The data-driven presentations before the snap and the info offered once a play is over are great, but scanning them takes time and, from a point on, all the numbers start to blend and it’s hard to base decisions on them. I’ve also found that successful passes can be hard to deliver and that even the computer seems to opt for a log of running plays in order to compensate for the extra defensive elements added to the title.
 
Another new big data-related play calling feature is Community Picks. EA Sports samples Madden NFL 16 games that are played online and suggests what is effective in the Madden NFL community in a given situation. It was hard to really get a feel for how valuable this feature is in my testing, as I was playing the game pre-release. I can, however, see how when there really are millions of games to be sampled there could be a lot of value in this. After running a play you can also see how you compare to the community. For example, I ran curl flats for 10 yards, whereas the community averages 8 yards on the play.
 
The graphics and details are amazing for Madden NFL 16. So much so that you can see details down to the players tattoos, so I gotta give it 5 points. The game doesn’t have much plot to it, but that can be expected for being a sports game. The game is straightforward. It has neither plot twists nor any holes and for that reason I’ll give it a slightly above average 3.5. Maybe these can be added as DLC but at least they have the Triplets from the Cowboys of the 90’s and Barry Sanders.
 
Connected Franchise also makes it return to Madden NFL. You can play online or offline and play as either a player, a coach or as an owner/coach (the Jerry Jones option?). All three options will have you choose between a created character, a current character, or as a legend character. We found it surprising that William “The Refrigerator”Perry has two options (he did play as a RB and scored a TD in Super Bowl XX) but names like Roger Staubach, Broadway Joe Namath, and Brett Favre, to name a few, didn’t make it into this feature.
 
So, it is all good and well that Madden NFL 16 looks good, has an excellent tutorial and the engine works, but what about the game modes I hear you ask. The quickest and easiest of these is the Play Now option. This allows you to play as your favourite team for a quick game (not really such a thing in American Football). This is also the best place to get acquainted with the game after the skills trainer. The rookie difficulty level is challenging enough to let you win with a bit of struggle giving you a sense of accomplishment rather than “the game let you win”.
 
The sprites are bold and smoothly animated, players look like their real-life counterparts (the ones we know, at least) and, depending on the time of day, the light casts its reflective glare on the field of play. Even the creases in the shirts, the beads of sweat and blades of grass look more realistic. Unfortunately, while the game's presentation and visuals increase the sense of immersion, dodgy physics can bring you crashing back to reality with all the force of an angry linebacker.
 
Player cards still come with a predetermined contract length, but usable contract items have been removed from Madden 16. Instead, when you get a contract card in a pack it dissolves and accumulates in a single pool from which you can allocate contracts to your players. You can assign any amount of contracts, and you can even assign them to your entire team at once. Unlike in FIFA, the number of contracts you can apply is not related to the tier of the player card. Before you work on preparing Sets, make sure you check out the stats of each player to assure you have the best one for the job. A Compare feature allows you to balance out players and see who's right for you. That doesn't necessarily mean you should go with the top choice, though. Sometimes, an underdog favorite can easily work his way up the ranks into a superstar - particularly if you promote him well enough.
 
Lastly, I considered if the team has a pass receiving type running back. A speedy, agile back with good receiving and route running ratings can force the defense to cover the flats opening holes for your receivers deeper down the field. Using those four criteria I came up with the top 5 Madden 16 offenses. Actually the title is misleading because I could't decide between the final 5th spot so I considered it a tie. Without further adieu, I give you the top 5 + a bonus for Madden 16 offenses.