MarkA

EA SPORTS returns to the hardwood with NBA LIVE 16. Longtime fans of the series will be happy to know that the game has improved over last year's game and leaps and bounds better than 14. It offers users new, exciting ways to play in some areas while not making much progress in others. One of the modes in NBA LIVE 16 where I think you will have a lot of fun is Live Pro-Am. You can create your own virtual self using the GameFace HD. The great thing about this new feature is you don't have to have Kinect for Xbox One users or a PlayStation 4 Camera for PS4 gamers. You just download the NBA Live companion app to your smartphone or tablet. The app is free of charge. Once you create your character, you can then dress him in the many types of shoes and other accessories the game has to offer. The more you play, the more reward points you can earn to unlock even more stuff to add to your collection. You can also add tattoos to your created player. There are many types of tattoos to chose from so there's something for everyone. They have been created by Randy Harris, who has done art work on actual NBA players over the years. Likes: Gameplay is improving with each release of the game which is a good sign for the overall series. It's the best it has been since the relaunch of the series. Online Team Play Mode: You can team up with your friends and play on many types of courts to chose from. Graphics: Like gameplay, the graphics seem to be improving on a yearly basis. Still not perfect, but player models look good. Dislikes: No historical teams: I always have enjoyed playing real life teams from yesteryear. Sadly, this isn't an option in NBA Live 16. It does have the ever popular Ultimate Team Mode that lets you collect players from different eras of the NBA, but no way of unlocking teams from the past. Dynasty and Rising Star Modes are pretty much the same as last year's game. In order to keep pace with other sports games like NBA 2K, FIFA, Madden, etc, EA is going to have to work more in creating new content for these modes. Giving players basically the same thing as last year's game is going to leave a sour taste in gamer's mouths. Overall, you can tell the game is not just a roster update of NBA Live 15. The franchise needs to continue to grow by updating existing modes while still trying new things to try and stay on the cutting edge of video basketball games.

EA Sports returns it's gridiron game to the masses in Madden NFL 16. This year's game host new features and old favorites that should appeal to anyone who has been a fan of the Madden Series. I will go over all the different modes you have to play. One of the new features that brings a whole new experience to the game is Be the Playmaker. You now have three different catch options to chose from. They are as follows. 1. Aggressive catch: This is a high risk/high reward option. Say you are down a score with little time remaining on the clock and need a big play. Using the aggressive catch could provide you the score or yardage needed to win the game. But beware, your receiver has a lower chance of catching the ball. It could however, be just the thing to lead your team to victory. It's all up to you now. 2. Possession catch: You this when you need a clutch pass to your receiver. You most likely won't get any additional yards after the catch but it comes in handy when you need a big play from your QB and receiver. 3. RAC Catch: Look to use this play when you need your receiver to make the big play and turn it up the field for more addition yardage after the catch. I would only use this when he's pen because you do have a much bigger chance of throwing an interception id he's cover well. Another new feature in this year's game is called Draft Champions. I will be honest, when I first heard about this new mode of play, I was not impressed at all. I thought, here we go, another new gimmick I won't be playing. I could have not been more wrong. When I fired up the menu, I saw the Draft Champions mode and said, what the heck, I will give it a try. Now, I'm glad I did. If you are a fan and like playing Fantasy Football as much as I do, this is where you will be spending a lot of your gaming hours in Madden NFL 16. It brings the Fantasy Football aspect to Madden in a way that fun and enjoyable to everyone. The Gatorade Skills Trainer Mode: This is a great place to brush up on your Madden skills. Whether you are a long time player of the game like myself or just starting out, you can learn the ins and outs of the game and the new features that were added to Madden NFL 16. The Gauntlet: This mode was first introduced in last year's game. It's basically a series of drills that will help you become a better overall Madden player. It's a great way to try and beat your scores and improve your overall game. Connected Franchise Mode: A lot of new additions to CFM makes this a more enjoyable experience for guys looking to create and control your favorite NFL Franchise. Everything from a new way to scout your players to giving the Commissioner more options to make your online CFM run a lot smoother than year's past. It's still not perfect by any means but it does show promise for future Madden games. Online Head to Head: If you enjoy playing your friends, family or just looking to for a game to play, this is the mode for you. See how you stack up against some of the best Madden players in the world by going online. Ultimate Team Mode: Build your NFL Dream Team in this mode. Long time fans will enjoy yet another Season of MUT in Madden NFL 16. I know a lot of guys will spend a lot of time and effort in creating their Ultimate Team. The more wins you get, the more coins you can earn in order to strengthen your squad. Practice Mode: Need some extra time with your team to learn harness your Madden skills, then practice mode is for you. Learn your team's playbook backwards and forwards by spending time going over your go to plays. It's time well spent if you are a serious Madden gamer. Super Bowl 50: It's the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the Arizona Cardinals in this fictional Super Bowl 50 matchup. You can replay this opening of Madden NFL 16 as many times as you want. It's a great way to get a taste of the game. In closing, Madden NFL 16 is just a flat out fun game to play for anyone who has enjoyed previous versions of the Madden series. It's not without is faults however, but has more than enough good traits to keep you coming back for more. This is the game Madden fans have been waiting for. I, for one, am glad Madden Season is finally upon us!

