Madden 22 Review (Xbox Series S)

by Jim Smale · Published August 25, 2021 · Updated August 20, 2022

We take to the field in our Madden NFL 22 Review where every day is game day. Boasting all-new features in the Franchise mode including staff management, and an enhanced scenario engine, and weekly strategy. Share avatar progress and player class between Face of The Franchise and The Yard with unified progression.

madden 22 review

Madden 22 Review Pros:

Decent realistic-looking graphics.
55.6GB download size.
1000 Gamerscore.
American Football gameplay.
Awesome Interscope records soundtrack.
Fast loading times.
Seven game modes – Ultimate team, exhibition, franchise, face of the franchise, superstar KO, the yard, and Madden Championship series.
Accessibility options – menu narration, subtitles, enlarge field graphics, Colourblind support, dynamic camera effects, and VOIP settings.
Four difficulties – Rookie, Pro, all-pro, and all Madden.
Three game styles – simulation, arcade, and competitive. (determines the game pace, rules, how the game flows)
Click can be set for the accelerated clock, play clock on/off, and minimum play clock time.
Coach mode – (optional setting) has the Quarterback automatically throw the ball after the snap if you don’t take control.
Player sliders for injuries, fatigue, and player speed parity scale.
CPU and player sliders for QB accuracy, pass blocking, WR catching, run blocking, fumbles, reaction time, interceptions, pass coverage, tackling, FG power, FG accuracy, punt accuracy, and kick-off power.
Madden rank is your overall rank from all modes and you build it up by playing games and doing things like scoring or winning. You unlock rewards for leveling up.
Set your favorite team and create an avatar.
Unlock new style options for your avatar by playing the game and ranking up.
Exhibition – play now, online head to head, Pro Bowl, skills trainer, and practice.
Franchise – online (use real-life rosters or active rosters), offline (preseason or active rosters). Can play franchise online with friends or randoms.
Two ways to play franchise – player (control just your player) or owner (coach/play as the team).
Create your own player or select a real player for Franchise. Select a role in defense or offense and each role has Pros and cons in regards to stats and abilities.
Franchise player mode has you choosing to play full games, the offense only, the defense only, or play just the highlights. You deal with stats and earning exp to increase your stats and overall rating.
The Yard is a 6v6 mode and has a campaign where you unlock new locations and unique rewards, supports co-op. Uses standard 20 years first down rules and you unlock boss battles.
Madden Ultimate Team game modes – Challenges, solo battles, H2H season, MUT champions, Squads, and draft.
MUT missions (solo/co-op) the campaign, superstars, ultimate season, legends, team affinity, and the ultimate champion.
Earn MUT coins to buy packs of cards.
Auction House to buy/sell players.
Microtransactions.
Excellent highlights and replays.
Daily objectives.
Overall milestones to earn Madden rank exp.
Link to Madden 22 mobile game for bonus rewards and Madden exp.

madden 22 review

Madden 22 Review Cons:

Still has the same bugs that have plagued the game for years like players not picking up the ball, running the wrong way, weird stutters, the ball going all crazy, and flying around.
Commentary gets repetitive and stale pretty quickly.
Same old commentary team, it’s time for a change.
Doesn’t promote the next-gen only features.
Cannot rebind controls.
No way to Invert the axis or change the sensitivity sliders for the sticks.
Microtransactions.
Players’ movement is not fluid or smooth.
Can’t always restart a challenge.
Difficulties feel inconsistent.
Honestly just feels like last year’s game with a roster update.

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madden 22 review

Madden 22:

Official website.

Developer: EA

Publisher: EA

Store Links –

7/10

Graphics - 7/10
7/10

Sound - 7/10
5/10

Accessibility - 5/10
6/10

Length - 6/10
5/10

Fun Factor - 5/10

6/10

Summary

Madden 22 doesn’t feel like it has learned anything from last year’s game. The same issues are in here from performance hitches to players not reacting or moving correctly, and so much more. Put it like this, you could boot it up and if it didn’t say 22 you would honestly believe you were playing last year or the year before the game. Yeah alright, it has some “next-gen” features where you can get buffs and passives in game-like improved coverage, infinite stamina, or make it harder for the other team to catch. It’s all very gamey and whilst it can have a huge impact on the game, the fact it is next-gen only doesn’t make it feel like it’s worthy of the powerful next-gen tag. Yes, the game loads faster but that’s the SSD more than the game really, it looks good but no much more than the last 5 years of Madden games. I still enjoy playing Madden and I really only do Ultimate Team so I’m pretty content with what is on offer, I say that but Ultimate Team just feels the same but I’m starting again. It does ha e a lot of single-player/Co-op Co tents so I like I’m not forced to play online against Pros. Madden is a fun game but it’s getting stale, it needs variety as the yard mode is only fun for a few games but it won’t be for everyone. I don’t know what they need to do exactly but at the moment it feels like it’s coasting, the normal versions will be a harder pill to swallow as you don’t get the next-gen or as I like to call it… The new shit and next-gen players won’t like they have to pay a premium price for a little bit more game. Any way you look at it, Madden 22 doesn’t push the game series forward and instead digs its heels in and plays the clock.