Madden NFL 18 Retrospective: Style Over Substance
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- čas přidán 18. 05. 2024
- Sim Football Fanatics: / @eldestthegreat
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Madden NFL 18 wasn’t that bad upon first impressions. But that’s the issue. This game is style over substance, like every Madden that has come out since. The introduction of the Frostbite engine did make the game prettier, but at a cost that I don’t think was worth it.
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00:00 Intro
00:57 Frostbite Engine
05:50 Game Modes
11:12 Gameplay
15:07 Presentation
17:10 Final Thoughts
#retrospective #softdrinktv #game #review #sdtv - Hry
I know you probably won't , but I'd love to see a comprehsive decline of Madden Mobile video from MM15 to Overdrive and beyond in this style.
same XD
facts
That would be interesting
There’s a reason Retro Bowl overtook it
Man, madden mobile was so good before Madden Overdrive ruined it. It gives me so many great memories😢
I’ll say it again, if the NFL can ditch DirecTV after almost 30 years then there is no reason why they can’t drop Madden. Especially if Goodell is always talking about “expanding the brand”
hell yeah !
Facts. Call the new game "Lombardi"
They only ditched Direct TV because DTV has fell off in subscribership so the cost of having NFL Sunday ticket wasn't worth it. For the NFL to drop the exclusivity for Madden, the same will have to happen: consumers would have to stop buying Madden and - more importantly - stop spending boat-loads of money on Madden Ultimate Team. I just don't see that happening as most football fans just don't care about a robust Franchise Mode, and realistic, solid gameplay. We are the minority, always has been.
@@drzerogiMadden NFL 18 kinda reminded me a lot to FIFA 20 in terms of how they put the series downhill.
@@ifheavenwashuman"Lombardi"?
Thank you for being one of the few to actually hold madden to their bs.
Unfortunately, it’s a drop of reason in a bucket of idiocy.
Have you fucking SEEN the Madden (and NCAA) subreddit[s]?
They’re idiots. They shovel money into the EA dumpster fire without a second thought. The sad fact is that the sports gaming population is too stupid for their own good and we are all suffering for the lack of critical thought among the majority.
One of the very very few to do so. Seems like every madden YTer kisses their ass even the ones who swear they hate EA spend thousands on the game they “hate”
@@zurlac9548 Need a tissue?
@@zurlac9548he’s got videos of greatest madden game and stuff like that so he’s not all negative. Praised 05-09, praised head coach 09, praised 2k games. Cute story though.
@@zurlac9548aint shi to be happy abt
But if they add dynamic weather that would require adding more voice lines for announcers, and we know Madden can't be bothered to do that
considering they’re using multiple announce teams for 25 , i think we’ll get more voice lines as well .
Wish MADDEN 24 has dynamic weather options
Have been playing NCAA Football 14 and maaaan. i haven't got this much fun with a Football game in ages
same here, it never gets old
i was looking for this comment, i have cfbr on pc and it is so much better than madden
NCAA FOOTBALL 14 even 11 years after release still impressive.
Nostalgia 😂🤦🏾♂️
I remember being so pumped for this game and being so let down. This was the last time I made that mistake with Madden. I've been playing since "98 and just fed up with the shit man.
You played the same game for years and this was the one that let you down?????
Ever since Madden NFL 18, Madden is a massive letdown all the way until 24.
@@purwantiallan5089 yall gotta be teenagers
My dad who had played Madden 91-09 (07 to 09 on Wii) kinda got fed up with Madden early since the Wii ones felt like the same game in a row
Yep, M18 was the last Madden I bought
I love this game, it has always been one of if not my favorite Madden that I have played. the memories and fun I have had playing the game will keep Madden 18 in my heart.
Honestly, this is a great way to look at games. I have loved some games that a lot others found awful haha
@@Daniel-df3bhwell the same case can be true to FIFA as well.
Fr, so many memories
3:26 and EA can’t make the excuse of “it didn’t have dynamic weather” because Frostbite does have that option. Battlefield 4 and 1 are good examples of it.
11 years after release, Battlefield 4 still an amazing game.
