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The next addition of Madden arrives on our consoles on August 10th. The NFL season is just around the corner and the best way to get excited for its return is to spend hours on the game.
The ‘99 Club
This year’s edition of Madden sees a combination of new and old faces awarded with a 99 overall. Firstly, Tom Brady retains his place as a 99 overall player in Madden 19. That needs no explanation.
In addition, his right hand man Rob Gronkowski joins him with the game’s top rating.
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Rams defensive linesman and last year’s Defensive Player of the Year, Aaron Donald, joins the Patriots duo in the elite Madden club.
Von Miller also retained the status, despite a dip to a 98 overall in the later stages of last season.
On the other hand, there are several new faces who have earned this honour. Antonio Brown gained the 99 overall status for the first time in Madden games, with an impressive 99 in catching, catch in traffic and ball carrier making him a deadly acquisition for any Madden Ultimate Team.
Aaron Rodgers, perhaps the most underrated quarterback in recent years, has been given a 99, too.
Finally, Luke Kuechly is also a 99 overall. Despite, the surprise Keuchly is rated 99 in awareness, toughness, stamina and play recognition.
Franchise Mode
Franchise mode is one of the main game modes of the Madden NFL franchise. One large addition to a game mode which I feel has struggled in recent years, is the the option to customise both the offensive and defensive schemes to suit your style of play. It’s a large improvement as it provides further control for the player.
Furthermore, added realism within franchise mode allows for the player to either build for the future of the team or approach the game with a “Win Now” attitude.
Which Franchise should you take the reigns of?
With that in mind, it’s time to discuss franchises. This year’s top pick for a challenging yet diverse franchise mode, for me, is the Houston Texans.
The Texans seem to be ever-closer to being a real contender, however, injuries have often prevented this from becoming a reality.
Thus, with a healthy Deshaun Watson returning to orchestrate the Texas team to success, anything is possible in your upcoming Madden franchise mode.
Moreover, on the talented roster remains a top 5 wideout in DeAndre Hopkins. Now it’s time to release the big draw for a Texans franchise mode, the incredibly talented defense. Jadeveon Clowney will play a huge role on the Texans roster. He will be joined by the fantastic Whitney Mercilus and the two-time Defensive Player Of The Year, J.J. Watt. Finally, the Texans acquisition of Tyrann Matthieu, aka The Honeybadger, is an absolute game-changer. How does the saying go again? Oh yeah, defense wins championships.
The Longshot
The Longshot story’s arrival in Madden 18 was the first story-driven mode of its kind for the franchise, and I craved more of it. Myself and many others are being rewarded with its return in Madden 19.
Longshot 2 will continue to follow the story of Devin Wade and Colt Cruise, who quickly became lovable and interesting characters. It’s been reported that the story will follow Devin on his NFL journey with ‘America’s Team’ The Dallas Cowboys, within which he attempts to prove his worth. On the flip side, the gamer explored Cruise’s continuous battle with duties out with the NFL, which have hampered his career so far to date. This fantastic story is also enhanced by the addition of further gameplay and more “dramatic” moments sprinkled throughout the story mode. I for one cannot wait!
