The biggest addition to 'Madden NFL 17' is a much-needed improvement
For me, franchise mode is the main draw of the "Madden" video games. That's the one where you can be a coach, player or owner and manage the relevant aspects of your career between playing games.
The people who play online multiplayer are way too good for me, and setting up random games is boring. I want to craft a narrative where my team faces adversity and comes out on top at the end of the season, since the Kansas City Chiefs haven't done that in real life since Nixon was in the White House.
In previous years, I've always played as one player (usually a quarterback) because playing every snap of every game takes way too long and managing draft picks and free agency are a drag. That means I get to avoid the things I don't like, but the experience ultimately feels shallow.
In "Madden NFL 17," the new Big Moments system mostly fixes that problem.
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Big Moments is an optional feature when you're playing as the coach in franchise mode. The idea is simple: "Madden NFL 17" simulates most of that week's game, cherry-picking important moments for you to take control of instead of making you play all four quarters.
That means you only control the big third down opportunities on offense and defense, two-minute drills at the end of the half or anything else that might have an impact on the game. The rest of the mundane moments in the game are quickly simulated in a cool-looking view that looks like one of those old electronic football toys.
For the most part, it's a really slick feature that lets you play through a game in around 15 minutes, giving you just enough control to feel important while holding back the most boring parts. I played through four games in the time it would've taken me to play two in a previous "Madden" game.
As you would expect from a brand new feature, it's got some kinks to work out. It's a little disheartening to watch my simulated defense give up 21 unanswered points without letting me interfere, for example.
Even with its problems, though, Big Moments is the best gameplay addition to "Madden" in years.