The biggest flaw with yearly sports-related video games is that they are often far too repetitive and offer very little by way of sporting experience for the consumer.
Madden 23, however, bucks the trend for a number of reasons, and is a rather spectacular offering from EA Sports. This year's Madden is a superb and stream-lined experience, and the use of the speaker in the DualShock controller is a real bonus to help improve the immersive feel.
For those who play sports video games for the realism, Madden 23 doesn't disappoint. The range of passing options available for even a simple play give gamers the feel that they're in control of the quarterback in question, while tackles feel harder than ever.
A large part of that is thanks to the new FieldSENSE system, the new game engine which fine tunes every aspect of a game situation.
In terms of graphics, Madden 23 is set apart from most other sports video games. The feel of the game is so realistic it's easy to mistake a night game at So-Fi Stadium for a real regular season matchup.
Every year the graphics seem to improve in every aspect, and this year's offering ups the levels once again.
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This year's game is based around legendary coach John Madden, a tribute to the Super Bowl winner after his passing. The opening game has you play between two sets of teams based around his favourite players, including Brett Favre, Randy Moss and Marcus Allen.
While only a quick introductory game, it was still a nice touch to pay homage to Madden's career and set the tone for the rest of the game.
Now, if you're anything like me, defending has always been the biggest issue with Madden, and I've never been able to stop the opposition quarterback from being able to connect at will and do pretty much whatever he wants.
With the new simplified defensive play selection, however, that aspect of the game was a lot easier for a new player, and as a result I didn't find myself rage quitting as a result of Tom Brady brilliance like I would have in recent years.
One of the largest criticisms with EA Sports' FIFA series is how everything is driven towards the pay-to-win Ultimate Team game mode. While the equivalent is available in Madden, I didn't once feel compelled to spend my own money or invest in the game at all.
Overall the game provides fans with a hyper-realistic game simulator, one which can be enjoyed by either casual fans or dedicated Madden players.
Rating: 9/10
