Madden NFL 21 Review: 4 Ups & 8 Downs

6. The Story Mode Lacks Depth Or Meaning

Last year, your reviewer (who desperately hoped EA were onto something) said that the QB1 had potential to be great if the developers chucked in some NBA 2K-style freedom. They didn't. This year's 'Face Of The Franchise: Rise To Fame' chapter is very much more of the same.

It's still an on-rails journey.

Some probably won't mind that they're on a strict path, but even the most happy-go-lucky gamers will be scratching their heads once they realise that nothing you do on-field actually matters. Seriously. You can tank every snap you're involved in and still end up getting high fives from your coach because of things that happened during cut scenes.

The animation of some scenes is also amazingly poor, and a handful don't even have voice acting. It's absurd to think that Rich Eisen, of all people, would have sod all to say when the camera was on, but that's the case in Madden 21.