@@purwantiallan5089 and Battlefield 1
I still play Madden 18 every now and then, creating custom Super Bowl 52 matchups were really fun when those playoffs were going on
I also look back on it to remember a really good season of football
Super Bowl 52 matchups in Madden 18 still memorable.
madden 24 doesn't even have heavy snow anymore..
You make the best sports video game retrospectives I swear. Even when you don’t drop vids for a while I find myself coming back to your old ones often, keep it up man you’ve really came a long way!
Surprisingly, Shu Uchida (Mia Taylor's VA) ever tested out Madden 18. It looked great although severely lacking depth compared to 2004 PS1.
Great video. When a company accumulates billions from one video game franchise, they can afford to make almost anything happen with their game. EA moving to frostbite just showed us how much ea doesn't care about making a well developed game and software to support that game, rather than creating cash grabs every year for suckers to buy.
Frostbite 3 engine only suitable for Battlefield and NFS THE RUN.
This game was so nostalgic for me tho ICL, The music was solid and I didnt mind Longshot
How old are you
music was solid? Mannn that shit was HEAT
Longshot Story Mode in Madden 18 to 22 are downright awful.
@@purwantiallan5089 longshot in 18 was NOT awful you smokin
@@BeastlyEmpirethe music was just ugly monkey babbling. So of course it's up your alley. However the game like the football setup was exciting and pretty genuine. Graphics are still amazing.
this must be the 8th time you make a video like this but it’s a reminder that we need
Well at least is a memorable one.
Madden 18 was the most rage inducing madden I’ve ever played
Madden 04 is goated and 05 with the hit stick and 06 with the qb passing, good times 🔥
Dont forget the unlockable classic Madden teams like 1970s Bengals in Madden 04 PS1 as well.
03 was great too first h2h online.
I will defend madden 18 to the grave, my first ever xbox one game, I still play it weekly to this day, it's alot more realistic when it comes to franchise then it is nowadays
Madden 18 was also my first Xbox One game LMAO
Can tell you young
@@karletonmcbride8083I'm young yes but my favorite NFL video game is NFL 2K5
@@karletonmcbride8083I'm young yes, but my favorite NFL game is NFL 2k5
@@karletonmcbride8083can you let people like a game? Like I really don’t see what’s such a problem
When I had the case, it looked like Brady was going to walk off the cover, and beat the crap out of me
Tom Brady in Madden 18 looked cool though.
I really dig how you do your best to express your viewpoints but also being fair in giving out some positive quips and such also in your view for these modern maddens.
And of course the music as usual. It was good to catch up with some of your recent videos like your NBA ones into this one and soon for your Madden Presentation change ups video.
That’s all from I. Keep up the great content.
Superstar mode was awesome. One of my best gaming memories was helping lead my team to the playoffs as their star halfback.
Superstars Mode in Madden 18 even though nowhere near 11, at least is decent.
MADDEN 18 Without a doubt is my most played madden and the one i still play today. It is not perfect, but with slight tweaks, the game plays very well. I was a highly highly ranked online player and it was the first time i felt like people couldnt run swiss cheese plays, there was always something that could stop someones cheese. I know a lot of fans hated it and most likely because the defense was hard to beat in this one. Although 17 and 18 were similar, Madden 19 was arguably the biggest step back any video game franchise would ever take. I could not believe it and all i could think was that it was done on purpose so they could make it seem like it would get better over the years to come. I havent purchased madden since 18 and i am shocked at how terrible they still play, even at madden 24 now. So sad.
Babe wake up softdrinktv posted
Gtfo with that corny shit
damn, i remember me and my cousin used to get home from school just to play madden 18 and cod infinite warfare miss those days.
