
WATCH: Madden 18 trailer displays new features While those benefits would be primarily related to graphical capabilities the game looks very similar to last year's anticipated improvements such as the sidelines or better player and team celebrations on the field are nowhere to be found. Much has been made of the move to the Frostbite Engine, but its benefits besides the story mode are difficult to identify. The downside to dedicating immense resources to "Longshot," and the new Frostbite Engine that enabled it to be made, is that it feels as though potential advancements in the rest of the game were sacrificed to make those things possible. To avoid spoilers, I won't go into any of them, but there are many fun surprises along the way and a number of gut-wrenching choices to be made, particularly in the final 20 minutes.
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Indeed, "Longshot," with a running time of about 3 1/2 hours, is more of a movie than a typical career mode but the interactive segments are clever and engaging. In the end, though, what makes the mode successful is the conflict it creates as gamers are forced to make decisions. It's well-acted across the board Rus Blackwell turned in a standout performance as coach Jack Ford. Even social media and the reality-show culture within which we evidently live now are realistically applied. The story features relatable emotion, relationships and dilemmas. It's football-smart it teaches fundamentals, principles and intricacies that may even prove challenging for hardcore fans of the sport to recall. "Longshot" is easily my favorite story mode ever.

It's clear that a great deal of planning went into the "Madden" franchise's first attempt at such a production, with the groundwork and vision proving to be overwhelmingly successful.


For "Madden NFL 18," a great deal is riding on the game's first story mode, titled "Longshot." Story modes are ambitious efforts for sports games, yet the major licensed titles are now expected to have them every year thanks to the likes of "NBA 2K" and "FIFA" which have developed narrative-driven experiences that compliment their other more traditional ways to play.
