If you are a fan of football games, you’ve most likely played some games in the EA series. Madden NFL 21 is the 2021 version of the Madden NFL game series. Madden 21 is available on three platforms, which are PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. It was developed by EA Tiburon and was released on August 21st, 2020. The developers announced a free upgrade to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, which will begin later this year. 

Impressive Additions and Comebacks 

I’ve been following the EA Sports’ yearly series for a long time now, and I was glad when Madden NFL 21 was released. As expected, there were some improvements in the game as the creators tried to make it top Madden 20. For instance, there is a notable improvement in the game’s general animation quality and the character models. Madden 21 introduced some new features this year while reintroducing newer and more improved versions of existing features in the game’s previous versions.

What’s New? 

After releasing the football series for 20 years and running, many players gave up on expecting anything significantly new or improved. We were all proven wrong after Madden NFL 21 was first released. Below are some of the most notable features and additions you should watch out for in Madden NFL 21. 

Skill Stick 

Skill Stick is a new feature that enables players to control the ball with more precision. The skill stick features works on all sides of the ball, making it feel like you’re controlling a real ball. You will enjoy the Skill Stick feature much better when you are the ball carrier. When you select the right skill stick, you won’t just enjoy controlling the ball, but you will also make moves swiftly and very easily. You can also block moves easily or plant your feet on solid ground before making any decisive cut.

With Skill Stick, it is much easier to make consecutive moves without missing a step. For instance, make a stiff arm right after making the spin. You don’t need to wait until the spin finishes. 

The Face of the Franchise: Rise to Fame 

The Face of the Franchise: Rise to Fame is one of the new modes introduced in Madden NFL 21. It is a major improvement when compared to the Face of Franchise in the previous edition. The game mode was designed in a documentary style which features the player’s life right from high school, through college, and finally the league. The games in this career mode are played in different difficulty levels, depending on the player’s stage. High school games are much easier than college games, which are in turn easier than NFL games. 

The Yard Mode 

The Yard mode is another game mode to watch out for in Madden NFL 21. The Yard is a street-style game mode inspired by backyard football. The game mode is fun in every aspect. The Yard is nothing like the typical EA NFL Sports games, and it features fun and exhilarating gameplay. In the Yard game, there’s no need for uniforms or an NFL field. Rather, the game is played on any field, and tribal jerseys are used. The gameplay is fast-paced and brief, which makes it even more exciting. Tricky moves are allowed in The Yard mode. 

Superstar KO

Another wonderful game mode featured in Madden 21. However, not a new model, the reintroduction of Superstar KO game mode is worth mentioning. It is fun to play and very fast. One unique feature of the Superstar KO is that it is customizable, which means you get to do whatever you want when playing the game. 

Consistent Gameplay With Improvement in Strategic Points

EA Tiburon has managed to remain consistent over the years despite releasing a game in the series yearly. Surprisingly, the gameplay is unique every year. There is always a significant improvement in each game, which gives players just enough to keep players engaged and anticipating the next release. 

The character models in Madden 21 are commendable. There are significant improvements in this aspect as the models are very detailed. They look smooth, and they easily respond to commands and external factors. It always gives me the feeling of controlling real players. However, the character models’ faces may still look awkward at a closer look, and more work needs to be done on the fans’ appearance. 

Watching Key Plays Now Made Easy

In the previous Madden NFL games, selecting interesting plays was difficult due to the long process of sifting through the whole playbook. In Madden NFL 21, it is possible to make your selections based on key players. It is easy to check through the ‘Next Gen Stats,’ which would show the replay of key moments in the game. To access the key play feature, however, you must first download the New Gen version of Madden NFL 21. After the download, the system automatically recovers previously saved info from your Madden 21 data. 

You should note that Madden NFL 21 does not support cross-platform and cross-gen gaming, implying that you can’t play with friends on other platforms or generations. Hence, you must ensure that you use the same platform with your friends before you venture into multiplayer game mode. You can also download the versions your friends are using if you wish. 

Conclusion

A new Madden game is released once every year, yet each game is, to some extent, different from the previous. There are always notable improvements in every game in the series. Madden NFL 21 is no different as more features were introduced. Although Madden NFL 21’s release was met with tough criticisms, it remains a great game. Madden NFL 21 is a game you won’t regret if you’ve played some or all of the games in the previous series. Even if you are a beginner, you’ll still love the game.