The verdict: As a veteran football gaming enthusiast, I can‘t fully recommend Madden NFL 23 at $59.99 for PS4. While it provides incremental improvements, the lack of new-gen FieldsSENSE gameplay is disappointing. Unless you‘re a casual player new to Madden, it‘s worth waiting for a holiday sale.
Hi friend! As an avid football fan and longtime Madden gamer, I know deciding on the latest version can be tough, especially for those still on PlayStation 4. You want to get the most bang for your buck.
Well after diving deep into Madden 23 across platforms, I‘m ready to share my expert insights on what PS4 owners can expect:
Gameplay Gets Some Helpful Upgrades
Let‘s start with the basics of gameplay out on the virtual gridiron. Madden 23 on PS4 isn‘t radically innovative, but does make some nice incremental improvements including:
- Passing gains more control with the Skill Based Passing scheme for accuracy.
- Running benefits from smarter blocking that carves realistic holes.
- Defense now adapts better pre-snap to counter opponents‘ play calls.
- Special teams sees a boost via new kick meter accuracy and explosive returns.
According to EA‘s own pitch notes, they focused on creating "organic gameplay flow" this year. For veterans, these changes won‘t seem revolutionary, but absolutely make on-field action smoother and more mirroring real NFL competition and physics.
To back this up, early critical reviews consistently praised the gameplay evolution:
"The added level of control is palpable across the board. Madden 23 simply plays better than its predecessor thanks to animation improvements that lend the on-field action a greater sense of momentum and weight." – IGN
So in summary, while not a game changer, the PS4 gameplay feels nicely polished and refined from last year‘s installment.
Presentation & Graphics: More of the Same
In the visuals department however, Madden 23 on PS4 displays only minimal improvements over Madden 22:
- Lighting and player models see minor upgrades.
- Stadium exteriors got refreshed but won‘t wow you.
- Sideline players and crowds remain dated.
- TV-style presentation is slightly enhanced.
To be frank, the PS4 graphics engine seems nearly identical to the past couple years of Madden. It‘s not badly done, but lacks any true next-generation sparkle.
As Digital Trends summed up:
"On PS4 and Xbox One, Madden 23 looks and plays so similarly to Madden 22 that you‘d be forgiven for thinking it‘s the same game."
So graphics wise, this feels more like a roster update with some menu polish rather than ground-up overhaul for PS4 owners.
What Game Modes Are Included?
Let‘s move onto what you‘ll actually be able to play in Madden 23 on PS4. The good news is that almost all of the core game modes return intact:
| Mode | Details |
|---|---|
| Franchise | The fan favorite management mode is deeper with staff management, enhanced chemistry factors and overhauled scouting. |
| Ultimate Team | Build your fantasy roster via card packs and events with more content than ever for the Madden cash cow mode. |
| The Yard | This street-style football gets new mini-game events and powerup abilities. |
| Superstar KO | Jump into online 3v3 matches with pre-made superstars in this instant action mode. |
| Face of Franchise | Play a custom player‘s full career, from college standout to NFL superstar. |
| Challenges | Hone skills by completing specific scenarios like rushing challenges. |
So overall, PS4 owners aren‘t missing out on much across the long list of available modes. The depth of options remains excellent.
The Cost of Skipping Next-Gen Features
Now for the catch. The one truly next-gen feature that PS4 owners don‘t get with Madden 23 is FieldsSENSE gameplay. Exclusive to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions, FieldsSENSE utilizes advanced real-time physics and mechanics across:
- Player-to-player collisions and tackling
- Running back blocks and holes
- Wide receiver and DB interactions when catching
- Responsiveness and momentum of all movements
It aims to provide true-to-life realism across every on-field interaction. But without the processing power of new consoles, PS4 remains stuck on traditional canned animation systems.
As IGN explained:
"The biggest leap this year comes from the FieldSENSE gameplay that‘s only available on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. This completely changes the underlying gameplay physics to make movement and interactions more organic. On PS4 though, the core gameplay, while smoothed out, still relies on scripted animations."
For PS4 faithfuls, not getting FieldsSENSE is a tough omission – it truly pushes immersion to new levels. But current-gen performance stays solid without the added strain.
Some Helpful Cross-Progression Options
If you end up upgrading from PS4 to PS5 down the road, Madden 23 does allow you to carry over progress in a few key modes:
- Ultimate Team: Full rosters, items and progression transfer.
- Franchise: Saved games move over.
- Superstar KO: Custom characters carry across generations.
It‘s a nice perk for PS4 players knowing they can build up persistent Franchise teams or Ultimate Team collections now, without losing that progress later upon upgrading. Kudos to EA for building in this platform flexibility.
Does the PS4 Version Justify $60?
Given the more subtle evolution this year, is Madden 23 worth the full $59.99 asking price on PS4? For casual NFL fans who skipped Madden 22, the improved mechanics and new modes do warrant the investment. You‘ll get plenty of fun out of it.
But for seasoned Madden players hungry to experience FieldsSENSE‘s transformational advances, paying $60 for a familiar PS4 experience could leave you wanting more. As Bleacher Report mused:
"Madden 23 is a good game of football but betrays little sense of newness, especially on older consoles. As the curtains draw on the PS4/Xbox One generation, this feels closer to a curtain call than a true next-gen leap."
My advice is wait for the inevitable price drop around Black Friday. Last year, Madden 22 on PS4 quickly fell to around $30. Following suit, snagging Madden 23 at under $40 would make it a better value play.
The Bottom Line
While Madden 23 on PlayStation 4 provides iterative improvements that hardcore fans will appreciate, the lack of FieldsSENSE keeps it just shy of greatness at full $60 price.
Consider waiting for a holiday sale to get it under $40 if you‘re a discerning veteran player. But more casual NFL fans coming in fresh will find plenty to love at full freight. Overall, it‘s a good but not truly standout entry for PS4.
Let me know if you have any other questions! Happy gaming my friend.