I still remember being introduced to Madden 2001 by my older brother and cousin. I still remember walking to the hardware store to buy Madden 04. Madden 03-06 were my prime and I would love everytime I got a new one and adjusting my rosters. I got Madden 09 for Ps3 on Christmas still good times. I got Madden 12 when I got my first job, still fun game. Than my Bro got Madden 16 for Ps4 and I hardly remember the game, besides you probably couldn't edit players positions like wr to te. I remember buying Madden 19 when I got a steady job but I never made it passed the tutorials. And that was pretty much the end of my Madden career. Idk why I never really went back, maybe because I'm old school and hardly watch the games anymore, but part of it was not being able to edit positions, because I was always a Franchise mode guy
I think it is genuinely important for there to be people talking seriously about sports games. Casuals just write them off as just the same game again every time, and reviewers do the same but think that because it isn't worse it must be exceptional. Anyone actually passionate about these games will know that there's differences that set each game apart. We need that nuance because we need to look critically at these kinds of games, and appreciate the successes for what they did right and the world they capture.
Madden 18 got 82 on Metacritic but only 1.8 on User Score.
Still the best looking Madden graphically…you could argue Madden 19 too.
I remember how much fun i had with Madden 09 back in the day and wish i could find that type of fun again. I have to power through to try and have fun in 24. Hopefully someday we'll get a licensed NFL game worth a damn again
I put countless hours on that game as well as Madden 12
I played college football revamped and it was so fun to me
@@booboo4ever24all PS2 MADDEN games and PS1 Maddens are still amazing till this day too.😢
Madden became awful after 10 lol
I remember excitedly got my Xbone s on a black friday deal and buying doom (2016) and madden 18 with it. It was my first next gen console and I couldn't wait to see what next gen madden was like. Maybe 10 minutes into madden I ejected the disc and returned it the next day.
The one and only video game I ever returned.
Thank you for another great video! What I have been looking for, is more of a break down of the best Madden gameplay video games to date. You channel, and many, many more, refer to great or good games based mostly on features. I agree features of any sports video game are important, but I would like to have a break down of the best gameplay football video game to date. Fun factor of playing the game is one of the most important aspects of any sports franchise and Madden is no different. Breaking down the physics engine used, the blocking, the passing, the running game and passing game. I'm currently playing Madden 25 on PC and I've forgotten how much fun this game was to play. The blocking, tackling physics of this game is so much better than what we see today. Defenders jumping the pass for a interception is something I actually miss. In hindsight, we took for granted just how good this and other Madden titles were. Thanks again!
Even though Madden 18 sucked, it's super nostalgic for me because it was my first madden
Damn you missed all the best ones
@@Marcus_shawn He can still play the old games with emulation or buying the old games
Madden 18, 7 years after release still a forgotten game.
Wow
Great i love how bro stand up for the right thing hopefully one this pays off
Excellent video 👏👏👏
Ya vids are always good I agree with every word 💯 you should make a video on Def Jam Fight For NY💯🔥
You didn’t mention how Madden 19 finally added QB Signature Drop Backs. It’s why I sold my copy of 18 for 19. Took them how many years to finally do this? 🤭
Literally screamed and had a small jump when I saw the thumbnail. Out of all the Maddens I've ever played, I can safely say I hated this one the most. Fuck this game with every fiber of my being.
I hate Madden 19 more, but yeah lol
And it is my favorite
@@dudeof2436 Fair enough, to each their own and all that jazz. The reason I hate it so much is coming from Madden 11 and 12 on the 360, Madden 18 was the first 8th gen Madden I played on the PS4 and I just could not for the life of me get into it at all; I'm pretty sure it was the change in engines but whatever it was I just knew I hated it
@@SOFTDRINKTVfor me i equally hate Madden 18 as much as i hate 13, and 19 to 24. 19 to 24 are exact same gameplay blueprints as 18.
@@derron3959Madden 18 was the 1st NFL game not released for 7th gen ports.
Man i really miss having a good time playing a sports game. Nothing does it anymore
Have you played the recent ones and what is different about this one then the current one?
@@Ccubed92 Do your homework friend. These games are so watered down now it's a shame.
I just stick to my ps3, 360 and gamecube for my sports fix nowadays
@@A1.2223maybe so. But the online franchise is better than ever. Nothing more fun than being in a league with 31 other people
MLB The Show is dope AF idgaf what anyone says
I still play Madden 18. I only play franchise mode, though.
Hi Softdrinktv! i have a question, what is your opinion on madden 15?
