Today we finally got our first gameplay trailer for Madden 18! This is the first time that EA has officially released footage of the game. If you’ve seen it running before now, then it’s very likely been off-screen footage. This is the very first Madden game running on the Frostbite engine, so you can expect some pretty dramatic shifts in the visual presentation and performance. This trailer is also significant because it shows off a few of the brand new features making their debut in Madden 18. See it all for yourself in the trailer above.
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Target passing is one of the big new features being touted here. It’s a small change, but it makes a big difference when you’re playing as a quarterback. Truer to real-life football, we will no longer be seeing button input prompts appearing above the heads of our players. Instead of choosing to throw to a particular receiver, you’ll now be choosing different spots on the field to throw to, anticipating your players’ movements and executing your play to the best of your ability. This will make things feel more like a sim.
Defensive backs and wide receivers are getting quite a few tweaks as well, and will be able to perform and interact in new and interesting ways. When the ball is in the air and the race is on between DB and WR, players are going to have more choices to make and new battles to fight with their friends. We have a feeling this is going to cause some serious dorm room brawls.
EA is introducing three distinct play styles as well: Arcade, Simulation, and Competitive. In arcade mode there will be less penalties called, more over-the-top tackles and catches, and much more entertaining and laid-back style of play. Simulation mode will see player perform true to their stats and rankings, with authentic NFL rules and penalties. In competitive mode, it all comes down to the players and their skills with the controllers and sticks. Which way will you play?
