Madden 15 is as close a sports game gets to photo-realism. You could almost be watching football on television, if it wasn’t for the way some of the players glide over the pitch like gilded fairies. The graphics are super-sharp and the gameplay is speedy. The Madden team put effort into defence. You can choose the style and power of your tackle - the resulting clash depends on the size and skills of the players.
American football stops and stars like an old lawnmower. Once you also get over the sport’s chest-beating machismo, there’s plenty of modes to dip into. Play a manager in Ultimate Team, recruiting present day NFL stars and historical legends. In Connected Franchise, you can compete as a player, coach or owner. The inclusion of analytic data from other players around the world makes you feel at one with Madden.