‘Madden NFL 18’ is the most accessible, ambitious ‘Madden’ game in years

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You don’t expect to see your dad die in a game of "Madden."

Not your dad, of course. But with the addition of a full-on story mode, "Madden NFL 18" wades into the waters of scripted drama — a first in the popular football game series’ 29-year history.

Like recent "NBA 2K" and "FIFA" games, "Madden NFL 18" is a more accessible and ambitious game because of it. For the first time in years, there is a genuine nudge for people to jump in who don't buy every annual "Madden" game like clockwork in.

Beyond those narrative aspirations, though, "Madden NFL 18" is still "Madden." That’s still good and bad. Let’s take a closer look:

The story mode in “Madden NFL 18” is called “Longshot,” and it’s easily the most dramatic change to this year’s game. Playing it often feels surreal considering what “Madden” games are usually like.

In Longshot you play as Devin Wade, a Texas-bred 23-year-old with football in his blood. He was a five-star recruit and the star of his high school team, just like his dad, Cutter, before him. But he fell on hard times shortly thereafter and abruptly quit football altogether. Now he’s looking to rebuild his life and career by living up to his lost potential and making it to the NFL.

Wade is joined throughout by Colt Cruise, his best friend and former teammate who also dreams of playing in the pros. He’s goofy — the kind of guy who nicknames himself “the Cruise missile” — but earnest, loyal, and ultimately likable.

Longshot itself is a series of long cutscenes interspersed with quick-time events (moments where you have to hit a button as it appears onscreen) and limited sections of the usual “Madden” gameplay.

It’s very straightforward: You only play as Devin, and Devin is always a quarterback. There is no fail state.

This might frustrate veteran players who want something more flexible, but as an olive branch to lapsed “Madden” players it works well as a sort of extended tutorial. The script includes a few breakdowns of football concepts — how to read pass coverage, what formation names mean, etc. — that are explained in human terms, yet don’t feel out of place within the larger narrative.

That said, the value of Longshot is in watching its story unfold.

If the setup above didn’t make it obvious, Longshot deals heavily in clichés and sweeping terms.

The story is based in an idyllic Texas town, where football is worshipped and the only working people you see grind away at a rock quarry. It’s all very “Friday Night Lights.” Devin and Cole drive around that town in a beat up pick-up truck.

Every single character is a type: There’s the smarmy TV producer, the no-nonsense football coach, the constantly loving and supportive father, and the portly friend who’s always hungry. (What there is not: women who aren’t devoid of personality, which is sadly predictable.)

It’s largely a tale of redemption and overcoming the odds, which is well-worn territory for sports movies.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider