It’s August, and that invariably means it’s time for a new Madden. This year’s game,

EGM — 7.5/10

“…Madden NFL 15 is still more of a step forward for the franchise than a step back. I’m glad to see EA Tiburon is trying to do more every year than just giving the game a roster update, and they’re putting real effort into the yearly adjustments with the franchise. It’s just regrettable that some of the changes they’ve made here clearly need to go back to the Xs and Os on the drawing board.” [Full review]

GamesRadar — 4/5

“Madden NFL 15 does a lot of things right. The overall presentation makes a nice leap from last year’s new-gen debut, and while longtime players may have some challenges with new play-calling options, the analytical data at your fingertips is a welcome addition. Connected Franchise Mode offers deep experiences for every kind of player, and the core gameplay continues to improve. Despite its challenging passing game and sometimes-clunky menus, Madden NFL 15 will make fans happy this football season.” [Full review]

Game Informer — 8/10

“Sports games like Madden are often chided for being too iterative, but in this case I hope we’re witnessing the first steps in a larger progression. Future Maddens need to support Madden 15’s additions so we don’t wonder why once-prominent features haven’t evolved. The series can’t withstand another rebuilding year or worse–an entire console generation thrown away.” [Full review]

IGN — 8.7/10

“After the letdown of Madden 25 last year, Madden 15 feels like a mostly fresh start for the series. The increased emphasis on defensive play, a great new play-calling system, and the return of long-time favorites makes this year’s Madden one of the best in recent memory, even if it could still use work in regards to its stale commentary and longstanding bugs. As a lifelong Madden and football fan, I’m impressed. This year’s game is both exciting and reassuring that EA Sports isn’t wasting opportunities to improve the series.” [Full review]

Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX
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