EA Sports returns it's gridiron game to the masses in Madden NFL 16. This year's game host new features and old favorites that should appeal to anyone who has been a fan of the Madden Series. I will go over all the different modes you have to play. One of the new features that brings a whole new experience to the game is Be the Playmaker. You now have three different catch options to chose from. They are as follows. 1. Aggressive catch: This is a high risk/high reward option. Say you are down a score with little time remaining on the clock and need a big play. Using the aggressive catch could provide you the score or yardage needed to win the game. But beware, your receiver has a lower chance of catching the ball. It could however, be just the thing to lead your team to victory. It's all up to you now. 2. Possession catch: You this when you need a clutch pass to your receiver. You most likely won't get any additional yards after the catch but it comes in handy when you need a big play from your QB and receiver. 3. RAC Catch: Look to use this play when you need your receiver to make the big play and turn it up the field for more addition yardage after the catch. I would only use this when he's pen because you do have a much bigger chance of throwing an interception id he's cover well. Another new feature in this year's game is called Draft Champions. I will be honest, when I first heard about this new mode of play, I was not impressed at all. I thought, here we go, another new gimmick I won't be playing. I could have not been more wrong. When I fired up the menu, I saw the Draft Champions mode and said, what the heck, I will give it a try. Now, I'm glad I did. If you are a fan and like playing Fantasy Football as much as I do, this is where you will be spending a lot of your gaming hours in Madden NFL 16. It brings the Fantasy Football aspect to Madden in a way that fun and enjoyable to everyone. The Gatorade Skills Trainer Mode: This is a great place to brush up on your Madden skills. Whether you are a long time player of the game like myself or just starting out, you can learn the ins and outs of the game and the new features that were added to Madden NFL 16. The Gauntlet: This mode was first introduced in last year's game. It's basically a series of drills that will help you become a better overall Madden player. It's a great way to try and beat your scores and improve your overall game. Connected Franchise Mode: A lot of new additions to CFM makes this a more enjoyable experience for guys looking to create and control your favorite NFL Franchise. Everything from a new way to scout your players to giving the Commissioner more options to make your online CFM run a lot smoother than year's past. It's still not perfect by any means but it does show promise for future Madden games. Online Head to Head: If you enjoy playing your friends, family or just looking to for a game to play, this is the mode for you. See how you stack up against some of the best Madden players in the world by going online. Ultimate Team Mode: Build your NFL Dream Team in this mode. Long time fans will enjoy yet another Season of MUT in Madden NFL 16. I know a lot of guys will spend a lot of time and effort in creating their Ultimate Team. The more wins you get, the more coins you can earn in order to strengthen your squad. Practice Mode: Need some extra time with your team to learn harness your Madden skills, then practice mode is for you. Learn your team's playbook backwards and forwards by spending time going over your go to plays. It's time well spent if you are a serious Madden gamer. Super Bowl 50: It's the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the Arizona Cardinals in this fictional Super Bowl 50 matchup. You can replay this opening of Madden NFL 16 as many times as you want. It's a great way to get a taste of the game. In closing, Madden NFL 16 is just a flat out fun game to play for anyone who has enjoyed previous versions of the Madden series. It's not without is faults however, but has more than enough good traits to keep you coming back for more. This is the game Madden fans have been waiting for. I, for one, am glad Madden Season is finally upon us!