This was the last Madden I got for Christmas and put hundreds of hours into it on Franchise but I heard the bad reviews of Madden 19 and the next Christmas I got Red Dead Redemption II, which is now my favorite game of all-time.
Same here. I played Madden my whole childhood, then when I just didn't enjoy the game anymore, I found RDR2. Its incredible.
forstbite was introduced with battlefield bad company
He said "First title in the series"
The music on these videos is top tier imo 💯🔥💪
Will be interested to see your opinion on that NCAA game EA is putting out over the summer as someone who has been following your channel for a while details on that game have been very little so far tho
Need this type of video for the NHL series. Seeing how it's been a decade since we got a good, universally loved NHL game.
Are you still maybe interest in m13 for the ps vita?
I didn't even have to watch this to know it was spot on
Interesting perspective. I've been a football fan for 30 years but only recently began playing Madden with Madden 22, and although everything you say is probably true, I'm having a blast. I only play franchise mode
Still waiting for a Blitz: The League III
I’d absolutely love to see you make a video about the fall off of Mario sports games. Seriously, they use to be so good in the GameCube and even Wii era, but started falling off a bit when the Wii and 3ds came, then completely fell off a cliff with the switch. I know they’re not really “regular” sports games, but I’d still love to see you cover them. Doesn’t even have to be the sports games as a whole, could just be a specific series like the Mario tennis series or Mario golf series.
You should add some segments in these videos about madden modding community you could show that just some guys that are passionate do so much to make this game playable and add gameplay elements like fixing passing trajectory or speed on bullet passing to Dbs jumping like mad, franchise add ons for smarter trading and contract management and cap saving cuts of older vets. Or the madden franchise tool with an INCREDIBLE progression system allowing for undrafted gems like Purdy or puca or adding playcalling upgrades to the game and all the AI upgrades to making playing against AI somewhat more realistic. It would be a nice contrast to just showing the old games as it really shows it shouldn’t be a cost issue people can do this themselves EA just Obviously mismanaged the budget all these years on the wrong things and flashy stickers without substance.
Love the videos!
Just an idea!
Would you ever make another football video game career mode, maybe another Sarasota Seamen career mode on a retro Madden, or perhaps Retro Bowl?
The last madden game I bought was madden 14 and it was on sale in the PX for like $4. I just wanted a cheap ass game to play in the barracks and that’s exactly what I got. 10 years later and it seems NOTHING HAS CHANGED! It’s amazing that people keep supporting this. Blows my mind that they haven’t completely blown their sales.
The major issue I had with this one is DB’s at a certain threshold would break on the ball when their back was turned to the QB.
Hey I love your channel. I have a question what's the difference between madden 08 on the original Xbox/ps2 and madden 08 on xbox 360/ps3
I haven’t purchased a madden since madden 19. But in the past year I have purchased nfl 2k5 and madden 07 and those games cost me $20 total, yet I have more fun on those games than I’ve had on any madden title in recent memory. It’s just sad and pathetic at this point that current maddens are being beat out by nearly 20 year old games.
Once NCAA football drops this year ohhh boy Madden about to fall off tremendously.
Highly doubt it. The people who continually buy Madden will still buy it. And let’s not pretend NCAA won’t be similar to Madden
It was 13 for me... yeah 18 wasn't that good but I'll take it over 20,22 and 23
Idk if its possible but madden should add john madden for presentation. Im sure they could use sound bites, old commentary or his tv broadcast.
Id like to see a video on the broader NFL Blitz series, including NFL Blitz Pro.
If you've never played Blitz Pro, you'd probably come away thinking holy crap, someone actually made a more boring football game than Madden Mobile.
So the NFL wanted Midway to tone things down...and the end result was basically a strange arcade-sim mix that felt extremely indecisive. Nothing showed that more than with that Midway staple, having your players be on fire...even that got watered down to the point of uselessness.
Madden 18s ultimate team was GOATED honestly you still got money for challenges back then I had a crazy squad no pay in that game and in 19 18 was pretty good
This just made me wanna go back to madden 16 and 14 my favorite ones when I was younger and I didn’t notice how bad some things were in the games but they were better then where things were going in a lot of ways but also not as polished in some.
