Madden 16 doesn't officially release until Tuesday, August 25, but many people have had an opportunity to play the game early. Xbox One owners who also subscribe to EA Access got their 10-hour preview August 20.In case you haven't had a chance to see gameplay, here are a few videos that show off the meat and potatoes of the newest addition to the Madden collection:GameplayHaving actually played the game a few times, the word that comes to mind that best encapsulates the improvements to gameplay is "contact." Everything that involves player-to-player contact hasbeen improved. Blockingespecially in the run gameis clearly more realistic. There are far less suction blocks, more frames to each animation and variability in the contact.Tackling is the best it has ever been in a Madden game. The gang tackling is the most realistic we've ever seen in a football video game. The pileups are sensible, and they disband in a more logical manner.There is, however, still a lingering issue in the passing game. It's still hard to throw an incomplete pass that isn't either picked or batted down. In the NFL, there are incomplete passes that are simply under or overthrown and the ball hits the ground, or sails out of bounds.This still rarely happens in Madden 16.Connected FranchiseFrom what we can tell, the main changes to CF seem to be behind-the-scenes updates. Scouting has received an overhaul, as have the menus used in the mode. The latter is a welcomed change because everything is bigger and bolder now.One really intriguing aspect of CF combines in-game goals with player development. It's called Dynamic Drive Goals, and here's how EASports.com describes the addition:Each new drive contains a Drive Goal that can be completed for bonus XP and/or Confidence.Specific goals are tailored based on events in the current game to give players a unique challenge each and every game.Dynamic Drive Goals truly influence the way you play. The more goals you complete, the faster your players improve.It's been a struggle in the past to find ways to make player development inclusive, necessary and fun. Hopefully, Dynamic Drive Goals plays a major role in bringing this together.Ultimate Team RewardsFinally, a sports game developer understands the importance of rewarding gamers who return to their series year after year. Madden 16 introduces Ultimate Team rewards, and the initiative focuses on gamers who played MUT on Madden 15.Here's what returning MUT players will receive, per the mode's Twitter account:Perhaps we'll see carryover saves for CF next year.Draft ChampionsEA Sports seeks to create a mode that blends the experiences of a fantasy football draft with a card game and traditional Madden tournament-style gameplay.The product of this attempt is the brand new Draft Champions mode. DC can be played in one night, and it features a random aspect that makes the replay value high.Gamers start out by choosing a coach/playbook. From there, they will be dealt a team of base roster players. The draft portion of the experience begins, and players are charged with replacing some of those base roster players with stars.The positions you choose to upgrade are up to you. It's smart to place stars at the positions that are most important for your scheme. Each draft lasts about 15 rounds, and it moves rapidly.Best of all, every draft offers a different mix of stars and NFL legends. This is what creates a new experience every time you play. Once your team is set, you take the field in a tournament that challenges you to win four games against the CPU or human-controlled teams with their own DC squads.Win four in a row and you'll become the king of Draft Championsat least until you play again.Player RatingsThe Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers, New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski and Houston Texans' J.J. Watt are the only players rated a 99 overall. There really shouldn't be an argument against any member of that trio. EA Sportsprovideda look at the top-rated players at each position.As far as teams are concerned, the Packers and Seattle Seahawks are the highest-rated. Seattle is tops with a 91 and the Packers are just behind them with a 90.It seems safe to assume you're going to see a steady diet of Seattle and Green Bay when you play online. Oh well, it's Madden season, and that type of cherry-picking is to be expected.Unless otherwise noted, embedded images are from EA Sports on Twitter and Facebook.Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter
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