After a two year break, EA Sports makes it's way back on the green with the release of McIlroy PGA Tour. If you are a big fan of golfing games like myself, this is welcome news. My very first golfing game was simply titled Golf, which was released in 1984 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. This game was built completely new from the ground up for the Xbox One and PS4 systems using the Frostbite Engine. This engine has been used in making games like Mass Effect and Battlefield, but it is the first time it has been used in making a sports title. You can really tell the difference the Frostbite Engine made in this me. If you do a side by side comparison with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14, which was released two years ago, the difference is night and day. Rory McIlroy PGA TOUR looks absolutely amazing. Little things you may have never noticed before in a golf game will now stand out and catch you eye like never before. Another great thing about EA Sports' decision to go with the Frostbite Engine is the fact that it loading times are now gone which means you now have more time to play than ever before. To me, that means a lot. As a Husband and a Father, I don't have the gaming hours I used to have when I was a single man. With no more loading times, I can now play more rounds of golf, which in my book, is always a good thing. Rory McIlroy PGA TOUR offers several different ways to play. Play Now: Play a round of Golf. Sadly, there are only eight real life courses to choose from. (Nine if you pre-order the game)I realize that EA had to start from the ground up with this game and that takes a lot of time but having only eight real world courses to choose from is very disappointing. On the bright side, since this game will not be a yearly release, EA Sports has gone on record as saying they will continue to support this title with content updates. EA has already announced that everyone will be receiving TPC Scottsdale for free on September 14. EA SPORTS Night Club Challenge: In this mode of play EA is trying to lure in the casual golf fan. The person who is not a diehard sim fanatic but likes to play just for fun. In here lies the problem, the Night Club Challenge is not fun at all. The challenges start off easy at first but get very frustratingly hard to the point of you wanting to throw your controller threw the TV screen. If there had been a way to skip around the extremely hard levels and move on to something else would be one thing but once you are stuck on a level, that's it, you are there until by miracle you move on or finally have had enough and quit. I understand the causal fans dollars are just as important as the diehard Golf fans, but I really don't see this Night Club Challenge reeling them in. EA would have been better suited to have made a good old fashioned putt-putt course for light heart fun of the Golf Course. Head2Head: This Mode lets you compete against fellow golfers online. Online Tournaments: This will allow you to complete in online tournaments with your friends, family, co-workers or random people online. Pro Career: This is where you can create your own golfer and build your career. You can choose to be male or female. On your create a golfer, you can choose everything from eye color, hairstyle body size, etc. For those of you wanting to add your own face to your created golfer, the Game Face option is not included in this game. Prologue: Play this Mode to basically learn how to play the game if you are a first time buyer or you just new a refresher course on how to play. You can learn how to aim and set up different shots. You can also learn about the three different swing mechanics which are; Arcade, Classic, Tour. You also now have the ability to create your own gameplay style to your liking. In closing, Rory McIlroy PGA Tour is a very fun game to play if you are into video game golfing. Gameplay has never been better. Presentation wise EA really out did themselves using the Frostbite Engine. Everything for the littlest detail really stands out on the golf course. With the addition Frank Nobilo and Rich Lerner of The Golf Channel, it gives the game a more authentic appeal. Sadly though, with only eight real life course and only twelve licensed PGA Golfers, I can only give this game a seven. Hopefully, EA Sports will come through on their word to continue to support this title post release with the addition of new content.