The ragdoll like look, gave us some authentic hits, though. Genuine movement even though sometime it look kinda Jenkee, I preferred players toppling over instead of glitching through each other.
Madden 17 was the last real competitive Madden game of the series. The players always ran the routes exactly the same way. You could practice using playmaker and it would always be the same every time. If you broke up the pass in time, it was incomplete. For online gameplay, this meant the better player wins. There was no DDA yet-- which meant no randomness. I made Top 200 in the world in Madden 17, Top 0.1% with a 200-118 record.
When Madden 18 came along, that's when things changed. DDA was added, random mechanics, individuality on how players ran routes. It was no longer a game of checkers every time you played. It introduced **you did everything right all game with no turnovers and no mistakes, so let's make your player fumble** kind of mechanics. This made CF more inmersive, and it's only continued to become "better" as the series has progressed in that regard (there's air quotes because Madden 06-09 are still games after all 😂). For the competitive scene however, this was the dagger/downfall. The better player _didn't_ win every time. A lot of times actually, not even _half_ the time. Now the game of checkers had introduced let's say _wind knocks one of your pieces off the table_ or _your cat came and took one of the pieces_ (if you understand what I mean with the random DDA)... Imagine trying to play a real competitive game like that. You can't.
SD, thanks for your videos. The nostalgia is appreciated 👍
Hey soft drink , I recently came across your “the history of ncaa football “ video and toward the end you said you wouldn’t really be all that interested in a new game because it would simply be a madden reskin , and I wanted to know could you follow up with your previous video now knowing there will be a new game coming out this summer, I would like to hear your thoughts and hopes for the new game !
This stuff just makes me so sad. I've been watching this struggle for hears, and nothing ever changes. It's the same story over and over again. Will it ever end?
As Reggie Fils Amie once said “If it’s not fun. Why bother?”
I miss Reggie.
@@JaredtheRabbitI hope he’s enjoying retirement.
He is an engaging speaker.
Reggie and the late Iwata are forever two people who are a symbol of when video game fans anticipated E3 every year.
@@fortynights1513 I hope he is as well.
Yep. When Iwata died, it was truly a sad time.
Can you do madden 17? I wanna see what you say about it. I say the last playable Madden. Well at the time. New commentary and new movement and it felt a lil more alive in the stands department along with sideline. I loved that game (second madden I’ve owned and bought it when it came out. I was a 13 year old). But you should do every Madden or sports game to the new year 2025. Would love to watch the series. For the maddens you’ve done just ignore them.
I was a sophomore or junior in hs when the first madden mobile came out. It was too addicting 😂🔥
Can you please cover NFL Blitz Pro. I know it isn’t simulation football but maybe it could be a bundle video of the rise and fall of midway sports games ?
I bought ESPN NFL 2K5 for the PS2 and I’m having a blast man..so disappointing that EA is so money hungry and non receptive to what true football fans really want in a game
Thank you for pointing out people point out the VC but not the actual game of NBA2k it’s wild but I’m a wwe fan as well so it’s nice to finally have #1 spot for once this year 😂
I still sit and wait for the Power Prod retrospective
Personally and I'm probably the only person who thinks this. But Madden 08 was the goat of madden games. So many cool features and the franchise felt less hollow. If I play madden these days I just go back to 08.
Yeah, it was lame of them to not make a madden 08 2 or madden 08 remake for the 10th anniversary of the goat instead of madden 18. Theres plenty enough madden but not enough 08.
@@jamesmiller206 great sarcasm my guy
I liked the vision cone. You could look off vision watcher's especially with vick. Then we had hard core ranked matches
In my opinion, ever since they switch to the frostbite engine they fell off instantly
@softdrinktv you should do a vid on the last madden for 360
Madden 06 on the 360 was my fav! loved it. just played it last night for the first time in idk 15 yrs. love how it runs. fast and good graphics. takes user skills.
I definitely learned some things from this video, but also a little skeptical of content creator after his review of Madden24 where he said things such as the old recruiting system was more in depth than the new one (where on the old one one you just hit x three times and had an exact answer on what a player's overall, where is the new one, I create Excel sheets with different formulas for every position depending on how much I value each trait).
