Alright, let me tell you what I got up to recently. I saw some chatter, maybe read something somewhere, I forget exactly, but it got me thinking about those big sports games, you know, like FIFA – well, they call it EA Sports FC now, whatever – and Madden. The talk was about how similar they really are under the hood. So, I figured, why not dig into that myself?
First thing I did was dust off my console. Haven’t played Madden in a bit, usually more of a footy guy myself. But I got both loaded up, ready to give ’em a proper look, side-by-side, kinda.
I started just by poking around the menus. You know, clicked through the main screens. Right away, you feel it. The structure, the way they guide you towards certain modes, it’s got that same vibe. Lots of flashy graphics, lots of prompts to check out the online stuff.
Diving into the Gameplay Stuff
Okay, so playing the actual games – kicking a ball versus throwing one – yeah, that’s different, obviously. But I wasn’t really looking at the core mechanics. I was thinking about the wrapper, the stuff around the main game.
I spent some time in the career modes. Created a player in one, managed a team in the other. The progression felt familiar. You play games, you get points or experience, you upgrade things. It’s that loop, you know? Play, earn, improve, repeat. Both games got that down.
But the real kicker, the thing everyone always talks about, is that team-building mode. Ultimate Team in FIFA/FC, MUT in Madden. That’s where I spent most of my time looking.
Here’s what I noticed, firsthand:
- You start with a basic squad, pretty rubbish players usually.
- The goal is to get better players, build your dream team.
- How do you get ’em? Opening packs of cards, mostly. Or grinding through the market.
- These packs… yeah, you can earn some through playing, but the push to just buy them with real money is always there. It’s right in your face.
I tried building a team in both. Opened the free packs they give you. It’s the same song and dance. You get that little rush opening a pack, hoping for someone amazing. Most times, it’s just okay players. But that hope, that little gamble, that’s what they hook you with. It felt exactly the same in both games. The interface looks different, different player pictures, but the feeling? Identical.
So, I played a few matches in these modes, tried some of the challenges they set up. Earned a few coins, maybe opened another pack or two. The grind is real. You gotta put in serious time or open your wallet.
After messing around for a good few hours across both titles, I just sat back. Yeah, the core sport is different. But the way these games are built now? Especially those money-making modes? It’s like they used the same blueprint. Change the sport, change the players, but keep the engine underneath that encourages spending time and, often, money. It’s less about just playing football or American football, and more about collecting and gambling, almost. That’s what I found just by jumping in and trying it all out again with that comparison in mind. Pretty interesting, when you actually do it.
