Video games are more popular than they've ever been, and sports games have reaped the benefits from heavy investment in the industry. We've come a long way from the pixilated graphics and "Boomshakalaka!" of NBA Jam, with sports titles becoming staples of the yearly release schedule.
The Madden series has struggled to continue adding new features at the rate their customers like, but this year they're adding a huge new mode. Titled "Longshot," Madden 18's big addition is a story mode, which will be the first of its kind in the history of the franchise.
Though story modes have become more common in sports franchises lately, Madden 18 is offering a unique twist on the formula. Rather than following the journey of a hot-shot prospect, you'll step into the shoes of a character named Devin Wade, a former college star who is returning to the gridiron after an unexplained absence. Voiced by JR Lemon, you'll follow Wade as he attempts to take one last shot at NFL stardom.
"Longshot" is not a replacement for a franchise or career mode, and it won't pretend to be. You'll still be able to do football drills and live out flashbacks as Wade, but you're not going to run through a full calendar of NFL games as you would in more traditional sports stories. Madden 18's creative team has emphasized the mode's prioritization of story, and claims you'll have to look elsewhere if you're just trying to play a career mode.
"This is a story about getting to the NFL," said Mike Young, creative director for the upcoming title. "Our philosophy was a playable movie, versus, like, a career mode with cutscenes ... It’s not just locker rooms and GM offices and sideline volatility—it is a lot about a person’s emotional journey away from the field."
While that may not appeal to the broader Madden fanbase, EA is sparing no expense to bolster the new addition to the game. Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali will play the lead character's father, Cutter Wade, and Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino is set to serve as a mentor for the quarterback as he attempts to live out his football dream.
You can watch the preview for the new mode in the video above. "Longshot" might be glossed over by fans of the traditional Madden formula, but it's nice to see a yearly franchise take a big risk and offer something outside the norm for a sports game.
Send all complaints, compliments, and tips to sportstips@complex.com.