Let's fact it, it you played NBA LIVE 14, you know it didn't exactly set the video basketball game world on fire. Thankfully, EA SPORTS makes a lot of effort this year to make NBA LIVE 15 a fun game to pick up and play. Once the game boots up, it gives you the opportunity to pick your favorite team. Being a life long fan of the Los Angeles Lakers, I choose LA. NBA LIVE 15 has many different modes to chose from so you will never get bored playing the same game over and over again. Here's a look at them: Tip Off: Play a game of the teams your choice. LEARN LIVE Adidas: This is a great feature that lets you practice and learn how to play the game. You can hit the hardwood by going over your favorites moves, crossovers, dunks, etc. Giving players the chance to learn how to play the game before actually playing a game is a real plus in my book. More games should offer this feature. LIVE ULTIMATE TEAM: This mode lets you build your own NBA Team by opening packs of cards featuring the today's NBA Players, Coaches, NBA Jerseys, NBA Contracts and NBA Arenas. You can buy or sell items you have in the Auction house to create your own Ultimate NBA Team. It's a great way to build your very own NBA Franchise from the ground up. Warning, once you get started playing this mode, it's highly addictive. HEAD2HEAD: You can go online and face players from around the world. One thing you don't have to worry about is not being able to get online like a certain other NBA game that's on the market now. The server stability in this game makes it a great way to play friends, family or people you don't even know online. DYNASTY MODE: This will give you the opportunity to be the General Manager of your favorite NBA Team. You can choose from many different gameplay options. You can use current NBA Rosters or have a Fantasy Draft to pick from today's great NBA Players. You can also pick how many games you want to play in a season as well as choosing what difficulty you want to play on. Other options include Playoff Length, Quarter Length and Simulation Quarter Length. With so many things to choose from, you can be the NBA General Manager of your dreams. Sadly, there is no Online Dynasty Mode but maybe that is something can be added to future versions of the game. JORDAN RISING STAR: This will let you start your career as a up and coming NBA Star of the future. You can give your player the appearance of your choice by choosing from many, many different body types, tattoos, hair styles, head shapes etc. Once you create your Player, pick the position you want him to play on the court. Do you want to be a big lumbering Center, a tall, swift Power Forward or a Point Guard that has mad passing skills and is deadly behind the three point line? The choice is now yours. NBA REWIND: Try your best to rewrite NBA History and how the games turn out. It's a very challenging task but it can be a lot of fun if you put your mind to it. The game also has a NBA LIVE MIXTAPE to listen to and NBA LIVE videos to watch. It has features a Game Manual to show you everything you need to know on how to play the game. Presentation wise, the game has never looked better. The players in the game actually look more like themselves than ever before. Also, NBA LIVE 15 features a great ESPN Presentation. If you watch a lot of NBA games on ESPN like I do, you will notice how similar the game looks and feels to an actual ESPN game you watch on TV. Commentary is once again called by Jeff Van Gundy and Mike Breen. In closing, NBA LIVE 15 is leaps and bounds better than NBA LIVE 14. It still has work to do if the series wants to reclaim the title it once had as the best basketball title on the market. Right now, that title belongs to NBA 2K, but if this game is any indication of where the series is headed, there just might be a new king in town in just a few short years.

It's time for one of my favorite times of the year, Madden Season! With the cancelation of the NCAA Football series, it's feels like forever since a new video football game has been released. Madden NFL 15 is here with a host of new features I think every Madden fan can enjoy. Here are the different the modes in which you have to chose from. Play Now Madden Ultimate Team Connected Franchise Online Head to Head Practice Panthers at the Seahawks Skills Trainer The Gauntlet I will touch on a few of the things that really stood out to me on this year's version of the game. Graphics: Graphics wise, the game has never looked better. I'm playing the game on the PS4 and the graphics really blew me away this year. It's amazing just how far the graphics in Madden have come in just a few short years. If it looks this good now, just imagine how the game will look in five to ten years. It will come to the point where you won't be able to tell whether or not you are playing the game of Madden or watching an actual NFL game. Cameras: There are many different types of camera angles you can choose from this year. I'm sure you can find one of your liking if you play around with it long enough. As an old "Madden Head" I have always preferred the "classic camera angle". Defense in Madden 15: There has been a lot of work done on the defensive side of the game this year. You will really will have to be on top of your game when you are playing on offense, which is a good thing. As a longtime player of the Madden Series, it's good to see all the new changes on the defensive side of the ball. The Gauntlet: New to this year's game is the Gauntlet. It kind of reminds me a lot of the of the old mini games in the PS2/XBOX versions of the game. It's a great way to have some fun if you are not in the mood to play an actual game or just to sharpen your skills. I didn't think it would be something I would enjoy at first, but once you start, it's very addicting. New play-calling system: The new system lets you filter plays by Coach Suggestions, Formation, Concept, Playtype, Personal, Recent Plays and Supersim. I will be honest, it took be a bit to getting used to playing with the new system. It's not that difficult once you get the hang of it but once you do, I think you will enjoy it. It features a strategy pick based on what the defense likes to call, a community pick , a play on which gives you the percentage of how well the play has worked with other Madden players and your favorite pick, telling you how many times you have called the play. Kicking Meter: There's a new kicking meter this year and I for one, welcome the change. I hated the old way of kicking field goals and extra points. Like the new play calling system, it will take just a bit of getting used to but it offers a new a fresh, new experience to the game. Field goals are not an automatic thing in Madden NFL 15 like they were in the past. Skills Trainer: Skills Trainer lets a season veteran of the series or a newbie, who is playing the game for the first time learn the ins and outs of the game. It's a great way to get a "feel" for the game. Overall, this is not just a "$60 dollar roster update", as the game has been called in the past. Mind you, it's not perfect, does have it's short comings, but nothing to keep a person from buying it if you enjoy playing the game of Madden. It has something for everyone who has ever been a hardcore fan of the series like myself. As a guy who has been playing Madden, going all the way back to Madden 1992 on the Sega Genesis, it is a great addition to the series. I can see myself spending many, many hours playing Madden NFL 15. If you are a hardcore video football junkie like myself, I would consider it a must have for your video game library.

