When approached to license his name to the first John Madden Football, the legendary coach and commentator initially refused. The story goes he saw seven-on-seven on football, found that inadequate, and demanded eleven-on-eleven before handing over his likeness Mut 23 coins. Madden 23’s marketable changes, under the banner of “FieldSense,” only marginally pay tribute to the big man’s push toward realism.
FieldSense, a widely encapsulating term that includes alterations to physics and control tweaks, does reformat the game’s mechanics. Upon booting, the immediate choice is the passing method. More than tapping or holding the button, throws can be led ahead of a receiver, behind them, above or below their chest.
In conception, this is a logical advancement, certainly beyond the nonsense from prior years like Vision Cone passing. Yet in execution, it’s a convoluted, difficult-to-master sequence of the left trigger/left thumbstick inputs, done within seconds as linemen rush the QB, plus further clogging the screen with indicators. A circle appears under the receiver, plus a target to indicate the pass’ precision location.
New physics make a greater difference on the digital turf. EA’s capsule marketing notes the variance in tackle animations (less canned, notably more impact based), while the running game takes a step forward. Jukes remain as they have for years on the right stick, but the left trigger allows for hard cuts, dodging defenders and finding holes where previously, the needed turns would ruin the opportunity. Plus it’s not a game-breaking change. It’s sensible, real, and satisfying when it works buy madden nfl 23 coins, yet easily countered by defenders with high reaction times – as should be the case.