Overall this is a solid video. Did not think the Madden 24 review was solid.
For some reason madden 16, 17,18 bring nostalgia even though i barely played any of those games and just watched youtubers who did.
Could you do a video Tiger Woods or Madden for Wii?
As someone who plays Wii 11 yes please. I love the motion control kicks.
Excellent video in my book. But do you know what that music specifically is at 18:35 is. Can u like get me a link for it or something because ive been looking everywhere for it and i even tried to shazam it and it doesnt work 💀
My music is from dopeboykits website. I purchased the rights to it.
@@SOFTDRINKTV alright sounds good. Do u maybe remember the sound pack u may have bought it from or no? if not it's ok I’ll try and find it but I was just curious so I could find it. Some of them Ive already found on CZcams but some of which I just could not find.
Also I remember back when u had a discord I remember u showing us in the chat a document talking about videos u wanted to make and one of the videos was GTA San Andreas; is that still a video you’d make because I think this year would be perfect since its the 20th anniversary and itd be the perfect video to have some hot coffee 😏 (obviously this is a joke but iykyk)
If it helps, that track is called “Carwash”
Hi SDTV,
What are your thoughts on madden titles that allow the user to edit player ratings in franchise mode?
I am not SDTV, but I like the feature. It does allow for some fun if you want to really mess around sandbox style with crazy ideas. If it’s “not realistic,” just don’t touch it
out of all the 6 years i loved madden 20 for some odd reason it was my most played madden
The gameplay is so chaotic I kinda love it
If you loved Madden 20, I’ll assume you’re under 23 and not old enough to remember when Madden 04-09. Comparing 20 to those games and Madden 20 doesn’t come close.
@@gatienlaurol5793right bro. All these young people taking up for these sorry sports games nowadays is laughable
You love 20 because it was the covid Madden and because the world was shut down and we were stuck in the house you played it alot😂
@@Marcus_shawn lol right
Longshot was a good story. I loved those characters.
Face of the franchise has been alright but can improve
Dynamic weather is in Madden 24 when u put the snow on at 2:00 pm.
Honestly, madden 18 was the first madden I played hardcore. It’s always held a nostalgic feeling to me. Going back it’s obviously a worse game but I love going back and playing it.
MUT was easy and fun and the soundtrack wasn’t half bad
I remember being godlike on this game I had 1000+ wins to like 50 loses I use to abuse the Texas formation on Seattle I’d have doug and locket run flats marshawn on the angle and I forgot their te run a streak bro the blocking would give you a td every play no matter what and if no one was open Russ was so fast and elusive with the mechanics of the game
I'm not going to lie M 24 is my favorite game in a while for game play.
Potato
Potato
Lmao!
Can you please share the music you are using? It’s jamming
It's funny that you bring a FIFA because it actually does have things that you would want to have in Madden like different animations when 2 players are jumping for a ball. FIFA also has tugging of the Jersey, which is something that would actually be pretty cool in a madden game when players are going for routes.
Obviously you're going to have people who have unpopular opinions on their soccer series as of late but they put a lot more care into the game than they do with madden.
hey softdrink, can u make a video about ncaa 13 the prodecceser of ncaa 14
With Frostbite, it is like a Ferrari where it is quite capable when it is going when it it isn't going it isn't really going.
Maybe ill get back into football games when the new Ncaa comes out.
I'm actually surprised you haven't covered the PSP Maddens yet
Question.. I have an xbox one, and I want to play the best madden there is on there. I wish i could play my old maddens from the 360 days, but i don't have a 360 anymore. The maddens that i have one xbox one are M25, M17, M19, M20, M21, M22, and M23. What ones of the games i have are the best?
Madden 25.
Madden 25 or 18
Have you thought about sending one of your reviews to the NFL. Rather if they would watch it or not.
I love the LongShot mode, but I just played the game recently and the graphics weren't good but the soundtrack was awesome
I got a madden mobile ad during this video lmao 😂
In a way, that means EA is paying me to criticize them. Lol
Madden is crazy because we’ve been playing on the same engine/animations for nearly a decade with only minor tweaks.
What was the song used in the outro?