With the next generation of gaming consoles being released, it's time to pick up and play the next generation of Madden. I have been playing Madden NFL Football going all the way back to Madden 1992 on the Sega Genesis. With each new system that's been released over the years, the first game I always pick up is Madden. With Madden NFL 25 for the PS4, this game is much more than a graphics update. It looks and feels like a completely different game than it does on the XBOX 360. Not only are the graphics top notch, gameplay has been much improved as well. If your game plan is using the running game first like mine is, you will notice just how much the offensive line blocks better than it ever has before in the game. Believe me, I took full advantage of finding holes and following my blockers to run for big gains. As far as graphics go, you will be hard pressed to find a better looking sports game. The players look like themselves and the football fields look incredible. If you took the time, you could count each blade of grass on the field. My only disappointment is there's still no baseball diamond in September and October in Oakland. Since the were included in the PS2/XBOX versions of the game, I thought for sure that they would be included in next gen Madden but they aren't. Maybe next year. My biggest pet peeve in the Madden Series is no longer a problem. The sidelines and crowds are move alive and interactive than ever. For years, both the sidelines and the crowds looked liked zombies. That's no longer the case. Players now interact with each other, Coaches interact with other Coaches as well. Coaches now wear headsets like they do in real life games. The crowds come alive when the home team makes a big play. Even Oakland Raiders Coach Dennis Allen celebrated when the Raiders score a come from behind game winning touchdown. If you are looking for a great sports game to go along with your PlayStation 4, I suggest you give Madden NFL 25 a shot. Getting your video game football fix has never been better.

It's the most Wonderful Time of the Year. No, today is not December 25th but for video game football fans, it feels like Christmas Day. This is the time I look forward to every year on my video game calendar. The release of a new Madden NFL game by EA Sports. I am a old school Madden player going all the way back to Madden 92 on the Sega Genesis. This year's game is loaded with new features. The running game is much improved over previous versions of the game. The new Infinity Engine 2 is a welcome addition to the series. No longer will players trip and fall over one another like the did in Madden NFL 13. Connected Franchise is back again with the inclusion of Owners Mode. I can't tell you how happy I am to see this return to the series. I spent many, many hours back in the day playing this mode. While some may think it's silly you want to control ticket prices, concession stand, parking prices, etc, I happen to enjoy it. It gives a player something to do when you really don't feel like playing an actual game. While there is still no halftime show, it's not a big deal to me. I know some people would like to see it included, I would watch it only once or twice and then skip it. Besides the Owner's Mode in Connected Franchise, there's also Player and Coach Mode. Another new addition to the series is you now have the ability to relocate your Franchise to another City. If you are not happy with your current stadium and City, uproot them to a more friendly environment. Madden NFL 25 is far from perfect, but it gives hardcore football gamers like myself a brand new game to play for the next year.

If you are a big college football fan as I am, then NCAA Football 14 is the game for you. With the addition of the Infinity Engine 2, player models look more realistic than ever. You will have to do a double take to make sure it's a video game and not a real game on your TV. The running game is much improved over previous versions of the game. If you are a fan of the Ultimate Team mode, you are now in luck. It has made it's way to the NCAA Football series. Now you can use past players of college football to build a powerhouse NCAA team. If you have skipped buying the game the past couple of years, do yourself a favor and pick this game up. If you love College Football and video games, NCAA Football 14 is the game for you.

I have been playing Madden since 1992 on the Sega Genesis and I have to say this, without a doubt, is the best one yet. The all new Infinity Engine makes the game play look and play better than it's ever been. The new connected careers mode is something long time Madden players have been wanting for years. I can now choose to play as a player or Coach. You have endless options to customize the game the way you want it. I can see myself playing this game long after the actual NFL season is over. It's truly amazing how much depth you have in a sports game. If you want a sports game that has tons of options and great game play, then this is the game for you. I know some people are upset you can't edit player ratings and equipment but I never did that anyway. I'm having a blast with it. Madden is back and bigger and better than ever.