, Jr., made waves with one play. Despite his natural sportsmanship, he’s known for his one spectacular backwards catch. While he’s spoken time and again that he wants to be remembered for more than that, his iconic play has brought about a major enhancement to this year’s Madden installment. This new mechanic is the front runner to another year of enhancements in EA’s Madden NFL 16.

 

The opening moments of Madden 16 place me at the helm of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. The influence of the NFL Network video crew is showcased here, as Super Bowl 50 is enacted against the Arizona Cardinals. Sequences are delivered through video to put the offense into crucial points of the drive, which is when control of the game is given back to me. After Ben “Big Ben” Roethlisberger gives a motivational speech about the feeling of winning the biggest game in football, he called to Antonio Brown, last year’s leading receiver for the Steelers, and says the play’s going to him. There, I toss a high lob over the Cardinals’ cornerback Patrick Peterson for the game-winning touchdown, and the cinematography takes over.

 

There is a new game mode in Madden NFL 16 and it's the Draft Champions mode. I jotted my impressions of the new mode at E3, and my opinion remains the same. This new mode is an awesome new way to play Madden. If you are sick of using the same team/players then you can just draft your own in a fantasy football style competition. This mode really puts your GM skills to the test as you figure out how you best want to construct your team through a 15-round draft where each round gives you three different players to choose from. However, there's a mixture of quality in the audio department. The on-field stuff is fine, and the EA Trax selections aren't actually that bad this year, with plenty of variety.

 

However, the commentary just can't keep up with previous games, especially with the lack of Al Michaels and good ol' Madden. That's not to say that Phil Simms and Jim Nantz - backed by Larry Ridley during pre-game and halftime - don't try; they do, by all means. However, their comments just don't interject the kind of energy we expect from a football game. Heck, at one point, I even said that Dan Fouts and Dennis Miller, from the old Monday Night Football days, would be welcome. Filled with ridiculous references? Maybe. But I'd have a lot more fun than I would with the current team. Overall, though, if you ignore the somewhat banal commentary, you'll find a worthwhile audio experience that draws you in. Needs more crowd chants, though. "Let's! Go! D!"