The highlight of the year for football fans is coming up: The Super Bowl and with it the final for the famous Lombardi Trophy. How does the virtual counterpart do on the console?
The football simulation Madden NFL 22 is also about the long and arduous road to the Super Bowl. With the NFL season coming down to the grand finale, kicker eSport gives an insight into the day-to-day business of a team owner in Madden: How authentic is the journey to the Super Bowl?
It all starts in the ‘Franchise’ mode. Here you can first decide whether you want to take over a real existing team or rather build your own franchise. As an ‘Owner’ you get complete control, while as a ‘Coach’ you only have focus on the team and the players. You can also start a ‘player career’ and aspire to the Hall of Fame as a star quarterback.
Above all, as the owner of the team, you have a lot to do and are responsible for the performance of your team as well as for all the details. Contracts have to be negotiated and the price of the hot dogs in the stadium has to be adjusted.
The Road to the Final: What to Watch Out For
The most important steps to success are similar in every career. First of all, you should always take a look at the existing team. What is the average age? Where are there gaps across the board? Is the quarterback good enough to make it to the Super Bowl? Every position needs to be filled well; after all, a season lasts a long time.
Staff members around the team also need to be promoted. In different talent trees you can upgrade your ‘Offensive’ as well as your ‘Defensive Coordinators’ by means of ‘Staff Points’. In the preparation phase, it is also very important to improve the team. Through trades or drafts, you get some opportunities to adjust the squad to your liking. Always keep an eye on the free agents, because real superstars can be waiting for you in the second season at the latest.
Once you have managed everything around your club and are satisfied with the team, it’s time to move on from matchday to matchday via the play-offs to the final for the title. Here, a new feature awaits you in Madden 22, namely the scouting of your upcoming opponent. This is the key to finding out your opponents’ weaknesses in advance and at the same time perfecting your own ‘game plan’.
In which formation do you want to send your offence into the game? How should your defence behave? Scouting is essential to answer such questions and to adjust deeper tactical subtleties.
New Super Bowl cheer adds variety
Although a big revolution is missing in the current part, some differences in the gameplay to the previous year’s version are noticeable. The players run a little slower across the field, but the general feel of the game is closer to reality. Until you rush from victory to victory, the controls have to be right, of course, and the many passing options during a move can overwhelm beginners. But if you take the time, you’ll be able to execute every attack in the playbook and advance to the Super Bowl via the Conference Finals.
In terms of authenticity, Madden 22 has taken a step forward. The introduction of the ‘Dynamic Gameday’ brings new facets to the gaming experience. Not only is there improved atmosphere through new fan behaviour or more realistic team movements on the sidelines. The ‘Gameday Momentum’ is also a strong innovation. Home matches give extra advantages, and if you take control of a match, your players also get a boost.
If you reward yourself after a long season by winning the Super Bowl, you can also expect new animations of the cheering players and supporters. However, there will be no spectacle in between this year: There is no half-time show in the game. Madden is aimed more at football purists. Very convincing in ‘Franchise’ mode
