Madden 20 Review: 5 Ups & 4 Downs

1. Franchise Comes Across As An Afterthought

This is truly the age of Ultimate Team in sports games. That has left single player modes like Madden's Franchise reeling.

There are improvements to enjoy, such as the text conversations with offensive/defensive coordinators, players and other staff. Those add a bit of immersion to things, and they offer up food for thought when it comes to strategising for the next game. Maybe you were too busy formulating a passing game to realise that Chargers' DE Joey Bosa could ruin it, for example.

That's all lovely stuff, and the same could be said for additions like the new scenario engine and better contractual negotiations. Other new tricks, like the Pro Bowl, don't offer much inside Franchise. That one is actually better outside it where players can pick the best squads without knowing they're missing out on that all-important Super Bowl tilt.

Franchise is fun, but it's rusty and needs real attention next time. This is another year where minor improvements have been marketed as sweeping ones, and it should leave off-liners wondering if they want to part with cash for some text messaging and scenarios.