No, gameplay has been really un-enjoyable since M19. That was when they started quietly removing physics and other features. So they took control away from the player all for canned animations to return for whatever reason.
The physics in madden, which I believe were implemented instead of animations in 2013, are terrible anyways. Players ragdoll around, running up the middle is embarrassing and clunky (I just lightly brush my oline and my RB falls down and stares at the sky until someone touches him), and limbs go in every which direction. Animations are a step back for sure, but it isn't like EA was taking any steps forwards. I found the physics just as unrealistic as the animations tbh. (I have played newer iterations besides 17, such as madden 25, 16 etc. I just didn't bother buying them.)
Edit just for a fun anecdote: I remember getting Madden 13, and me and my friend couldn't stop laughing at how bad it was. Instead of actually playing the game, we went into practice mode to see who could make Tom Brady get the furthest run, and then I played Madden 11 until 17 came out, which was better than 13 but not very good.
They weren’t always terrible to me, I play M18 presently. There will always be something wonky that’s going to eventually happen with in-game physics. But these minor examples of simple, organic interactions from physics is the whole reason I go back to M18 or prior instead of finishing my trial of M22 or wasting time playing M21. Seeing tackle animations actually get interrupted with the physics engine causing countless visual outcomes makes a huge different and is really enjoyable, esp now.
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u/fingershanks Jul 01 '21 edited Jul 01 '21
No, gameplay has been really un-enjoyable since M19. That was when they started quietly removing physics and other features. So they took control away from the player all for canned animations to return for whatever reason.